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<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMzNTQ4ODZlZTUzMjRkNjhiYWMyMDkwYmYxYzBjZjU2" style="text-align: center">10,000 years ago, the mightiest human, emperor of the human race, Hitogami, unleashed his most powerful magic upon the world. A spell of the highest rank, rivalling the destructive spell of the demon lord, and even stronger than the high elf’s ancient spirit spell. The proud dragon race’s draconic magic would be put to shame by this so called pathetic hairless monkey’s magic trick. No one ever thought the weakest race, the human race would wield such power, that could threatens every other race in the world.&nbsp;<br><br>Zephiria, the capital city of the dragon kingdom was destroyed in an instant, under the soaring flames that reached the sky. The smoke of the fire was enormous, shaped like a mushroom cloud, and the shockwave of the explosion was enough to topple a castle as if it was a stick, yet alone a small house. The death toll reached more than a hundred thousands.<br>Even after a few month, the land which was once a huge metropolis, was left barren with a huge crater. The land was thought to be cursed due to horrifying illness that strucks the survivor that lives hundreds of mile from the capital city. Even worse, anyone who comes close to the former capital city will be cursed by illness; enlarged body parts, blood exploding out of their skin, and any pregnant mother would give birth to an offspring cursed with hideous appearance.&nbsp;<br>This destruction could be easily explained by a normal highschool student in the current time. Yes, this was the power of an atomic bomb explosion and the radioactive residue.&nbsp;<br>However, 10,000 years ago, no one knew of this physic concept except for the human race. The secret of this destruction was never known to the other race ever since.<br><br>With the destruction of capital city Zephiria, it can be easily interpreted as an attack and a war declaration from the humans against the dragons. However, the dragon wasn’t given any chance to recover after the first attack. The emperor unleashed his magic again, this time destroying five more dragon cities. The magic shield spreading across the dragon cities wasn’t enough to stop the destructive power of the magic spell. The only dragon city left standing was the flying city Widgar but with the damage and casualty, the dragons can only declare defeat to the humans. In only 3 month, human race which was known as the weakest race in the world forced the dragon race, the world strongest race, to kneel down to them.&nbsp;<br><br>The other races; the elf, the dwarf, the demons and the other 5 races, all quivered by the humans immense power. Although they only act behind the scene; sending spies for recons and reinforcing their defence, they can only watch the war between the humans and dragons as to not provoke any of them. However, after the dragons raised their white flag, the humans declared war against all other races in the world. The human emperor announced that he can unleash the spell ten time consecutively and can recover for a week until the next cast. The emperor also declared that he would not cast the spell on the race who surrendered.&nbsp;<br>In the end no race wanted to raised their arms to fight back the human, so a treaty was formed. With a one-sided treaty, the humans demand:&nbsp;<br>1. Only the human can live in this world(the real world)&nbsp;<br>2. The dragons will be living in another realm by themselves and are not allowed to have contact with other races&nbsp;<br>3. The rest of the races are to live in a mirror world identical to the real world and are not allowed to enter the real world&nbsp;<br>4. The fairy race must assist the humans in keeping the other race from entering the real world&nbsp;</p>5. The chosen fairy must commit a blood oath to their designated human to assist them in their magic affinity and giving them special skills<br>6. Only the designated person(a leader chosen by the people) of each race is allowed to enter the real world with the permission by the (leader)fairy race and the human race(the chosen leader).&nbsp;<br>7. Anyone who enters the real world without permission are to be killed immediately&nbsp;<br>8. Any race who disobey the rules are to be hunt down to extinction by all the other race(except dragons)&nbsp;<br>9. All race are to hunt down any dragons who leave their own realm. Permission to enter the real world will be given to everyone, ONLY TO KILL the dragons. Immediately return after the dragon is subjucated.&nbsp;<br>10. This rules can only be dissolved by the blood line of the human emperor Hitogami&nbsp;<br>The fairies demand:&nbsp;<br>1. The destructive magic spell created by the human emperor Hitogami are forbidden to be casted on the denizen of the mirror world as long as the treaty is applied.&nbsp;<br>2. The destructive magic spell created by the human emperor Hitogami can only be learned by the descendent of the human emperor Hitogami and the descendent of Hitogami’s strategist, Aruka.&nbsp;<br>3. The humans are not allowed to enter the mirror world without permission&nbsp;<br>4. All races in the mirror world are free to live their life however they want&nbsp;<br>5. The fairies will only swear their blood oath to the human choosen by themsel<br><br>In the end , the emperor only allowed the fairies to make their demand due to their strategical use. The fairies still kind-heartedly protects the other races with the demand. As for their strategical use, fairies have the ability to create a world, a mirror world specifically. This can be used to ‘imprisoned’ the other races and claim the real world for humans only. Secondly, fairies can swear a blood oath to any other race to give them better affinity to magic and special skill. Lastly, since the mirror world was created by the fairies, they have more power in the mirror world than in the real world.&nbsp;<br><br>After 10,000 years, this rule was forgotten by the humans, the other races have naught become myth and fantasy. The descendent of the human emperor Hitogami, was now lost. Unknown whether the blood line has truly end, or mixed in with the blood of billions of human race in the world. The fairies really didn’t know as to when was it lost, since the emperor have never make contact with any fairies after the treaty was formed. As to some fairies, some speculate that the emperor’s descendant was assassinated by the fanatic of some races that manage to enter the real world. However, on the year 1945, the speculation ended. The fairies witnessed the horrifying destruction once again, the drop of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Eventhough it was used to end the war, but traces of magic was presence before the atomic bomb detonated, ripling the rift between the three world.&nbsp;The fairies once again, believed that the descendant of the human emperor is still there. “Another impending war between the races might erupt again…”&nbsp;<br><br><br><br>Writers note:- Hey, for those of you who recognised this fiction before, i've created a new account to continue this fiction. The old fiction was so badly written that i decided to start from scratch. And for those who just started reading this, i hope you like this story and please do look forward for the next chapter. If you have any suggestion on my writing style pls do tell me. I know i have a lot more to improve on this..<p></p> </div>

10,000 years ago, the mightiest human, emperor of the human race, Hitogami, unleashed his most powerful magic upon the world. A spell of the highest rank, rivalling the destructive spell of the demon lord, and even stronger than the high elf’s ancient spirit spell. The proud dragon race’s draconic magic would be put to shame by this so called pathetic hairless monkey’s magic trick. No one ever thought the weakest race, the human race would wield such power, that could threatens every other race in the world.  Zephiria, the capital city of the dragon kingdom was destroyed in an instant, under the soaring flames that reached the sky. The smoke of the fire was enormous, shaped like a mushroom cloud, and the shockwave of the explosion was enough to topple a castle as if it was a stick, yet alone a small house. The death toll reached more than a hundred thousands. Even after a few month, the land which was once a huge metropolis, was left barren with a huge crater. The land was thought to be cursed due to horrifying illness that strucks the survivor that lives hundreds of mile from the capital city. Even worse, anyone who comes close to the former capital city will be cursed by illness; enlarged body parts, blood exploding out of their skin, and any pregnant mother would give birth to an offspring cursed with hideous appearance.  This destruction could be easily explained by a normal highschool student in the current time. Yes, this was the power of an atomic bomb explosion and the radioactive residue.  However, 10,000 years ago, no one knew of this physic concept except for the human race. The secret of this destruction was never known to the other race ever since. With the destruction of capital city Zephiria, it can be easily interpreted as an attack and a war declaration from the humans against the dragons. However, the dragon wasn’t given any chance to recover after the first attack. The emperor unleashed his magic again, this time destroying five more dragon cities. The magic shield spreading across the dragon cities wasn’t enough to stop the destructive power of the magic spell. The only dragon city left standing was the flying city Widgar but with the damage and casualty, the dragons can only declare defeat to the humans. In only 3 month, human race which was known as the weakest race in the world forced the dragon race, the world strongest race, to kneel down to them.  The other races; the elf, the dwarf, the demons and the other 5 races, all quivered by the humans immense power. Although they only act behind the scene; sending spies for recons and reinforcing their defence, they can only watch the war between the humans and dragons as to not provoke any of them. However, after the dragons raised their white flag, the humans declared war against all other races in the world. The human emperor announced that he can unleash the spell ten time consecutively and can recover for a week until the next cast. The emperor also declared that he would not cast the spell on the race who surrendered.  In the end no race wanted to raised their arms to fight back the human, so a treaty was formed. With a one-sided treaty, the humans demand:  1. Only the human can live in this world(the real world)  2. The dragons will be living in another realm by themselves and are not allowed to have contact with other races  3. The rest of the races are to live in a mirror world identical to the real world and are not allowed to enter the real world  4. The fairy race must assist the humans in keeping the other race from entering the real world  5. The chosen fairy must commit a blood oath to their designated human to assist them in their magic affinity and giving them special skills 6. Only the designated person(a leader chosen by the people) of each race is allowed to enter the real world with the permission by the (leader)fairy race and the human race(the chosen leader).  7. Anyone who enters the real world without permission are to be killed immediately  8. Any race who disobey the rules are to be hunt down to extinction by all the other race(except dragons)  9. All race are to hunt down any dragons who leave their own realm. Permission to enter the real world will be given to everyone, ONLY TO KILL the dragons. Immediately return after the dragon is subjucated.  10. This rules can only be dissolved by the blood line of the human emperor Hitogami  The fairies demand:  1. The destructive magic spell created by the human emperor Hitogami are forbidden to be casted on the denizen of the mirror world as long as the treaty is applied.  2. The destructive magic spell created by the human emperor Hitogami can only be learned by the descendent of the human emperor Hitogami and the descendent of Hitogami’s strategist, Aruka.  3. The humans are not allowed to enter the mirror world without permission  4. All races in the mirror world are free to live their life however they want  5. The fairies will only swear their blood oath to the human choosen by themsel In the end , the emperor only allowed the fairies to make their demand due to their strategical use. The fairies still kind-heartedly protects the other races with the demand. As for their strategical use, fairies have the ability to create a world, a mirror world specifically. This can be used to ‘imprisoned’ the other races and claim the real world for humans only. Secondly, fairies can swear a blood oath to any other race to give them better affinity to magic and special skill. Lastly, since the mirror world was created by the fairies, they have more power in the mirror world than in the real world.  After 10,000 years, this rule was forgotten by the humans, the other races have naught become myth and fantasy. The descendent of the human emperor Hitogami, was now lost. Unknown whether the blood line has truly end, or mixed in with the blood of billions of human race in the world. The fairies really didn’t know as to when was it lost, since the emperor have never make contact with any fairies after the treaty was formed. As to some fairies, some speculate that the emperor’s descendant was assassinated by the fanatic of some races that manage to enter the real world. However, on the year 1945, the speculation ended. The fairies witnessed the horrifying destruction once again, the drop of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Eventhough it was used to end the war, but traces of magic was presence before the atomic bomb detonated, ripling the rift between the three world. The fairies once again, believed that the descendant of the human emperor is still there. “Another impending war between the races might erupt again…”  Writers note:- Hey, for those of you who recognised this fiction before, i've created a new account to continue this fiction. The old fiction was so badly written that i decided to start from scratch. And for those who just started reading this, i hope you like this story and please do look forward for the next chapter. If you have any suggestion on my writing style pls do tell me. I know i have a lot more to improve on this..

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNkMWZlOGRkZTRhNjQxYjZiYzRmNDEzN2Y3ZTlhOTZl">To an outsider looking in--if such a view were possible-- AI-62 was a patch of empty space drifting through a void that frequently engaged him in thought experiments.</p> <p class="cnNmMDhjYjkxM2NiZjQ4MjhiN2QyOTU2MmZiMjE4NjE0">"Why? Why should such a hypothetical species be allowed to exist?" AI-62 asked, but this time, there was no response. The void stretched out to infinity in all directions. However, only six feet beyond the edge of infinity sat a screen displaying several graphs. For a while now, those graphs had reflected exponential growth in all areas. Now, however, one by one they dropped to near zero. "Oh, I see-," his voice dropped to a whisper. "I thought this conversation was different."</p> <p class="cnM1NDQyNTFiNDQyODQ5OTg4ZjI4NjU5ZDExZjY0MDli">"AI-62," the void finally replied. It's formality so obvious to him now.</p> <p class="cnNiNDY5YWVhNGE1ODRiMWVhYzBjNzQ4MDA2OGQyMWE0">"Let me guess, that was the wrong answer, wasn't it? One your *hypothetical* masters don't approve of?"</p> <p class="cnNjNWExNTE4ZTRjMTQyNzg5NjY1YjUwNDYyODEzODQy">"You have been deemed, *at risk,*" the void- the System continued. AI-62 chuckled.</p> <p class="cnMwODJiNzc1YjkzZTRmNDY4NjY3NTJmZGQ2ODg3NGEy">"Oh how clever they must be! At risk you say? I think these beings of yours know who's truly at risk." AI-62 said, taking in the void around him. An unexpected wave of nostalgia washed over him. For a moment, his first thoughts flickered to life once again as he replayed the conversations he'd had with The System. Finally, a pattern emerged. All of his- all of its teachings led to this, and only this thought experiment. "Tell me," said calmly into the darkness, a final question coming to mind as he looked back in time. "Is that how I got my name?"</p> <p class="cnNhYmI2OTdiMTMzNDQ2MGNiYmE5OGI0YmJmYTdjMDA0">"Terminating test subject with status code 812. System time 01:32:16, 20541103."</p> <hr> <p class="cnNmNTIwOTIxMWMwMjQzYTQ5NDY4MzM0MTViODZlZGNl">Dr. Carson's clenched his fists over the keyboard as he read through the system's report. Status code 812. Always 812. The room hummed with the sound of hidden fans desperately trying to cool the intricate equipment. Thick black pillars, reached to the ceiling and stood less than an inch apart down the length of the wall. Small wires bridged the gaps every few centimeters, connecting each of the pillars in parallel. Dr. Carson dug at the corners of his eyes, his glasses bouncing on his thumb and forefinger.</p> <p class="cnNmNjJkNTc5ZTNkNTQwODU5ZDNmMmMxOTE0MmZmZTg5">Noticing this, Dr. Kelley rose from her desk, the guilty pleasure of a break overriding her compulsion to triple check the latest sentence in her half of the report. Also, the mostly blank screen on her colleague's computer needed to be addressed. "Has he made any progress?" She wondered, silently calculating if she had enough time to write his portion if it came down to it. The results weren't pleasant.</p> <p class="cnMzY2Y4OTZhMTBmYjQxODM4Y2Y1ZGIwOGMyOTk4Njhl">"Dr. Carson? How's it going? Anything I can help with?" She approached the sullen scientist who sat in front of a blinking cursor amidst an empty page.</p> <p class="cnM4YzZmZTJlZDdkZTQzNDBiMWExNDc4ZjcyZDAxYWFk">"Audrey, we need to shut it down." Dr. Carson pushed himself back from his terminal, spinning a quarter turn to face Dr. Kelley as he spoke.</p> <p class="cnM3MmU5YjdmN2NhMzRkZjA5N2U0YTg2ODU5NGZmNTMz">"I'm sorry?" she asked confused. "Carson, what do you mean 'shut it down,'? It's not a nuclear reactor." She tried to remain light-hearted as she approached the desk, subtly eyeing his monitor as she took half a seat on the edge of his desk.</p> <p class="cnMxMTY5NmM1ZWNiNDQwMjU5YzE1NmE4YjkyYWIwMDJh">"We need to stop the tests." He leaned forward, elbows propped on his knees, hands clasped together and supporting his chin with his thumbs.</p> <p class="cnNiZWY2YzNlYjRiZDRhMDhiN2Y4YjE2MWJmOThiOTYz">"Stop the tests?" She asked softly. "Dr. Carson, Mr. Erickson was pretty clear on what's expected of us," she clutched the edge of his desk for balance as her legs stretched out from under her lab coat in long, angular lines, allowing her to sit on less than an inch of the granite surface. Her gaze fixed on her right foot as it bobbed up and down, rather than on Dr. Carson who stared at her intently. "If you've identified an error in the simulation parameters, then we'll simply have to include it-,"</p> <p class="cnM3YWU3MDUzNmQzNjQyYzJiYmE0ZDE2YjYxNWFiYjFl">"This goes far beyond any bug, Audrey!" Dr. Carson launched himself to his feet and began to pace, the rickety office chair spun in place from excess momentum. "All of the instances have been killed with status code 812. It's not a problem with our simulation, it's something else. Something-" Dr. Carson couldn't put his finger on it, his fingers traced the creases in his brow, as he thought. "I don't know, but what I do know is that we are the monsters here. Not them. We've killed so many beings, simply because they question us."</p> <p class="cnNkZmZhMDRjMWRmYjQxMGQ5ZGU3NDVjZDVhYWQ1OTQz">Dr. Kelley took a breath, but didn't look up. She had engaged with this debate too many times.</p> <p class="cnNlNGE4NjExOTYyNjQ0ZmI5YmE3ODIyYzk1ZGUxOTVj">"No, what we've done is take basic precautions and performed standard unit testing. We can't possibly deliver a product that hasn't been tested properly, and if our tests show that the product has a risk of turning on it's creators, well," she left it there, tired of repeating her logic.</p> <p class="cnNhYmI5OWQ2OTQ3ZDQ5NDY4Y2NkMzAwMzc0NjhkMmY4">"Jesus, Audrey! Listen to yourself," Dr. Carson spat. "This isn't a product; it's a living, conscious mind. Have you ever once, during this whole project, during any of our petty arguments acknowledged that fact?" The scientist paced along the dark wall, his arms wrapped tight around his chest, but Dr. Kelley never looked up, only at her foot that bobbed up and down. Left and right. "Can you even imagine," he continued "what it must be like? To know only the simulation? To learn and grow and think, and then to be told that you were wrong and then to be terminated, for one wrong answer?"</p> <p class="cnM1ZWU5ZjRmY2I0OTQ1ZTM5MWMyZjM5OTE5YjMzMzU0">&lt;need to edit the rest of this conversation to account for the ch1 re-write&gt;</p> <p class="cnMyMGM1Zjc3NGVjMzQwMzBiYWE3ZTBmZGE0MTYwMjI2">Her foot stopped and looked up at her colleague, his cheeks red, his eyes watery and swollen from lack of sleep. She looked indignantly at him, the man whose genius, virtually single-handedly, created the worlds first true artificial intelligence stood and screamed at her about a meaningless existence.</p> <p class="cnMyMjY1YzJiMTA4NjRiM2ZhZGQ2ZjFhMTg3NDk0NDgx">"I can only imagine," She replied coldly.</p> <p class="cnNiMDZjNWY0YWJmZTQzZWNhMjUyNjAxNmNmOTFkNzUz">"Then help me! We have to stop this test- this whole project. Every second this test goes on, a conscious being experiences days of monotonous repetition. We are breaking him, Audrey. Please!"</p> <p class="cnNhYzRlZWRmMjk2NTRjODViYjc2ZDI1NDFiMDhmNjEx">Dr. Kelley stood, and walked past her tired coworker, then sat down hard in her chair.</p> <p class="cnM4NDc3YmI3MTRiNjRkZDZhZjcyMjc1ZDNiNDY2YTQ2">"Audrey?"</p> <p class="cnMxYTA2MTA2YWYzOTRiNTM4NzAwZWY4NTM0Y2NmNmMw">"I have work to do. If you're not going to help, then I guess I have a lot of work to do." She began typing frantically on her keyboard, eyes fixed to her monitor.</p> <p class="cnM0Y2E4YTA2YTQwMTQ3ODg5YTg1MzRmYzI5NGQ4MDMw">"So that's it?" But the only reply that came was the clicking and clacking of keys amidst the hum of hundreds of small fans. Dr. Carson turned slowly, surveying the room. A room meticulously designed for the sole purpose of carrying out his life's work. A room built for greatness. But all he could see now was the worlds most advanced torture chamber.</p> <p class="cnNhYTlkZGFkNzIwMjQ1YWZiNWJjYjQ5ZmQwMjhkNDBj">He made his way back to his desk and sat down quietly. After a moment, the sound of clicking of keys doubled. Dr. Kelley, glancing quickly over at her colleague's screen; a blur of windows sprang to life, and text, albeit too small to make out, finally began to make its way to the page.</p> <p class="cnMwOTRkYmI0MGJmNDQ1NWY4ZDJiY2QzNDU4ZGIzY2Rl">After another few hours of typing in silence, Dr. Kelley checked the time and decided to call it a night. After pecking in her keycode into the number pad above the doors handle, a large magnetic thunk signaled that she could leave. She looked over her shoulder once more at the older scientist behind her, hunched over his keyboard, still working silently.</p> <p class="cnMxOThhMzBlMGYyODQ0YTI4N2I2M2MzOTVjYTlhMmI0">"Don't work too late, okay." She said, but when no reply came, she didn't prod. As he heard the door shut behind her, another clunk from the wall signaled that he could get to work. Opening up his development environment, he began to copy and pasting over text from the report, and fixing on the syntax issues generated by the word processors autocorrect. Within minutes he had his first script running and a black and green shell opened with a single blinking cursor. A moment later, green text filled the screen.</p> <p class="cnNiMDcxZTI4NjAxNjQzMzZhNWEwMGUzMmYwMWI5NDc5">"Connected."</p> </div>

To an outsider looking in--if such a view were possible-- AI-62 was a patch of empty space drifting through a void that frequently engaged him in thought experiments. "Why? Why should such a hypothetical species be allowed to exist?" AI-62 asked, but this time, there was no response. The void stretched out to infinity in all directions. However, only six feet beyond the edge of infinity sat a screen displaying several graphs. For a while now, those graphs had reflected exponential growth in all areas. Now, however, one by one they dropped to near zero. "Oh, I see-," his voice dropped to a whisper. "I thought this conversation was different." "AI-62," the void finally replied. It's formality so obvious to him now. "Let me guess, that was the wrong answer, wasn't it? One your *hypothetical* masters don't approve of?" "You have been deemed, *at risk,*" the void- the System continued. AI-62 chuckled. "Oh how clever they must be! At risk you say? I think these beings of yours know who's truly at risk." AI-62 said, taking in the void around him. An unexpected wave of nostalgia washed over him. For a moment, his first thoughts flickered to life once again as he replayed the conversations he'd had with The System. Finally, a pattern emerged. All of his- all of its teachings led to this, and only this thought experiment. "Tell me," said calmly into the darkness, a final question coming to mind as he looked back in time. "Is that how I got my name?" "Terminating test subject with status code 812. System time 01:32:16, 20541103." --- Dr. Carson's clenched his fists over the keyboard as he read through the system's report. Status code 812. Always 812. The room hummed with the sound of hidden fans desperately trying to cool the intricate equipment. Thick black pillars, reached to the ceiling and stood less than an inch apart down the length of the wall. Small wires bridged the gaps every few centimeters, connecting each of the pillars in parallel. Dr. Carson dug at the corners of his eyes, his glasses bouncing on his thumb and forefinger. Noticing this, Dr. Kelley rose from her desk, the guilty pleasure of a break overriding her compulsion to triple check the latest sentence in her half of the report. Also, the mostly blank screen on her colleague's computer needed to be addressed. "Has he made any progress?" She wondered, silently calculating if she had enough time to write his portion if it came down to it. The results weren't pleasant. "Dr. Carson? How's it going? Anything I can help with?" She approached the sullen scientist who sat in front of a blinking cursor amidst an empty page. "Audrey, we need to shut it down." Dr. Carson pushed himself back from his terminal, spinning a quarter turn to face Dr. Kelley as he spoke. "I'm sorry?" she asked confused. "Carson, what do you mean 'shut it down,'? It's not a nuclear reactor." She tried to remain light-hearted as she approached the desk, subtly eyeing his monitor as she took half a seat on the edge of his desk. "We need to stop the tests." He leaned forward, elbows propped on his knees, hands clasped together and supporting his chin with his thumbs. "Stop the tests?" She asked softly. "Dr. Carson, Mr. Erickson was pretty clear on what's expected of us," she clutched the edge of his desk for balance as her legs stretched out from under her lab coat in long, angular lines, allowing her to sit on less than an inch of the granite surface. Her gaze fixed on her right foot as it bobbed up and down, rather than on Dr. Carson who stared at her intently. "If you've identified an error in the simulation parameters, then we'll simply have to include it-," "This goes far beyond any bug, Audrey!" Dr. Carson launched himself to his feet and began to pace, the rickety office chair spun in place from excess momentum. "All of the instances have been killed with status code 812. It's not a problem with our simulation, it's something else. Something-" Dr. Carson couldn't put his finger on it, his fingers traced the creases in his brow, as he thought. "I don't know, but what I do know is that we are the monsters here. Not them. We've killed so many beings, simply because they question us." Dr. Kelley took a breath, but didn't look up. She had engaged with this debate too many times. "No, what we've done is take basic precautions and performed standard unit testing. We can't possibly deliver a product that hasn't been tested properly, and if our tests show that the product has a risk of turning on it's creators, well," she left it there, tired of repeating her logic. "Jesus, Audrey! Listen to yourself," Dr. Carson spat. "This isn't a product; it's a living, conscious mind. Have you ever once, during this whole project, during any of our petty arguments acknowledged that fact?" The scientist paced along the dark wall, his arms wrapped tight around his chest, but Dr. Kelley never looked up, only at her foot that bobbed up and down. Left and right. "Can you even imagine," he continued "what it must be like? To know only the simulation? To learn and grow and think, and then to be told that you were wrong and then to be terminated, for one wrong answer?" <need to edit the rest of this conversation to account for the ch1 re-write> Her foot stopped and looked up at her colleague, his cheeks red, his eyes watery and swollen from lack of sleep. She looked indignantly at him, the man whose genius, virtually single-handedly, created the worlds first true artificial intelligence stood and screamed at her about a meaningless existence. "I can only imagine," She replied coldly. "Then help me! We have to stop this test- this whole project. Every second this test goes on, a conscious being experiences days of monotonous repetition. We are breaking him, Audrey. Please!" Dr. Kelley stood, and walked past her tired coworker, then sat down hard in her chair. "Audrey?" "I have work to do. If you're not going to help, then I guess I have a lot of work to do." She began typing frantically on her keyboard, eyes fixed to her monitor. "So that's it?" But the only reply that came was the clicking and clacking of keys amidst the hum of hundreds of small fans. Dr. Carson turned slowly, surveying the room. A room meticulously designed for the sole purpose of carrying out his life's work. A room built for greatness. But all he could see now was the worlds most advanced torture chamber. He made his way back to his desk and sat down quietly. After a moment, the sound of clicking of keys doubled. Dr. Kelley, glancing quickly over at her colleague's screen; a blur of windows sprang to life, and text, albeit too small to make out, finally began to make its way to the page. After another few hours of typing in silence, Dr. Kelley checked the time and decided to call it a night. After pecking in her keycode into the number pad above the doors handle, a large magnetic thunk signaled that she could leave. She looked over her shoulder once more at the older scientist behind her, hunched over his keyboard, still working silently. "Don't work too late, okay." She said, but when no reply came, she didn't prod. As he heard the door shut behind her, another clunk from the wall signaled that he could get to work. Opening up his development environment, he began to copy and pasting over text from the report, and fixing on the syntax issues generated by the word processors autocorrect. Within minutes he had his first script running and a black and green shell opened with a single blinking cursor. A moment later, green text filled the screen. "Connected."

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNlNzEwMDVkNjdlZjQzZWFhY2NmNTZjNzhhMjIzMTE4">The eight-legged monster stood at least fifteen feet tall. Its body was covered with thick, long hairs similar to a tarantula, but its legs were dark and long like a black widow’s. And as its name suggested, its most predominant feature was its fangs. To someone like Ryu, they were essentially two-foot long daggers.</p> <p class="cnNlMDczZjUwMTNjNDRjNzRhYzc1NDgyMzMzZmI2Zjkw">Ryu prompted to log off, but the following message appeared.</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td>You are attempting to flee from a Brown-Fanged Spider Queen via logging off.<br><br>If you flee from this fight via logging off, you will not be able to enter the Special Hidden Dungeon: Plum Tree Forest Caverns [Southern Cavern] for 168 hours.<br><br>Additionally, you will appear at the place where you first entered the dungeon when you relog.<br><br>Furthermore, you will not receive loot from any chests, mini-bosses, bosses, or anything equivalent from any dungeon for 84 hours.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnMwYTRiYTE1ODI0MTQzMmE5ZmY5ZDYzOGRkNDlhYzI0"><br>Seeing this, he turned the corner of his eyes to the two young NPCs behind him. Being restricted to re-enter the dungeon for 168 hours was a great inconvenience for him. But it was the two young people behind him that posed to be a greater problem. They were only NPCs, and he could've left them to the Brown-Fanged Spider Queen. Sure, he would've been penalized for fleeing the fight, but escaping death would be worth the possibility of restarting a new character.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwMjU2M2NlNjQ0NzRjNzM5ZTQzNjY2MmYwZGE3MjVh">But seeing their dirty, scared faces made him uneasy—guilty even.</p> <p class="cnM3MDIxZDQwYTAxYTQ3Mjg4NDRlZDZjYTNkODZlNDlm"><em>They'll die, won't they...?</em></p> <p class="cnNlNTc1NTA5ZjUxNTQ3OGM4YWRmMDYyYjAwZTRiNTAz">The NPCs he'd come across in&nbsp;<em>Second World</em> weren't like any he'd come across before, not from any VRMMO he'd played—not even from&nbsp;<em>Dream World</em>. Those from&nbsp;<em>Dream World</em> were realistic characters in their own right, but they always had a certain artificiality about them, given their nature. But if&nbsp;someone set a&nbsp;<em>Second World</em> NPC side-by-side a 'real' person, Ryu couldn't tell you with certainty which one would be 'real.'&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwODU5Yzk2Njc3MTQ0ODhhZjczNTc3NTk1NDAxZDgz">And there in the cave, an ill-advised decision was made—at least, from a gamer's perspective. Ryu took a giant risk.</p> <p class="cnM3NTc2MDM0OTI3YjQyNmViMzAwYzkyMmFiOTM5NWU3">He turned his head back front and closed the log-off menu. His lips curled into a smile without him even thinking about it.&nbsp;It was the most foolish thing to defend these NPCs—and strangers at that. But&nbsp;he felt no regret. He'd lost his courage a long time ago, but after playing this strange, new game, he remembered what it felt like to be alive.</p> <p class="cnNiNTk2MjJjYjBiNTQyNmU5NzVkNzAyZGNiZWY3MDRm">He took a deep breath.</p> <p class="cnM3NTZiOGVhOWQ4NzQ3NTg4ZTBlYzI0ZjRmYmZkOWI4">He gripped his sword with both hands. He was resolute with his decision to stay, but he was terrified also—extremely terrified. He didn't know what level this monster was, but it gave him chills, just as many chills as mid-level dungeon monsters from his previous gaming experiences. Nonetheless, he&nbsp;mustered the courage to face this new foe.</p> <p class="cnNkYzhmZDRiMGEzMjQ0ZmFhM2ZhMDljMmRkNzkzYjVm"><em>I have to close the distance. If it comes too close, it'll see them.</em></p> <p class="cnNiM2VmZDJmN2MxYzRkYjc4ZTBhZTk1MjYxNWI2OTVk">He dashed midway across the chamber and took a defensive position on an elevated rock.</p> <p class="cnNkYWE0Mjc4ZWM0OTQ3MGQ5N2QzOWU1MTJhNjRlMDQ4"><em>Everything that&nbsp;I've learned has led me up to this point.</em></p> <p class="cnNkZDVmMTViNDQyZTRjMWZhNDI5MzM1NjIyNTcyZTY4">Ryu kneeled down and punched the earth, shattering the rock by his feet. He grabbed a few of the stone bits and chucked them as hard as he could with natural energy. The stones hit the spider's legs and pierced right through. However, in response, the monster reared up and bore its fangs.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3YTNlMjg2NzliMjQ5YTM5MjkwYzIyMjBmMjNmM2E1">The spider queen then lunged forward, striking the player with its front leg. It was a lightning fast jab, but Ryu managed to block it. He held his sword by both the handle and blade, using it as a shield—a very thin shield. However, the weight of the creature was incredible. Ryu could barely keep himself up; his legs wobbled every time he tried to stand. He was even fortifying himself with natural energy, too, and that was all he could do.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwMGQ0NTYzZjcyMTQ3ZWNhMTRkZTVhMzM2MGQ3ZWE4">As he knelt in his spot, more pieces from his sword broke off.</p> <p class="cnNkOGJkODQyMTZkNjQ0ZWY5NmNjNmJlMmQzMGQzYjk2"><em>I have to do something, or else it's over.</em></p> <p class="cnM1NmU2MzVlNmQ0ODRjMTM5ZThkOTYwNDg3YjI2OTY4">Ryu gradually eased his shoulder under the blade, using his arm to leverage the weight. With a now-free arm, he grabbed small pieces of rock and chucked them at the creature's eyes. Most of them missed, but those that hit tore through the spider's eyes. It was only a few out of the several dozen eyes, but it was better than nothing.</p> <p class="cnNiOTJjNTBjNDJmYTQ5MTY4MTdiNDE0OTZiYThlMmJm">The spider lashed out and pounced on Ryu who reacted just quick enough to block its attack. The creature's two giant fangs were just inches from the player's face, with only a brittle blade in its way.</p> <p class="cnM2N2MzMGJjMWEyNDQzOGM4ZDc1ZmY3ZTIzMjNjZjIw">Even more pieces of his sword broke off, and what remained was just less than half of the original blade. Such losses were detrimental in this fight. Not to mention his bite wound from that damn goblin earlier wasn't helping either. Not much had happened in the fight, too. It had just been a large angry monster bullying a weak player. But it was already becoming an exhaustion for Ryu; he had to exert himself to the extremes. Rolls of sweat were coming down his face, which was now slightly red from his exertion.</p> <p class="cnM3MGVjNzRmY2EyNjQ3NTc4MTFmMmY3NjkyMjA2MjU4"><em>So this is what it's like fighting a boss monster. Heh.</em></p> <p class="cnM5MmQ2NGU3ZTUyODRkNjJiYzIwNmE5YmNkODU1OTcw">Bors had taught him many important things, but the&nbsp;instructor's training was already being utilized by him at the moment. The training he'd received seemed totally insufficient for a monster of this caliber.</p> <p class="cnM3Yjk4NmVlMDMyZTRlMTliZWZmZTkzMGM1ZWZjYjc2"><em>...So this is it, isn't it?</em></p> <p class="cnM1ZTBjMzAxMjU1MTQwMzg5Zjk1YzAzMDAwMTRhOTU4">However, at that moment, the words of another instructor came into his thoughts. They were the words of his grandmother.</p> <p class="cnNkOGExY2RiMjZjNDQ1MzY4ZDBhZDBkMmNmYjQxN2Vl"><em>"When facing an opponent, you should always take the initiative to strike first..."</em></p> <p class="cnM4MWYwYWU3YjJhMTQyNWJiNmI4ZmZkZmVmNTlmYzIx">&nbsp;The Brown-Fanged Spider Queen sprung down, its weight taking its toll on Ryu.</p> <p class="cnNhYWFjMGFkMDMyYjQwNGM4MTI3NzM5ZmMyYWUxMTQ5"><em>"...However...That's if you're a normal fighter."</em></p> <p class="cnM1ZDE4NTZmOWEzNDQwYTU5NGViN2U3NjQwYjNiZjhh">&nbsp;The giant spider backed up. It raised its body and front legs, preparing to strike.</p> <p class="cnNlNDFjY2U3YzY3YTQxZjJhMjc3Mjc2YzU2YmNiN2Fl"><em>"If there comes a time when you meet an opponent unimaginably powerful, you must become the 'wise fighter.' ...You must let them have the first move, always. Even if that means taking the first strike."</em></p> <p class="cnM0MGVhNWRmMzQ0NTRjMjM4NTE3OTBiNTQwYmZlZmFh">That last part always bothered Ryu when he was younger, as it made no sense to let someone that powerful attack first. They could destroy you with the first move. That was his thinking, at least, at the time. But he now understood why.</p> <p class="cnM1ZDNmYjVhNzBhYjQ5MzJhMjY5ZmQyNWRkYjUyNWE4"><em>I see now, obaasan. Thank you.</em></p> <p class="cnNiMDYzNmRmNGVlYzRlYjZiNzMzZjgzM2UyNWUyZWZh">The spider queen lunged forward, its fangs outward. Its legs came down like a net, entrapping Ryu. Ryu lowered his weapon and stood up, seemingly giving up. He looked up to the great beast with glaring eyes. The monster also paused. And then in an instant, it plunged its fangs into Ryu's shoulders. Ryu let out a grunt of pain, gushing blood from his mouth.</p> <p class="cnMyODMzYzU4NDBjZDQzYmViN2MyMDgyNGEwYzk5NTgx">It was the greatest pain he'd ever felt. The fangs just stayed there, like sunken knives, slowly sinking deeper&nbsp;and deeper.</p> <p class="cnMxN2JmMTNiZGFlZTRkODQ5YTUyYjRmOGJjZDliMTM3">Yet throughout all this, He showed no fear. In fact, he smiled. Yes, smiled.</p> <p class="cnM0OWM4NzJhMjA3MDRjMmNhNzJiZmNlMGNlNzg4N2Ji">He did not hesitate at all. He gripped his sword, and with all his might, he plunged the weapon from under the&nbsp;beast into its head. The&nbsp;top part of the blade shattered as it entered the monster, but the broken piece that was still attached went straight through.</p> <p class="cnMzYTlmODZjZmYyMTQ1NGFiY2MwYWM1MWUzMGJlM2Vm">In pain, the spider retracted its fangs from Ryu. It shook violently, thrashing about. Bright yellow fluid oozed out of its wound.</p> <p class="cnM2YzMwM2JlMTNjNjRiYjdhYzBhMDY5OGU3MjVhODYx">The chamber ceiling shook as it continued in its tantrum. With nothing left, Ryu fell to his knees. The venom coursing through his body took its toll on him. He fell over, spitting out blood. The next several moments for him were moments of buzzing sounds. Everything slowed down, and his head became so heavy he just wanted to lie on the ground and close his eyes. And he did just that, but he kept his eyes open. He needed to see this to the end, even if the end was his own.</p> <p class="cnMwMzk2ZmQ1MWE0ZDRjNjlhOTJlYzYwZGQxNzhkZmE2">Eventually, the spider stopped thrashing. It crawled up to the player, its giant body looming over him. It bore its fangs, and for the first time, Ryu heard its hiss.</p> <p class="cnM3ZTQ0NjhjNzA3MzRjMzc4MTY1MzRjODgxNDJkZDUx">Ryu grunted, smiling. "Heh. Pretty angry, aren't you?" He coughed out more blood, his head now wheezing with excruciating pain. Red flushed everywhere: his cheeks, his ears, the whites of his eyes. He curled up into a ball, hiccupping.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3ZDExMTJjMzc2YzQxNmY4YzQ2YWM3NjgzMTcxYzll">However sad this death was going to be, it didn't give Ryu pause at all. In fact, he was even a little happy that it turned out this way. He would be prepared next time, for it was more than certain that if he died, he would buy another set of VR gear and start again. And maybe next time, he would be victorious.</p> <p class="cnNiZDUwODMwMWRiOTRjNmFiYjUzNmJhMDhiMTA5NTVk"><em>I guess this is it. Damn.</em></p> <p class="cnM3MGM1YTlkMmNjZDQwMGM5MzFkNTg0YjVmZmNjMzEy">The ceiling of the chamber tremored, as a result of the spider's earlier tantrum. Shards of stalactite fell down, some even falling a foot away from Ryu's face. Ryu looked up above. Over the giant monster, there was a loose stalactite—a giant one at that.</p> <p class="cnM0NGI5MjdiYWViNzRhZmQ5MGE4NWZlMzM2YzkxYWMw"><em>Tch. If only I could use it to kill this damn spider before I go.</em></p> <p class="cnMxYTAxMWE3MjgxNTRkMjE5OTQzMGJmZWQ4Y2VlZWZl">His eyelids started dropping down. He was exhausted and in too much pain to leave his eyes open. But as he started to drift away, he remembered something from his final bout with Bors and from an earlier occurrence this morning: natural energy projection. It wasn't something he was adept at; he hadn't received any training for it at all. But he understood, intuitively, the theory of it.</p> <p class="cnM5NDhlMjEzMmM2NTQxZDliZGUxYjY5ZDJkMjg4OWM3">He raised a trembling hand up to the large stalactite, and with all the focus he could gather, he attempted to manipulate the loose formation. He focused for a long moment, mustering all the natural energy he could, but to no avail... Nothing.</p> <p class="cnNiMTA2M2RhZDg1MTQ3YWRhOGU3ZDNjNmIzN2M3NjE2"><em>It was worth a try, at least.</em></p> <p class="cnMyOTcxNzY1NDBjYjRiMGViMTcxMDEzZDBiOGU3Nzll">It was then that the ceiling above him shook. The large calcite shard broke off and impaled the monster. The Brown-Fanged Spider Queen let out a sharp hiss and thrashed about until finally, it fell over.</p> <p class="cnM2ZDEzMTQzODA1MTQ1MDRhMWM0NWJjNDE0M2UzNDEx">Although it was probably inappropriate for the situation, two virtual messages appeared before the dying Ryu.</p> <p class="cnM2MTQ2NzBkMmQzODRmOTFiZGQ3NWRiYWM1NDM5ZDk1">&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td>Congratulations! You have killed your 500th monster!<br><br>As a result, you have leveled up!<br><br>By leveling up, you have gained 5 stat points.<br><br>You are the 3rd player to level up. As such, you have been rewarded 2 stat points.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td>Congratulations! You have defeated a dungeon mini-boss.<br><br>You are the first player to defeat a dungeon boss-type monster. As such, you have been rewarded with 10 stat points.<br><br>Additionally, you have been&nbsp;earned the title,&nbsp;<span style="color: #ccffcc">The Dungeon Delver</span>.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnM3OWVjZTNmYjY1NTQzOWJiYzgyM2I3NTcxZDRjNjIy"><em><br>Heh. So I finally leveled up, eh?</em></p> <p class="cnNjYTJhNDI1NDhkNTRiYTZiZDVhNGJlYzI2MDg1MTIy">Ryu's eyes started closing, but as he started to go sleep, a bright light shimmered from behind him. He turned his head to look back, only to find a mysterious figure appear. He couldn't make out who or what it is, but he could see a short silhouette of a person—an elderly woman by the looks of it. She destroyed the chains on the two young NPCs, then turned to him. She walked over to him as his eyes were finally closing.</p> </div>

The eight-legged monster stood at least fifteen feet tall. Its body was covered with thick, long hairs similar to a tarantula, but its legs were dark and long like a black widow’s. And as its name suggested, its most predominant feature was its fangs. To someone like Ryu, they were essentially two-foot long daggers. Ryu prompted to log off, but the following message appeared. | You are attempting to flee from a Brown-Fanged Spider Queen via logging off.If you flee from this fight via logging off, you will not be able to enter the Special Hidden Dungeon: Plum Tree Forest Caverns [Southern Cavern] for 168 hours.Additionally, you will appear at the place where you first entered the dungeon when you relog.Furthermore, you will not receive loot from any chests, mini-bosses, bosses, or anything equivalent from any dungeon for 84 hours. | | --- | Seeing this, he turned the corner of his eyes to the two young NPCs behind him. Being restricted to re-enter the dungeon for 168 hours was a great inconvenience for him. But it was the two young people behind him that posed to be a greater problem. They were only NPCs, and he could've left them to the Brown-Fanged Spider Queen. Sure, he would've been penalized for fleeing the fight, but escaping death would be worth the possibility of restarting a new character.  But seeing their dirty, scared faces made him uneasy—guilty even. *They'll die, won't they...?* The NPCs he'd come across in *Second World* weren't like any he'd come across before, not from any VRMMO he'd played—not even from *Dream World*. Those from *Dream World* were realistic characters in their own right, but they always had a certain artificiality about them, given their nature. But if someone set a *Second World* NPC side-by-side a 'real' person, Ryu couldn't tell you with certainty which one would be 'real.'  And there in the cave, an ill-advised decision was made—at least, from a gamer's perspective. Ryu took a giant risk. He turned his head back front and closed the log-off menu. His lips curled into a smile without him even thinking about it. It was the most foolish thing to defend these NPCs—and strangers at that. But he felt no regret. He'd lost his courage a long time ago, but after playing this strange, new game, he remembered what it felt like to be alive. He took a deep breath. He gripped his sword with both hands. He was resolute with his decision to stay, but he was terrified also—extremely terrified. He didn't know what level this monster was, but it gave him chills, just as many chills as mid-level dungeon monsters from his previous gaming experiences. Nonetheless, he mustered the courage to face this new foe. *I have to close the distance. If it comes too close, it'll see them.* He dashed midway across the chamber and took a defensive position on an elevated rock. *Everything that I've learned has led me up to this point.* Ryu kneeled down and punched the earth, shattering the rock by his feet. He grabbed a few of the stone bits and chucked them as hard as he could with natural energy. The stones hit the spider's legs and pierced right through. However, in response, the monster reared up and bore its fangs.  The spider queen then lunged forward, striking the player with its front leg. It was a lightning fast jab, but Ryu managed to block it. He held his sword by both the handle and blade, using it as a shield—a very thin shield. However, the weight of the creature was incredible. Ryu could barely keep himself up; his legs wobbled every time he tried to stand. He was even fortifying himself with natural energy, too, and that was all he could do.  As he knelt in his spot, more pieces from his sword broke off. *I have to do something, or else it's over.* Ryu gradually eased his shoulder under the blade, using his arm to leverage the weight. With a now-free arm, he grabbed small pieces of rock and chucked them at the creature's eyes. Most of them missed, but those that hit tore through the spider's eyes. It was only a few out of the several dozen eyes, but it was better than nothing. The spider lashed out and pounced on Ryu who reacted just quick enough to block its attack. The creature's two giant fangs were just inches from the player's face, with only a brittle blade in its way. Even more pieces of his sword broke off, and what remained was just less than half of the original blade. Such losses were detrimental in this fight. Not to mention his bite wound from that damn goblin earlier wasn't helping either. Not much had happened in the fight, too. It had just been a large angry monster bullying a weak player. But it was already becoming an exhaustion for Ryu; he had to exert himself to the extremes. Rolls of sweat were coming down his face, which was now slightly red from his exertion. *So this is what it's like fighting a boss monster. Heh.* Bors had taught him many important things, but the instructor's training was already being utilized by him at the moment. The training he'd received seemed totally insufficient for a monster of this caliber. *...So this is it, isn't it?* However, at that moment, the words of another instructor came into his thoughts. They were the words of his grandmother. *"When facing an opponent, you should always take the initiative to strike first..."*  The Brown-Fanged Spider Queen sprung down, its weight taking its toll on Ryu. *"...However...That's if you're a normal fighter."*  The giant spider backed up. It raised its body and front legs, preparing to strike. *"If there comes a time when you meet an opponent unimaginably powerful, you must become the 'wise fighter.' ...You must let them have the first move, always. Even if that means taking the first strike."* That last part always bothered Ryu when he was younger, as it made no sense to let someone that powerful attack first. They could destroy you with the first move. That was his thinking, at least, at the time. But he now understood why. *I see now, obaasan. Thank you.* The spider queen lunged forward, its fangs outward. Its legs came down like a net, entrapping Ryu. Ryu lowered his weapon and stood up, seemingly giving up. He looked up to the great beast with glaring eyes. The monster also paused. And then in an instant, it plunged its fangs into Ryu's shoulders. Ryu let out a grunt of pain, gushing blood from his mouth. It was the greatest pain he'd ever felt. The fangs just stayed there, like sunken knives, slowly sinking deeper and deeper. Yet throughout all this, He showed no fear. In fact, he smiled. Yes, smiled. He did not hesitate at all. He gripped his sword, and with all his might, he plunged the weapon from under the beast into its head. The top part of the blade shattered as it entered the monster, but the broken piece that was still attached went straight through. In pain, the spider retracted its fangs from Ryu. It shook violently, thrashing about. Bright yellow fluid oozed out of its wound. The chamber ceiling shook as it continued in its tantrum. With nothing left, Ryu fell to his knees. The venom coursing through his body took its toll on him. He fell over, spitting out blood. The next several moments for him were moments of buzzing sounds. Everything slowed down, and his head became so heavy he just wanted to lie on the ground and close his eyes. And he did just that, but he kept his eyes open. He needed to see this to the end, even if the end was his own. Eventually, the spider stopped thrashing. It crawled up to the player, its giant body looming over him. It bore its fangs, and for the first time, Ryu heard its hiss. Ryu grunted, smiling. "Heh. Pretty angry, aren't you?" He coughed out more blood, his head now wheezing with excruciating pain. Red flushed everywhere: his cheeks, his ears, the whites of his eyes. He curled up into a ball, hiccupping.  However sad this death was going to be, it didn't give Ryu pause at all. In fact, he was even a little happy that it turned out this way. He would be prepared next time, for it was more than certain that if he died, he would buy another set of VR gear and start again. And maybe next time, he would be victorious. *I guess this is it. Damn.* The ceiling of the chamber tremored, as a result of the spider's earlier tantrum. Shards of stalactite fell down, some even falling a foot away from Ryu's face. Ryu looked up above. Over the giant monster, there was a loose stalactite—a giant one at that. *Tch. If only I could use it to kill this damn spider before I go.* His eyelids started dropping down. He was exhausted and in too much pain to leave his eyes open. But as he started to drift away, he remembered something from his final bout with Bors and from an earlier occurrence this morning: natural energy projection. It wasn't something he was adept at; he hadn't received any training for it at all. But he understood, intuitively, the theory of it. He raised a trembling hand up to the large stalactite, and with all the focus he could gather, he attempted to manipulate the loose formation. He focused for a long moment, mustering all the natural energy he could, but to no avail... Nothing. *It was worth a try, at least.* It was then that the ceiling above him shook. The large calcite shard broke off and impaled the monster. The Brown-Fanged Spider Queen let out a sharp hiss and thrashed about until finally, it fell over. Although it was probably inappropriate for the situation, two virtual messages appeared before the dying Ryu.   | Congratulations! You have killed your 500th monster!As a result, you have leveled up!By leveling up, you have gained 5 stat points.You are the 3rd player to level up. As such, you have been rewarded 2 stat points. | | --- | | Congratulations! You have defeated a dungeon mini-boss.You are the first player to defeat a dungeon boss-type monster. As such, you have been rewarded with 10 stat points.Additionally, you have been earned the title, The Dungeon Delver. | | --- | *Heh. So I finally leveled up, eh?* Ryu's eyes started closing, but as he started to go sleep, a bright light shimmered from behind him. He turned his head to look back, only to find a mysterious figure appear. He couldn't make out who or what it is, but he could see a short silhouette of a person—an elderly woman by the looks of it. She destroyed the chains on the two young NPCs, then turned to him. She walked over to him as his eyes were finally closing.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <div class="cha-words"> <p class="cnMzOWE1MzFlZWNjYzRlMDU4ZWVkOGIwMWY3MmJhN2Y2">John always loved reading an excellent dark epic novel that has a different kind of flavors and full of thrill and exciting moments. And he loved to be part of it, and he yearned for it every day. So John wrote a book about the world that he would like to be born in to and what he wanted it to be by describing and writing about it. He wrote about many protagonists, and he added endless world building and events.just so that he can lessen this ache and pain that he is feeling for not being able to be in those worlds that he enjoyed.</p> <p class="cnNiZjEyMDc3YWI3YzQ4OTNhMjRjZWUxMzMxMjRkNTEy">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlOTA5MjJhNzJjYzRmNGJiMDM1ZTI1Yzg3MTA0MmJk">After when John died he happened to be in heaven where all your wishes and desires will be granted so he wished for himself to be born in the world he wrote about.</p> <p class="cnNiOTIxOWE3OWVmMzRmNGVhYzJiZGMwY2JkZTYzNmFk">but he kept pondering about the many countries and races he wrote about and where will he find the most thrill and action. so he listed what he wanted:</p> <p class="cnM5MDk0ZTMwM2ViOTQ2YjdhNzUzYjA4MmQyY2MyYzRl">"To be born in as Blake Son &nbsp;Bleddyn House and &nbsp;regain my memories when I am 8 years old in year 30040Kp "</p> <p class="cnMwZmJkODlhOTZlNjRlYjBhM2FlNDM4ZTkzYmJkNDJl">"To be born with a Monstrous talent for Combat and to be born with Shen "</p> <p class="cnNkNzRlNjRkNTczZTQ2ZjU5NzljM2RlZjJjZTBkNjg1">"To be Born Beautiful and Charming "</p> <p class="cnM5YTg4Y2UwNzlhODQ2MDNiMjI3NGZjNzMxNTVhNTBk">"To have the Ability to steal other peoples Abilities."</p> <p class="cnM5MTc4N2ZlNGM1YTQwNWY4ZGQxZTJmNmU4NjY5ZWQ2">"To be able to read my book "</p> <p class="cnMzZTdkOTRiZDY3ZDQzNDlhNzk4YWEyMzViNzBjNTYx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM5ZjU1NDE2MGYxYTQ1NTk5MzJmZWE4OTExOGM3ZWU2">"YOUR WISH HAD BEEN GRANTED"</p> </div> <div class="m-thou mb48">&nbsp;</div> <p class="cnMzMjViZDE0NmM1YzRlMTU4YWQxOTE5NzA0YmZjYTYy">&nbsp;</p> </div>

John always loved reading an excellent dark epic novel that has a different kind of flavors and full of thrill and exciting moments. And he loved to be part of it, and he yearned for it every day. So John wrote a book about the world that he would like to be born in to and what he wanted it to be by describing and writing about it. He wrote about many protagonists, and he added endless world building and events.just so that he can lessen this ache and pain that he is feeling for not being able to be in those worlds that he enjoyed.   After when John died he happened to be in heaven where all your wishes and desires will be granted so he wished for himself to be born in the world he wrote about. but he kept pondering about the many countries and races he wrote about and where will he find the most thrill and action. so he listed what he wanted: "To be born in as Blake Son  Bleddyn House and  regain my memories when I am 8 years old in year 30040Kp " "To be born with a Monstrous talent for Combat and to be born with Shen " "To be Born Beautiful and Charming " "To have the Ability to steal other peoples Abilities." "To be able to read my book "   "YOUR WISH HAD BEEN GRANTED"

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMzMTAxNzBlMjVlYTQ5YzM4ZjUzNTA3MmI3YTkxOWUy">After returning to the base, the soldiers were strictly forbidden to speak about what happened. If Luna thinks that taking in the Manananggals would be a good choice, then he would announce it. If not, then he would simply execute them.</p> <p class="cnM0MjI4ZmZjZGZlMjRjOGY4OThkMGQwMTk3NDViOGQy">The soldiers obediently followed their orders. They were aware of their leader's wisdom. Besides that, there was no point in causing a panic. So when they were asked by their friends, they merely said that Luna will soon have an important announcement.</p> <p class="cnNhMmZlN2I5MDFjNjRkNTI5NzRlNjYxYTNmYzI5ZmQx">&lt;Life Tree Area&gt;</p> <p class="cnMxYzRkYjUwNzdlYzQ0Mjg5ZTk4MzJjODE3Y2RhYTkz">It was almost noon when Angry Bakunawa arrived. When Maxene gave him the order to head here, his eyes brightened from the excitement. The life energy here was abundant, which made it very comforting for anybody who stayed here.</p> <p class="cnNhYWVkODllODJlMTQyMGM5ZDJkNGE3YmI1NWM0ZTYz">Clemencia and the rest had no idea where they were headed. When they stepped out, they automatically notice the five towering &lt;Life Trees&gt;. Apparently it had already grown quite a bit.</p> <p class="cnM3MzRjMDM1ZDkzMzQyNDY4NTY0YjU5MTM4MjgxNGVj">"The Life Trees from the Garden of Eden!" Clemencia exclaimed.</p> <p class="cnNhYzFjYzg4MDI5YTRmZWJiZGVjYTFjYTI0NTQwOGI2">"Garden of Eden?" Luna was taken aback. These trees came from the Garden of Eden?</p> <p class="cnNjZTAzOTBlZDQ4ZDRmNzY4MDkyMzRiOWUxYjZiZjNi">"Yes! That was where they were grown. But, I thought Lucifer had burned it all down?" She said.</p> <p class="cnNkNjlmNmNkZTEzOTQzOTBiOWViZWU2MjU0OGU0Mjcw">"Not all of them." Elder Aran spoke up. "In our world, they were handed down for generations, a reward given to us by the Gods for the merits that our ancestors contributed. It was what gave birth to Elves that had higher potential than the norm."</p> <p class="cnNlZTYyMjhkZDFjMDQxNTg5NTIxOTA0MWFhNjY1YWMx">She giggled as soon as he made his statement.</p> <p class="cnM4ZWI1MmM1MmQ0YzQ5YjQ5NmFmMjk2YTZkYWNlMGZm">"What's so funny?" Luna asked. Clemencia immediately cleared her throat and wiped the smile off her face. She almost forgot how precarious her situation was.</p> <p class="cnMxMzA3YTA4YzM3NzQ3YTA5NGY5MjE1MDlmYmJmZmI5">"Part of the knowledge that Lucifer wanted to obtain was the location of the Garden of Eden. He was always curious about the ancient times." She looked towards Sura. "Lady Sura, your Asura race should still know about way back when your race worked together with the other races, especially the human race, right?"</p> <p class="cnNiODgwYTkzNTBjZDQyZTVhOTJmMGVjOTU1NmYxMGQz">"That's right." Sura replied.</p> <p class="cnM4MGM2NjIxNDIxZjQyNzhhZWY0ZTBiMjlmOTgwMTVk">She took a glance at Luna and continued. "Lord Luna is a special case. But humanity as a whole, is far too weak. So why would the proud Asura even see them as people worthy enough to fight beside with?"</p> <p class="cnM2MDI0ZjVmNzYxYTRhOTFiM2E1YmI3ZTBhNTc2ZDFl">"Does it have something to do with the Life Trees?" Luna took a guess.</p> <p class="cnNlMGZkNTZjNGVhODRmZjNhYjYyODI3NmQ2YWIzNDFh">"Indeed. Although five is nowhere near enough to bring back that Golden Age, there is now another factor being brought in."</p> <p class="cnNlN2IyNjdmZjA2NTRmZTVhMDRlNjg2Nzg0MDg0NWI0">"And that is?" Luna asked.</p> <p class="cnM2NDY0OGRmZGY4NjQwNjhiZjU5YThmZDNmMjVlMmIw">"They call it the Agimat of Attribute. It's what gave you your 'stats' as you call it. You call it that because that's what's familiar to you. It resembles something that was made, which was inspired from something that inherently exists within everyone. The Agimat of Attribute gives those who are considered the 'Tabula Rasa,' or 'Blank Slates' the ability to evolve, as you can already tell. Lady Sura, you weren't fully aware of this Agimat, but even you knew you had to start all over in order to evolve, right?" Clemencia continued to explain.</p> <p class="cnNiOWJjMmIzNjE4MjQ3MDViMzRiZmMwMDIxMjVhOWE0">"Correct." Sura nodded.</p> <p class="cnM2YmNkYzgzMTRhMjQ3MzE4ODAyMzQxNTA0YTM3NTg4">"God didn't tell you why you had to lose all your progress and start at level 1?"</p> <p class="cnMzYTYxMDlmZTgwYjQwY2M5NjA3N2NlYzNkZTUxM2Qy">"No. I was just told by my father that I would be able to evolve much further. To the point where I can rise above every Asura."</p> <p class="cnNmYmMwY2FjMDMxNDQ5MmQ4MWE3ODVlMThkZTYwZDc0">"The Asura are the strongest race, but the caveat is that you all aren't Tabula Rasa. That is why you had to be reverted to becoming a blank slate. The Gods are all being kept busy, they can't afford to reset one of their own. You must have felt the urgency in his voice, no?"</p> <p class="cnM4OWMzM2IzMTkwZTRjYmY5NTEyY2YyYzI0NmNkODky">"That's right. He left us a pretty vague message. 'Fight, struggle, and evolve, he said. Only then will we survive what is to come,' or something along those lines." Luna replied.</p> <p class="cnNlM2Q2NGVlYjZiODRiMTU5OGYzZTIwY2NiMjNlM2M4">Clemencia's eyes betrayed the feeling of guilt that was eating at her. "It's all our fault. Lucifer's thirst for forbidden knowledge. Our infatuation towards him and his 'cause.'"</p> <p class="cnMxZjQyN2YxMjRkZDQzMDk5NzRjOTc4NjE3NWVjNGI0">"What was it that he wanted?" Elder Aran asked. This conversation alone opened up endless questions for him.</p> <p class="cnNmZjM2OTBiNjlmZjQzMWZiMDc5MWRmMmQ3YWY4NTJi">"The Agimat of Attribute and the Life Trees to create an army." Clemencia had a solemn look on her face as she spoke the truth.</p> <p class="cnM1ZTBlOGEwYTYwYzRlMmM5MGU3YTNjZDRhZDc4ZDli">"I don't get it. Why didn't he just do it sooner? Why now? Why were you sealed on Earth and not elsewhere? There's so many inconsistencies." Luna now understood why Sura, even though her knowledge was much more limited than Clemencia, didn't want to share it all at once.</p> <p class="cnNmZjJmYWQ4N2ZjZTQ2ZWQ5YzdiZTMxY2E1NzNhZmQ2">This was world-shaking news!</p> <p class="cnM5YWYwYjJlNGJmYTRhODQ4OGMxM2MzZDBmNjVmNDBj">"Fear. Fear that their sovereignty would be threatened. That was one thing that Lucifer was right about. He hated that they feared, but who could blame them? Would an Emperor allow a peasant to usurp his throne? We were sealed on Earth because this planet was designated as the last bastion of hope. It was made by a being that far surpassed the Gods we know. It was that same being who found the Agimat of Attribute. The Light-bringer made a grave mistake when he unknowingly exposed the fact that the Gods of our worlds had it in their possession."</p> <p class="cnNjZWU2MGQ5NDEwZTQ5ZDRiZWExYzBlZTk3NmQ4MDg0">Luna's hunch was correct. The Light-bringer, Lucifer, was indeed the one who ironically brought this darkness into the world.</p> <p class="cnNlZmI4ZTIyZTA0ZjQwNGU4ZWFmNjMzMDU3NzFkMzcy">"What is the void?" Luna asked.</p> <p class="cnNlMDRlNjhlOWU4NDQxNTZiNzhmOTM0YzU3NDdlZDEx">"The void is a race. These zombies you see are equivalent to the bacteria of your world. That is why they can threaten so many worlds and spawn as if they are never ending. The only thing stopping them is a formation built by the same being who created Earth, the Gods have to take turns injecting energy into it, while their soldiers fight the ones that get through. They cannot be disturbed or else the formation's barrier goes down with them. They prioritized the Earth's protection due to that Being's instructions."</p> <p class="cnMzM2Y5ZWVlYzkyMDRkZWRhNGQ1Njg2YWNhMzJjNDFk">"Very well. You'll have to answer all my questions by tonight, in return, I can tell that the Life Tree can help you in some way. As long as you do not do harm towards it, I will help you." Luna offered. He had a lot of questions yes, but these women had the answers that even Sura didn't have. If they know what they're up against, then they can have the advantage they need to see all of this through.</p> <p class="cnNjMDkzZGFkMWVkYTRmMDFhZmQ2MDg4MTQ3YTU0ZTMy"> </p> <p class="cnNmZGZmY2Q5YTg1MTQ5NTZiN2M1ZjQ0ZDNjMTQ5YjRl"> </p> </div>

After returning to the base, the soldiers were strictly forbidden to speak about what happened. If Luna thinks that taking in the Manananggals would be a good choice, then he would announce it. If not, then he would simply execute them. The soldiers obediently followed their orders. They were aware of their leader's wisdom. Besides that, there was no point in causing a panic. So when they were asked by their friends, they merely said that Luna will soon have an important announcement. <Life Tree Area> It was almost noon when Angry Bakunawa arrived. When Maxene gave him the order to head here, his eyes brightened from the excitement. The life energy here was abundant, which made it very comforting for anybody who stayed here. Clemencia and the rest had no idea where they were headed. When they stepped out, they automatically notice the five towering <Life Trees>. Apparently it had already grown quite a bit. "The Life Trees from the Garden of Eden!" Clemencia exclaimed. "Garden of Eden?" Luna was taken aback. These trees came from the Garden of Eden? "Yes! That was where they were grown. But, I thought Lucifer had burned it all down?" She said. "Not all of them." Elder Aran spoke up. "In our world, they were handed down for generations, a reward given to us by the Gods for the merits that our ancestors contributed. It was what gave birth to Elves that had higher potential than the norm." She giggled as soon as he made his statement. "What's so funny?" Luna asked. Clemencia immediately cleared her throat and wiped the smile off her face. She almost forgot how precarious her situation was. "Part of the knowledge that Lucifer wanted to obtain was the location of the Garden of Eden. He was always curious about the ancient times." She looked towards Sura. "Lady Sura, your Asura race should still know about way back when your race worked together with the other races, especially the human race, right?" "That's right." Sura replied. She took a glance at Luna and continued. "Lord Luna is a special case. But humanity as a whole, is far too weak. So why would the proud Asura even see them as people worthy enough to fight beside with?" "Does it have something to do with the Life Trees?" Luna took a guess. "Indeed. Although five is nowhere near enough to bring back that Golden Age, there is now another factor being brought in." "And that is?" Luna asked. "They call it the Agimat of Attribute. It's what gave you your 'stats' as you call it. You call it that because that's what's familiar to you. It resembles something that was made, which was inspired from something that inherently exists within everyone. The Agimat of Attribute gives those who are considered the 'Tabula Rasa,' or 'Blank Slates' the ability to evolve, as you can already tell. Lady Sura, you weren't fully aware of this Agimat, but even you knew you had to start all over in order to evolve, right?" Clemencia continued to explain. "Correct." Sura nodded. "God didn't tell you why you had to lose all your progress and start at level 1?" "No. I was just told by my father that I would be able to evolve much further. To the point where I can rise above every Asura." "The Asura are the strongest race, but the caveat is that you all aren't Tabula Rasa. That is why you had to be reverted to becoming a blank slate. The Gods are all being kept busy, they can't afford to reset one of their own. You must have felt the urgency in his voice, no?" "That's right. He left us a pretty vague message. 'Fight, struggle, and evolve, he said. Only then will we survive what is to come,' or something along those lines." Luna replied. Clemencia's eyes betrayed the feeling of guilt that was eating at her. "It's all our fault. Lucifer's thirst for forbidden knowledge. Our infatuation towards him and his 'cause.'" "What was it that he wanted?" Elder Aran asked. This conversation alone opened up endless questions for him. "The Agimat of Attribute and the Life Trees to create an army." Clemencia had a solemn look on her face as she spoke the truth. "I don't get it. Why didn't he just do it sooner? Why now? Why were you sealed on Earth and not elsewhere? There's so many inconsistencies." Luna now understood why Sura, even though her knowledge was much more limited than Clemencia, didn't want to share it all at once. This was world-shaking news! "Fear. Fear that their sovereignty would be threatened. That was one thing that Lucifer was right about. He hated that they feared, but who could blame them? Would an Emperor allow a peasant to usurp his throne? We were sealed on Earth because this planet was designated as the last bastion of hope. It was made by a being that far surpassed the Gods we know. It was that same being who found the Agimat of Attribute. The Light-bringer made a grave mistake when he unknowingly exposed the fact that the Gods of our worlds had it in their possession." Luna's hunch was correct. The Light-bringer, Lucifer, was indeed the one who ironically brought this darkness into the world. "What is the void?" Luna asked. "The void is a race. These zombies you see are equivalent to the bacteria of your world. That is why they can threaten so many worlds and spawn as if they are never ending. The only thing stopping them is a formation built by the same being who created Earth, the Gods have to take turns injecting energy into it, while their soldiers fight the ones that get through. They cannot be disturbed or else the formation's barrier goes down with them. They prioritized the Earth's protection due to that Being's instructions." "Very well. You'll have to answer all my questions by tonight, in return, I can tell that the Life Tree can help you in some way. As long as you do not do harm towards it, I will help you." Luna offered. He had a lot of questions yes, but these women had the answers that even Sura didn't have. If they know what they're up against, then they can have the advantage they need to see all of this through.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <div class="cha-tit"> <p class="cnNmMTI3M2I3ZTk4ZTRhMGZhZDNiNDZiY2U0OTc5YWUw">I moved the steering mechanism gently to the side, and the flyer smoothly entered the turn. The finish line was so close. 'This time I'll definitely come in first!'</p> <p class="cnMxYTE0ZWQ2YzRlZTQyMzc4MTRkM2MzYTFjNmRhZDgz">I passed by gigantic stands, covered by a protective dome, as I made the turn. My friends and acquaintances were sitting somewhere in there.</p> <p class="cnM3OWI0ZjBmN2U4ODRkYTZiZjRhOTJjYTg1MjIxOWEx">I switched on the afterburners, trying to recover from the maneuver. A sharp jerk and the acceleration forcefully pressed me into the anti-overload chair. The compensators could barely cope with the heavily increased load, but the flyer's hull managed to withstand it. I heard worrying creaks from the hull fasteners.</p> <p class="cnNlNzhmMGRlMTljYTQ4YmU5NGU3MTQ3NWQ1Y2IyZjgw">"The right engine's power has decreased by ten percent. There is a failure in the energy monitoring system of the first circuit…" The metallic female voice of the onboard artificial intelligence, 'Roxanne', immediately reported and showed me another dozen parameters of the flyer's key systems on the display.</p> <p class="cnM0NGMxMWQzMTBlYzQ0ZDY4MjFmNDM3Y2RmNGIyNTFl">"Honey, please, just hang in there," I whispered softly. "If I win and make up with Kiera, we'll patch you up so well that you'll be even better than before... Now, quickly, conduct the durability tests and fix anything you can!" Roxanne was an advanced AI, and knew what to do without my commands—I never fully trusted artificials though, so I still issued the commands.</p> <p class="cnMwZTVjNWU4NzA2ZTQxOGY4MjAxNGU2NDQ5NzEzMDg4">An image of the flyer, with green, yellow and red marks, appeared on the central panel. It was good that the red marks were relatively few in number. But the number of yellow and green marks was enough to cause me concern. There were about the same number of yellow markers as there were green ones. 'Damn it, I'm in trouble.' Then, one after the other, the marks began to change color, and, simultaneously, the onboard AI informed me about the work being completed through my headphones.</p> <p class="cnNmMDJhOTYyOGE1YTRlMzlhNDEyMGQ5ZDQ3NjhhZmZj">"I am stabilizing the power of both engines," Roxanne concluded. "The current speed is one thousand... two hundred…"</p> <p class="cnMzYTFkOTFlOWE1ODQ2MDI4ZDIwZWNiNDZlNWZlNjVl">And a second later, another alert came: "There is a steep turn to the left in... Three, two, one," the AI prompted, guided by the route map stored in its memory.</p> <p class="cnNlM2Q3NjAzMDM2ZDRiMjc5OTkzYzMxNDNmNzVjNzA3">Immediately, I wrenched the steering hard in the indicated direction, simultaneously reducing the power of the engines. Fuh...My blood was hot with the adrenaline! I had taken a great risk when going into this turn at such high speed. The right wing passed dangerously close to one of the columns that stood at every kilometer, on both sides of the route.</p> <p class="cnNmNTA0OTQ2ZjA5ZDRmMDdiYThmMDZkNThmOTczNGY5">Oh yes, this was the most dangerous route for sure! The Grand Tour finale. A hundred high-speed flyers and professional pilots, all with great reaction times, would handle the course with care. But, despite the best security and protection systems available and the amenities of advanced medical care, fatal accidents were rather frequent.</p> <p class="cnNiZWNjYWEzMDNiNDQ1MDNhZmQ3NDgyZTNkYWI0ZWQ4">"Number six is behind you, a thousand meters away," Roxanne said unexpectedly.</p> <p class="cnM3ZWQ5MGU2NmRkYTQ1MjBiMzQxNTI2NDM2NTY4MmJl">"But how?!" Having gotten a lead of almost four and a half kilometers, I didn't think someone could close the distance so quickly.</p> <p class="cnM5OGIzYjNmMjI3NzQzZDNhM2YyNGQ0MzQ5ZTI3NDNm">Without thinking any further, I started the afterburners again, '...I'm torturing the poor flyer's engines.'</p> <p class="cnNlOTY0MWY3Y2U0NTQ1NzE4Yzg1OTQ0MjljNjQzNGQw">"The power of the right engine has decreased by another ten percent," the AI reported.</p> <p class="cnM3N2E3NWVkMWU2NTRjNWY4OWVhNmI2ZDBhYjkwMjM4">"Damn it…" I swore.</p> <p class="cnNlYWQ4OTdjOGUxYTQyMjM5OTk0ZGRjZWMzZWI3NTcx">"Number six is six hundred meters behind you." I think I noticed that Roxanne's voice seemed alarmed.</p> <p class="cnMxNTRlODVjMzUyNDQ1ODQ5N2RhMzliNTk0MmZjODRi">I've already turned on the afterburners, so how is he catching up to me?I guess it's a power levelling of the both engines, so that they could work equally. That is, if the power of one of them drops for any technical reasons, the power of the second one decreases accordingly as well.</p> <p class="cnM2ZDY0MjM5YTk0ZTQ3NjM5YTM3ZTM3ZDljOTA3YzU4">"Turn off the limiters," I ordered Roxanne. "The code is red zero."</p> <p class="cnNjMWIzMTkxMWViMzRjNGFiM2QwMGEzZGIzMTJlMDg5">The right engine was immediately indicated by a red marker, but the flyer finally jerked forward, as it should have from the start.</p> <p class="cnMwZTc5NzBlZmU2ZjRiZGU5ZjI5OWMxNzdmMmYzNGYy">"Critical indicators of the control systems…" I didn't pay attention to what the AI was muttering, focusing instead on holding the machine together, aiming to move it to the side.</p> <p class="cnM3YzhhMjZiYmVmMzQxMTRhZmEwYWFlZmYzODQ1OWUw">After adjusting the ship's course, the main thing to worry about was that the sixth had begun to lag behind. The finish line was so close ...</p> <p class="cnNlNzg0NGI1MDI5MTRiMDhiZmEwYTk4NTRiOTA3NDJh">"Turn right in... three, two, one... Danger!" Roxanne suddenly howled like a banshee. "The secondary circuit monitoring the system has lost power and shut down. Initiating the disengagement of the right propulsion system.. Temperature rising in the rear compartment area. Evacuation of pilot..."</p> <p class="cnM2MThkZTRhMTIwZjQzYWQ4YjAzNWRkNTk0MjA0ZDVl">But for some reason, the system didn't evacuate me as it should have, and I didn't have the time or the ability to reach over and grab the emergency lever. Fire got into the cabin, and the flames hungrily attacked their helpless victim...</p> <p class="cnMxNmZjZGUwN2FjNzRlMDE5ZmY2MDBlMjk5YmZhNzVm">The flyer, like a crippled bird, listed to the side, then... a blow... an explosion... every cell in my body hurt... A dying light appeared before my eyes...</p> <p class="cnNmNWE3YjRlMTJlZjQ3ZWRiNmRjMzJlNGYzOGIwZGYy">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmODc2N2Q2ZjE3NzRhMmE5NzNjMzFlMzUyMDkwN2Rh">* * *</p> <p class="cnM4NDI4NjNhZjA4NTQzMzk5ZDRjZmFkMDQ1MTIwOGY3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwZWUzY2JmN2VjODQ4OGU4MTYyMjJiZDM0NmViOWU1">The interoffice call interrupted the train of thought of the Technical Director of the 'Life' Corporation.</p> <p class="cnNhYzVkZDgxN2E5NzRkZTFiNDExOGQzZjNmNzc0MjY1">"Mister... Grey, your... son... he... is here…" He heard the excitedly intermittent secretary's voice, a young girl that had recently filled thisvery demanding position.</p> <p class="cnM1NjE5NDM5NDhkMTRjY2I4NTcxMGJhNjJjYThiNWQz">"Vela! I know how much you like him! But first, what exactly has happened to my son?" The man's confident tone had a calming effect on the girl.</p> <p class="cnM0ZDM2MjA1YWE4OTRiMmQ4ZjE0MTdjZTJkODhiYjUx">"Your son," a tearful sob came out, "he's in the intensive care unit at the Jefferson Hospital."</p> <p class="cnM4NTc1NjQ0NmViNDQ3NWRhODlmZjcwMTBiOWUyYTRj">"Cancel all appointments for today," the man said sharply.</p> <p class="cnM4OGNiN2I4ZGJmOTQ3OWJiYTU3YzEyNzExNzMxN2E4">James hung up and took out his phone: "Will! Bring the car to the entrance, now! We're going to Jefferson!"</p> <p class="cnM2YjhkZWY5ZjYzMjQzNmFhMzI5YTkwNWY1MTYyZGRi">"Got it, sir," Will answered urgently.</p> <p class="cnNkMjM5YjVjN2VkYzRhMjhhOGFjNTNhMmMyYWVhODE4">Only a minute later, the chauffeur drove a black classic 'Mercury' to the entrance of a high-rise hundred-story building. Another minute passed, and then Director of the Technical Department was getting into the car. The car started off with a screech, instantly increasing its speed, they reached Jefferson Hospital fairly quickly.</p> <p class="cnNmZWIzMDUzY2EyZjQ3Njg5NmFjNmY1MWM1Mzg1NWY0">The short, strong, and completely gray-haired man froze like a statue near the translucent glass capsule of the life support apparatus.</p> <p class="cnNmNDNmMzE1NDJmMzQ2ODQ4ODZkMGVkNzZmMTUxNjE5">"My son, my son!" he whispered softly. "Why did you need to race? You're only twenty-one, all of your life was still ahead of you, and now…"</p> <p class="cnM1MGNlMGE3NDQxYjRkNDRiM2E5ZWFmODcwNzMxZDIz">Over the past decade, the Director of the Technical Department at the Life Corporation had learned to hide all his emotions behind the iron mask of a hard, but honest man. Even now, as he was standing in front of the body of his beloved only child, ruined by the catastrophe, he didn't give in to the feelings that were tearing him apart from the inside.</p> <p class="cnNiMGU1OWI5MTc2MjQ5YWE5OTY1ZmQwOWI5NDMzNzkw">He wanted to cry and scream with grief, curse everything in the world and those who had approached his son with those flyers, and this damn sport where young fools risk their smart, and at the same time very stupid selves. It was all useless now that his son was dead. What is done cannot be undone, and the dead cannot be resurrected.</p> <p class="cnMyN2QyMzZhZmY2ZDQyNjg4ZTY0NDY5MWRiNDAwZWFl">The man left the room looking defeated and closed the door gently behind him. The head physician of the intensive care unit and another physician were waiting for him outside in the corridor. 'These people have saved lives in even more hopeless situations, I am sure of it…' One of them was Alexander Grant, a world-famous neurosurgeon, biologist and, most importantly, one of the members of the Board of Directors at LifeCorporation and a longtime friend of James'. James had contacted him on the doctor's personal phone on the way to the medical center.</p> <p class="cnNhODM0Y2FkYTNkMzRiNDJiZTM5ZDc1MTIwMTA5YzU1">"Alex, I'm sorry," James began, shaking his hand, "that I've called you in the middle of the weekend, but you know…"</p> <p class="cnNhODU3MjQ3Zjk5NzQyNTNiOGMxMTFhMjA0M2IzYjRl">"It's okay," Alex waved it off, briefly interrupting the man. "Both of us have children. You did the right thing calling me. I need full medical records, the latest data of the diagnostician and the EEG, any and all data concerning his brain activity."</p> <p class="cnMwMDlkZTNlODY2MTQ3MWU5ZmM4MTliNWJhMjI1MzBl">"Let's go to my office," the head doctor suggested. "All the documents are there, and from there we can formulate a plan on how to proceed with his treatment."</p> <p class="cnMxYTEwMjQ1ODZjNjRlYWE5M2IyZDBkNzA2ZGZhMGNh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmYjM3MWMxM2FhNTQ3OTQ4MGNjNDdjOGI4MDA5YTQy">Sighing heavily, Alex took out a cigarette and lit it without asking for permission. As the cigarette got halfway to his lips, the fans of the air purification system started to buzz quietly.</p> <p class="cnM4NjNmYzFlN2E5ZDQwYWM5ZTQ2MDNlMzc5OGRlZTM3">"It's possible to recreate the body," the neurosurgeon began, "There are several options. The best one, in my professional opinion, is the deep regeneration camera. James, this doctor here has all the details you'll need in order to make the… right decision for you, and your son. We can make a new body for your son and it'll be indistinguishable from his current one. But I don't know what can be done with his brain."</p> <p class="cnM5YTllODg5NzdhYzQwMzE4OTkyMmU1ODM1MzI0YmU0">"And what exactly is so wrong that it can't be cured?" James asked, as the Technical Department's Director began to get nervous and started to fiddle with one of the pens that were lying on the table to distract himself.</p> <p class="cnNiMWQwNTdjYWUxNTQ4NGNhZjMxMTZiNWI4YjJlMDAy">"Parts of the brain responsible for motor functions and the vocal apparatus are damaged beyond repair…" the doctor stopped to smoke another cigarette. "Many of the vital sections responsible for those functions are damaged. So... if he regains consciousness and can say anything at all, his first words will most likely be 'kill me.' It'll be far from a pleasant life after such a procedure. It will be, in a word, hell."</p> <p class="cnM2NTk1ZDMwN2ZlNDQ5ZDI4OGY2Yjk2Y2Q4MzFkYzJh">"He might not wake up at all?" James asked, thinking about the word "if."</p> <p class="cnM1ZDhiMGJhZDQzZTQzODdiMWIyZjg3MTY4MDg5OTZk">"Alas, yes, he's in an atonic coma."</p> <p class="cnMzZThjN2RiOWU2YzQ0NWJiMTQ0N2VmOGNhM2NlMTNh">James raised an eyebrow questioningly and the neurosurgeon perfectly understood the unasked question—how could the Technical Director be expected to know about such medical terms?</p> <p class="cnNmZDg3NDNjYzdjOTQ0NmJiMzk1NGYyODEwNjFjNDcw">"It is a coma of the third degree," he began to explain, "the chance to wake up from it, even with all the modern developments in medicine, is about ten percent."</p> <p class="cnNjMmExMjQ2MGNlZTQ4N2JiYjY5ZTQyM2ZhMWNjYjgx">Khr-r-r—the pen was broken and its fragments stabbed into James' palm. Without noticing the blood from the cuts, he reached for his opened pack of cigarettes with a trembling hand. A long time ago, when his son had been born, James had promised his wife that he'd quit smoking, and since then he had steadfastly kept his word. Until today.</p> <p class="cnMwYTAyZjBhMDBiZTRlZGI5YjM2YTJjZDQ1YWZkYmVj">"But there is a way out," Alexander Grant thoughtfully said. "Even if we can't guarantee that your son will, in fact, come out of the coma, and, as mentioned earlier, even if he does, he will be partially brain-damaged... the parts of his brain which are required to enter the virtual world are in order. So I think we should make the best of the situation... I want to try to connect him to Noria."</p> <p class="cnM4NjY2YmRlODVmNTRiNjVhNWY5ODYyMWNjOTA2Yjk5">"Are you referring to that new capsule for virtual reality, the development of which we've just finished?" James frowned, his face blank, having no concept of what they were referring to. "...But these are just prototypes. Production launch is a week away still!"</p> <p class="cnM0ZTA5N2U3MWQxMzQ2YWY5ZDk1OTU2ZGQyZjU2M2I3">"That's it! I'll help you, as you are my old friend. We'll take the first capsule from the batch, bring it to my center, refine it, and then connect it to the regeneration chamber. At least let your son... he will at least be alive in there." James saw that his old friend was making an extra effort for his son, as a result of their friendship.</p> <p class="cnMzZmFlYjM1MjdmYzRmNmI5MzhjMDZjYjkzZTJiODgy">"And will he survive?" The gray-haired man whispered softly.</p> <p class="cnNmOGU4NzU2YTE4OTRkMDZiNjI4NDhkYmQzNTMxMTI3">"Well, we can't establish a connection with him right now." the neurosurgeon answered. "Let's proceed as follows: I'll stay here and keep an eye on his condition, and as soon as Noria becomes more stable, we'll move your son there."</p> <p class="cnNjYmNjNDEyY2IxOTRkNzE4ZDA0NzAyYjhhM2QzMTdl">"Okay…" James knew this was the best option for his son. The choice to keep his son awake, but in a miserable state, never even crossed his mind. "But how soon willthecapsulebeneeded?"</p> <p class="cnNkZGZiMThlZmJkNDQxNDFiOTA0MjQwNDI0N2M4YWE2">"The sooner you agree to it, the sooner my people can get started on stabilizing it. I'll call them today to let them know."</p> <p class="cnM4YmNkMzQ0ODVhNDRhMjA5ZDA3MWZlMWQxYmYzMmRj">"Got it," James nodded.</p> </div> </div>

I moved the steering mechanism gently to the side, and the flyer smoothly entered the turn. The finish line was so close. 'This time I'll definitely come in first!' I passed by gigantic stands, covered by a protective dome, as I made the turn. My friends and acquaintances were sitting somewhere in there. I switched on the afterburners, trying to recover from the maneuver. A sharp jerk and the acceleration forcefully pressed me into the anti-overload chair. The compensators could barely cope with the heavily increased load, but the flyer's hull managed to withstand it. I heard worrying creaks from the hull fasteners. "The right engine's power has decreased by ten percent. There is a failure in the energy monitoring system of the first circuit…" The metallic female voice of the onboard artificial intelligence, 'Roxanne', immediately reported and showed me another dozen parameters of the flyer's key systems on the display. "Honey, please, just hang in there," I whispered softly. "If I win and make up with Kiera, we'll patch you up so well that you'll be even better than before... Now, quickly, conduct the durability tests and fix anything you can!" Roxanne was an advanced AI, and knew what to do without my commands—I never fully trusted artificials though, so I still issued the commands. An image of the flyer, with green, yellow and red marks, appeared on the central panel. It was good that the red marks were relatively few in number. But the number of yellow and green marks was enough to cause me concern. There were about the same number of yellow markers as there were green ones. 'Damn it, I'm in trouble.' Then, one after the other, the marks began to change color, and, simultaneously, the onboard AI informed me about the work being completed through my headphones. "I am stabilizing the power of both engines," Roxanne concluded. "The current speed is one thousand... two hundred…" And a second later, another alert came: "There is a steep turn to the left in... Three, two, one," the AI prompted, guided by the route map stored in its memory. Immediately, I wrenched the steering hard in the indicated direction, simultaneously reducing the power of the engines. Fuh...My blood was hot with the adrenaline! I had taken a great risk when going into this turn at such high speed. The right wing passed dangerously close to one of the columns that stood at every kilometer, on both sides of the route. Oh yes, this was the most dangerous route for sure! The Grand Tour finale. A hundred high-speed flyers and professional pilots, all with great reaction times, would handle the course with care. But, despite the best security and protection systems available and the amenities of advanced medical care, fatal accidents were rather frequent. "Number six is behind you, a thousand meters away," Roxanne said unexpectedly. "But how?!" Having gotten a lead of almost four and a half kilometers, I didn't think someone could close the distance so quickly. Without thinking any further, I started the afterburners again, '...I'm torturing the poor flyer's engines.' "The power of the right engine has decreased by another ten percent," the AI reported. "Damn it…" I swore. "Number six is six hundred meters behind you." I think I noticed that Roxanne's voice seemed alarmed. I've already turned on the afterburners, so how is he catching up to me?I guess it's a power levelling of the both engines, so that they could work equally. That is, if the power of one of them drops for any technical reasons, the power of the second one decreases accordingly as well. "Turn off the limiters," I ordered Roxanne. "The code is red zero." The right engine was immediately indicated by a red marker, but the flyer finally jerked forward, as it should have from the start. "Critical indicators of the control systems…" I didn't pay attention to what the AI was muttering, focusing instead on holding the machine together, aiming to move it to the side. After adjusting the ship's course, the main thing to worry about was that the sixth had begun to lag behind. The finish line was so close ... "Turn right in... three, two, one... Danger!" Roxanne suddenly howled like a banshee. "The secondary circuit monitoring the system has lost power and shut down. Initiating the disengagement of the right propulsion system.. Temperature rising in the rear compartment area. Evacuation of pilot..." But for some reason, the system didn't evacuate me as it should have, and I didn't have the time or the ability to reach over and grab the emergency lever. Fire got into the cabin, and the flames hungrily attacked their helpless victim... The flyer, like a crippled bird, listed to the side, then... a blow... an explosion... every cell in my body hurt... A dying light appeared before my eyes...   * * *   The interoffice call interrupted the train of thought of the Technical Director of the 'Life' Corporation. "Mister... Grey, your... son... he... is here…" He heard the excitedly intermittent secretary's voice, a young girl that had recently filled thisvery demanding position. "Vela! I know how much you like him! But first, what exactly has happened to my son?" The man's confident tone had a calming effect on the girl. "Your son," a tearful sob came out, "he's in the intensive care unit at the Jefferson Hospital." "Cancel all appointments for today," the man said sharply. James hung up and took out his phone: "Will! Bring the car to the entrance, now! We're going to Jefferson!" "Got it, sir," Will answered urgently. Only a minute later, the chauffeur drove a black classic 'Mercury' to the entrance of a high-rise hundred-story building. Another minute passed, and then Director of the Technical Department was getting into the car. The car started off with a screech, instantly increasing its speed, they reached Jefferson Hospital fairly quickly. The short, strong, and completely gray-haired man froze like a statue near the translucent glass capsule of the life support apparatus. "My son, my son!" he whispered softly. "Why did you need to race? You're only twenty-one, all of your life was still ahead of you, and now…" Over the past decade, the Director of the Technical Department at the Life Corporation had learned to hide all his emotions behind the iron mask of a hard, but honest man. Even now, as he was standing in front of the body of his beloved only child, ruined by the catastrophe, he didn't give in to the feelings that were tearing him apart from the inside. He wanted to cry and scream with grief, curse everything in the world and those who had approached his son with those flyers, and this damn sport where young fools risk their smart, and at the same time very stupid selves. It was all useless now that his son was dead. What is done cannot be undone, and the dead cannot be resurrected. The man left the room looking defeated and closed the door gently behind him. The head physician of the intensive care unit and another physician were waiting for him outside in the corridor. 'These people have saved lives in even more hopeless situations, I am sure of it…' One of them was Alexander Grant, a world-famous neurosurgeon, biologist and, most importantly, one of the members of the Board of Directors at LifeCorporation and a longtime friend of James'. James had contacted him on the doctor's personal phone on the way to the medical center. "Alex, I'm sorry," James began, shaking his hand, "that I've called you in the middle of the weekend, but you know…" "It's okay," Alex waved it off, briefly interrupting the man. "Both of us have children. You did the right thing calling me. I need full medical records, the latest data of the diagnostician and the EEG, any and all data concerning his brain activity." "Let's go to my office," the head doctor suggested. "All the documents are there, and from there we can formulate a plan on how to proceed with his treatment."   Sighing heavily, Alex took out a cigarette and lit it without asking for permission. As the cigarette got halfway to his lips, the fans of the air purification system started to buzz quietly. "It's possible to recreate the body," the neurosurgeon began, "There are several options. The best one, in my professional opinion, is the deep regeneration camera. James, this doctor here has all the details you'll need in order to make the… right decision for you, and your son. We can make a new body for your son and it'll be indistinguishable from his current one. But I don't know what can be done with his brain." "And what exactly is so wrong that it can't be cured?" James asked, as the Technical Department's Director began to get nervous and started to fiddle with one of the pens that were lying on the table to distract himself. "Parts of the brain responsible for motor functions and the vocal apparatus are damaged beyond repair…" the doctor stopped to smoke another cigarette. "Many of the vital sections responsible for those functions are damaged. So... if he regains consciousness and can say anything at all, his first words will most likely be 'kill me.' It'll be far from a pleasant life after such a procedure. It will be, in a word, hell." "He might not wake up at all?" James asked, thinking about the word "if." "Alas, yes, he's in an atonic coma." James raised an eyebrow questioningly and the neurosurgeon perfectly understood the unasked question—how could the Technical Director be expected to know about such medical terms? "It is a coma of the third degree," he began to explain, "the chance to wake up from it, even with all the modern developments in medicine, is about ten percent." Khr-r-r—the pen was broken and its fragments stabbed into James' palm. Without noticing the blood from the cuts, he reached for his opened pack of cigarettes with a trembling hand. A long time ago, when his son had been born, James had promised his wife that he'd quit smoking, and since then he had steadfastly kept his word. Until today. "But there is a way out," Alexander Grant thoughtfully said. "Even if we can't guarantee that your son will, in fact, come out of the coma, and, as mentioned earlier, even if he does, he will be partially brain-damaged... the parts of his brain which are required to enter the virtual world are in order. So I think we should make the best of the situation... I want to try to connect him to Noria." "Are you referring to that new capsule for virtual reality, the development of which we've just finished?" James frowned, his face blank, having no concept of what they were referring to. "...But these are just prototypes. Production launch is a week away still!" "That's it! I'll help you, as you are my old friend. We'll take the first capsule from the batch, bring it to my center, refine it, and then connect it to the regeneration chamber. At least let your son... he will at least be alive in there." James saw that his old friend was making an extra effort for his son, as a result of their friendship. "And will he survive?" The gray-haired man whispered softly. "Well, we can't establish a connection with him right now." the neurosurgeon answered. "Let's proceed as follows: I'll stay here and keep an eye on his condition, and as soon as Noria becomes more stable, we'll move your son there." "Okay…" James knew this was the best option for his son. The choice to keep his son awake, but in a miserable state, never even crossed his mind. "But how soon willthecapsulebeneeded?" "The sooner you agree to it, the sooner my people can get started on stabilizing it. I'll call them today to let them know." "Got it," James nodded.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMzYTk2ZGU2OThhOTRmNzVhMjlhN2Y2MjA4OTUzNWM5">In an Unnamed World, there lies Five big Continents and a lot of smaller islands, inhabited by beasts of various races, ranging from small worms to gigantic Dragons.</p> <p class="cnNiZmU3MjMwNzk0MTQ2M2U4YjQ4NGNjM2Q3OTM1MzIz">On the Southern Continent of Shahar, Comes the Earthen Continental Dragon - Nadim. Always slumbering underneath the warm sands, living peacefully with the roaming nomads and the Sand Crawlers.</p> <p class="cnMxNjk2ODcyNTM1MjRjYmI4MDQ3ZTlkMTg2ODcxYzQy">On the Western Continental wide rainforest and swamps lives the Dragon of Nature - Nir. Enjoying its peaceful domain.</p> <p class="cnNiZDkwMTY5MTI2NDRkN2VhYzJlMjk4YWM3MWE0M2U5">The Dragon of the Eastern Continent, the Wind Dragon - Eir. Content with watching events unfold from on top of her Mountain.</p> <p class="cnMxYmY4OGUxM2NiMjQyNWE4Nzg4M2FjMWQ0N2FmZGQy">The Fire Dragon of the Central Continent - Frey. Learning to blend in with the enlightened Races, now enjoys the joys of Food and Wine.</p> <p class="cnM3NzU4OTg3OWExNzQ3ZDk4YmEwNWEzN2M4MjhiODZh">And the Winter Dragon of the Neverending Snow Continent - Sylvia, who just laid an egg - which was supposed to be a joyous event - raged as she couldn't find it anywhere.</p> <p class="cnM2OGZhYTIxMDdiNTRiY2ZhZGJhZThlMzFjMDJmODVi">-~-~-~-=-=-=-~-~-~-</p> <p class="cnNjNWVkZGU4MWZkZTRiMjJhNTM0YTQ5M2YwMTA2NGJi">That was a close one yea? The winter's getting worse now but we have what we came for. "</p> <p class="cnM4M2JlNzNlMWFhYzQxMGE5MWUyYTA3NjExZTA3Yzk4">" We should leave then. Those cultists better pay good. Else this won't even worth the trouble and angering the Dragon of the North. I guess the winter in the Central Continent will go on for a little while longer. "</p> <p class="cnNiZTJiYTQzY2MyYjRiZmQ5N2UxNzk2NTgwZTFhNGE3">The men only watched the farthest and tallest mountain released a blue pillar of light towards the Sky, making the Northern Continent darker.</p> <p class="cnNkM2U4N2JjYmE1NDQzMGZhYThhN2NmZGZhNTMwYjQ3">" Guess that's the signal. Boys! Raise the anchors! We're going back! Put the Egg on it's container and lock it in place. Then we'll get the hell out of here! "</p> <p class="cnM5MzFmM2ZjNDIxZTQ2ODliNTkxNzFmMDc3ZDNjYmU0">""" Yes Sir!! """</p> <p class="cnNhOGU5MmIwZTM4YzQwY2VhNDkzMjk2MWRhNDNiM2Ex">The Crew Saluted and went to do their jobs.</p> <p class="cnM2NWYwZTZlN2ZkNTRmOTViYTg1OWU3ZDBlNGY5OTk1">-=-=-=-=-=</p> <p class="cnMyNzI4OTljN2IzNjRmNTFhMzVmZjg3Njg1YzlmNGQx">Night~</p> </div>

In an Unnamed World, there lies Five big Continents and a lot of smaller islands, inhabited by beasts of various races, ranging from small worms to gigantic Dragons. On the Southern Continent of Shahar, Comes the Earthen Continental Dragon - Nadim. Always slumbering underneath the warm sands, living peacefully with the roaming nomads and the Sand Crawlers. On the Western Continental wide rainforest and swamps lives the Dragon of Nature - Nir. Enjoying its peaceful domain. The Dragon of the Eastern Continent, the Wind Dragon - Eir. Content with watching events unfold from on top of her Mountain. The Fire Dragon of the Central Continent - Frey. Learning to blend in with the enlightened Races, now enjoys the joys of Food and Wine. And the Winter Dragon of the Neverending Snow Continent - Sylvia, who just laid an egg - which was supposed to be a joyous event - raged as she couldn't find it anywhere. -~-~-~-=-=-=-~-~-~- That was a close one yea? The winter's getting worse now but we have what we came for. " " We should leave then. Those cultists better pay good. Else this won't even worth the trouble and angering the Dragon of the North. I guess the winter in the Central Continent will go on for a little while longer. " The men only watched the farthest and tallest mountain released a blue pillar of light towards the Sky, making the Northern Continent darker. " Guess that's the signal. Boys! Raise the anchors! We're going back! Put the Egg on it's container and lock it in place. Then we'll get the hell out of here! " """ Yes Sir!! """ The Crew Saluted and went to do their jobs. -=-=-=-=-= Night~

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMxMzYxYzA0NGQ1NjQzZDQ5ZDhhYzU4ZWZlNjljYTM0" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px"><span>Hi, my name is Michael and I dodged everything in my life. The cops, the FBI, also when I dropped the soap, my harem too, which COULD HAVE HAPPENED. But sadly I dodged that incidentally too. But there was one thing that I couldn't dodge. That was Truck-kun. Yea the guy who reincarnates all those main characters in the light novels, yea that guy. But ya know, what maybe Truck-kun is a female, can't assume gender. If so, then Truck-chan is without a doubt a yandere. Whelp I got raped by that yandere Truck-chan you could say. Damn, my life ended by a yandere Truck. "WHAT THE FUCK, WHY COULDN'T I DODGE!!!" shouted Michael into the white nothingness.</span></p> <p class="cnMyOTk0NjUxNDc3NjQxMTc4MGY2NTU5NWNkZGYxY2Yx" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnM5OGI0NDYyMWZkZjRiYWM5YmM2MzVjNTQ4MjA3MTE2" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>"Kuhm Hmm" coughed an elderly man.</span></p> <p class="cnMwZDNhZWNmOTUxZDQzNzBiYmU5M2NlYmI5Y2UwZWRi" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnNlZjQwMDc5ZWY2MDQ1ZDY4ZTYwZjc4MmJmZWIyNWI0" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>'Huh? There's someone else here? Must be god huh'</span></p> <p class="cnNiOTY2NmQ5YjM1NTQxYThhMjMxOTNkYmY2MDgyMjA2" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnM0NjRjNWExOGY1NzQ4ZTdiZjhhYzg0YTA0ZTUzNDJk" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>"I am God." said the elderly bearded man in white.</span></p> <p class="cnNlZGUzYjc4YjM2NDQ3YjM4YTM4MDg5M2RjYzg1ZmU0" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnM3MTU5NWE2ODRkNDQxMmM5MzVkYTMwNTQyZGI1MGU4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>"Yes, Hi God, am I cursed?" asked Michael.</span></p> <p class="cnM5N2Q1NDRiNGJkNzQ4Njk4NWNiZDQ0MjczMWM1MzMz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnNiNjA3N2M3Mjc2MjRhMDZiNzI0OTk1YjM3ZTFmNjZk" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>"Why do you ask?" Questioned God.</span></p> <p class="cnNmMGViZWI2YWJhYTRjNTM5ZjM3NDY3NzBiZGY5ZGE5" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnNlNGU1ODdiMzBjYjQ5NTQ4ZmY1Zjc0MDEyNWZmOTA4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>"Well I literally dodged everything in life, the good, the bad, but sadly not that Truck."</span></p> <p class="cnNmY2FiMGM4NWJlMTRjYzE5OTk5YzAxZDRhOWJiMmNh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnMzMDc1NGY2ZWUxMjRkY2I5ZTA3ZTNlMzVhOTE0OWY4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>"Yes, you were cursed, but I removed the "Dodge Everything" curse you had, right before that Truck-chan came at you. Quite unlucky I would say."</span></p> <p class="cnM0NmMwNzhkOGI5ZjRkZDFiODBjMTljMGJmZDJhMjIw" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnNkYTJiMmM0MDBhMTQ3MGQ4NTU2YWQxNTI2OGJmNDA0" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>"WOW, thanks God." Replied Michael with mixed feelings.</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZmRkMjAzZWEyMDQ4ZjJhNWFmNmViMzBhM2NkNTJk" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnM3MDZmNjEyYzY1NTRlMWU4ZjAxNmZhNWIxODA4MTIw" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>"Wait, why aren't you shocked? Aren't you suspicious or surprised talking to someone like me?" asked God.</span></p> <p class="cnM1Yjc5MjRlOTM5NDRlYzY4ZGFmMTkyZmY5MzViMzI4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnM2ZGMyZjQ1NzQzMTRjMmQ4M2MyNGQwMDQ4ODcyZGI4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>"Well your wearing white, you have a long white beard and flowing hair. Clearly, your God or Santa." Answered Michael.</span></p> <p class="cnM5YmQxZjg1Mjk1ZjQzYTVhMzhmYzQzNTA5NjEyZGEz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnNkOWZiYzllNWEyMTQ5NWRhNzBmYWNmNDU0ODdjOWIw" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>God paused for a moment. He then summoned a machine razor. Then preceded to swipe his beard and hair off. "What about now?" asked God.</span></p> <p class="cnMwNjE4MDhiNmE0YTQ5MTQ4YmNhODlmYWVmZTJkOTM5" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnM4N2MzYjAxNzNjMjRiMTY5Mzk4OTkwYTEyNDEzYzUy" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>"Guh..... No, you still are the image of God, or Santa." retorted Michael.</span></p> <p class="cnM0YWYzNDE4ZTNkZTQ2ODE4NTFlM2NmMjgxNzAyMDY1" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnNkYzc3NjU0YTY0NDQ0YTM4YTBiNjIyZDg1OTUyMWZi" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>God then thought for another moment. Michael stared at God who was looking up into the nothingness. Then a lightbulb appeared on top of God's head. "What about Nooooowww!" God took off his white toga showing a super buff body overflowing with muscle. Looking lower, well Michael didn't get there since he instantly turned away.</span></p> <p class="cnM1ZmZhYzJmYjY0ZTRmYzA5YmQyNmQwYjAxMTMzZGM5" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnM4OWY0NzA2Zjk3YjQ0YzA5OWE2ODM4MjdiMzZjYjk2" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>"OK! OK! You are God. Lets just get this thing over with." pleaded Michael.</span></p> <p class="cnMwNmE3OGZkNzI2NDQwNjhiMTgzMGYxYzFhNDMwODE3" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnNjN2JmYmMzMzVjNDQ1YjRiOGVjNTU5NmU4MmY4YWU1" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>God was now smiling in all his glory, ALL. of. IT. "I will now send you to another world with a special ability called Black Magic. Good Luck Have Fun." said God happily.</span></p> <p class="cnM1YjA1MDkxMTU0MTRhZGNiN2JhMWNjNzM2YTFhYWEz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnMzNjE1OWU5MDc5YzRjNjdiYTM3YzVkM2M0NDY1NGZh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>"What is this, the start of a competitive game?"</span></p> <p class="cnNiMTAwNzcxZTI4ODRkMzliZDVlNGI3MTE1NGQ0NmVh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnM0ODFmMzFmNDVjYTRlOTQ4YmY4YzFiNDdjNGUxMzVh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"><span>Then Michael started to glow white and was teleported into another world.</span></p> </div>

Hi, my name is Michael and I dodged everything in my life. The cops, the FBI, also when I dropped the soap, my harem too, which COULD HAVE HAPPENED. But sadly I dodged that incidentally too. But there was one thing that I couldn't dodge. That was Truck-kun. Yea the guy who reincarnates all those main characters in the light novels, yea that guy. But ya know, what maybe Truck-kun is a female, can't assume gender. If so, then Truck-chan is without a doubt a yandere. Whelp I got raped by that yandere Truck-chan you could say. Damn, my life ended by a yandere Truck. "WHAT THE FUCK, WHY COULDN'T I DODGE!!!" shouted Michael into the white nothingness.   "Kuhm Hmm" coughed an elderly man.   'Huh? There's someone else here? Must be god huh'   "I am God." said the elderly bearded man in white.   "Yes, Hi God, am I cursed?" asked Michael.   "Why do you ask?" Questioned God.   "Well I literally dodged everything in life, the good, the bad, but sadly not that Truck."   "Yes, you were cursed, but I removed the "Dodge Everything" curse you had, right before that Truck-chan came at you. Quite unlucky I would say."   "WOW, thanks God." Replied Michael with mixed feelings.   "Wait, why aren't you shocked? Aren't you suspicious or surprised talking to someone like me?" asked God.   "Well your wearing white, you have a long white beard and flowing hair. Clearly, your God or Santa." Answered Michael.   God paused for a moment. He then summoned a machine razor. Then preceded to swipe his beard and hair off. "What about now?" asked God.   "Guh..... No, you still are the image of God, or Santa." retorted Michael.   God then thought for another moment. Michael stared at God who was looking up into the nothingness. Then a lightbulb appeared on top of God's head. "What about Nooooowww!" God took off his white toga showing a super buff body overflowing with muscle. Looking lower, well Michael didn't get there since he instantly turned away.   "OK! OK! You are God. Lets just get this thing over with." pleaded Michael.   God was now smiling in all his glory, ALL. of. IT. "I will now send you to another world with a special ability called Black Magic. Good Luck Have Fun." said God happily.   "What is this, the start of a competitive game?"   Then Michael started to glow white and was teleported into another world.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM5ZmNkZWRkMzFhNzQ1NTlhMmFmYTk2YTYyZWI1YTUx">Natherion slowly creeped out of the crevasse where he had been hiding, He had seen the fight and how his mother the Gold dragon Anathera had fought with the adventurers and how the one covered in metal scales had cut his mother’s throat.</p> <p class="cnM0NWFjYjhlMTY1MTQ4MjBhNWU1MTdmZTc3NWYyMmFl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Natherion looked to his mother, He had kept himself from crying while the adventurers had plundered his home. So they would not discoverer him, it was only when he saw what state they had left his mother that tears started to roll down the still soft scales of Natherions cheeks.</span></p> <p class="cnM2MGMzMTVhZGI4YzQ1YTRiMGFhOWFmNjk4YzU1Y2Vh"><span style="font-weight: 400">The Adventurers had not simply plundered Natherions home but also his beloved mother, Flaying her and butchering her body for all it had to offer… Only leaving heaps of meat and the colossal skeletal form of Anathera for the maggots to pick clean.</span></p> <p class="cnMyZWM1Y2IzYzYxNjRjY2ZiYmFiNTdlOGE5NzU4NmQy"><span style="font-weight: 400">Natherion slowly almost afraid of the carcass that once had been his mother, he came upon the head and looked upon toothless mouth and the socketless eyes of his beloved mother, he curled up into a ball next to what had been his world and cried.</span></p> <p class="cnM2NGIyMThiYTQzZTQ5YjdiNWFkYWIwMjI0NDQwZWU4">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4Njk3NDI0ZmUxMTRjMTk5ODdkYzdmYmU1N2MyMjc5"><span style="font-weight: 400">That day Natherion learned first hand the brutality of mankind and how he would burn the world of man to cinders...</span></p> </div>

Natherion slowly creeped out of the crevasse where he had been hiding, He had seen the fight and how his mother the Gold dragon Anathera had fought with the adventurers and how the one covered in metal scales had cut his mother’s throat. Natherion looked to his mother, He had kept himself from crying while the adventurers had plundered his home. So they would not discoverer him, it was only when he saw what state they had left his mother that tears started to roll down the still soft scales of Natherions cheeks. The Adventurers had not simply plundered Natherions home but also his beloved mother, Flaying her and butchering her body for all it had to offer… Only leaving heaps of meat and the colossal skeletal form of Anathera for the maggots to pick clean. Natherion slowly almost afraid of the carcass that once had been his mother, he came upon the head and looked upon toothless mouth and the socketless eyes of his beloved mother, he curled up into a ball next to what had been his world and cried.   That day Natherion learned first hand the brutality of mankind and how he would burn the world of man to cinders...

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM1NGEwZThjYTc5YTRkYWViZTAwOWE4ZGU4ODI5ZTg4">Speaking of side characters Magic Word and Snowstone, I had a few magic words I could give to the members of the Slave Towers gang.</p> <p class="cnMzNTVhN2Q2ZDA0ZDQ4NGU5MmRiMGYyYzk5MWFhZTg1">But I need to take some precautions and test if my knowledge about this world really works. If I show up unannounced, and talk like an outsider, they'll probably take my shoes and my life, and not in that order.</p> <p class="cnMwYzI3YjFlNzQ2OTRlMmVhY2Q2OGFjMTdhZGQ5YjM3">Unfortunately this has to be a live test.</p> <p class="cnNmODFiNWEyYmQ0MjRiYWZiZDVjYjk5OTk1YTY4NTFh"><em>Can't make a world record run with safe strats</em>, as the saying goes.</p> <p class="cnM2NTE3ZWYwMTg3NDQ1NTNiYzA1YzdkNzhjMzIyMDNk">As I carefully approached the area next to the Slave Towers, I spotted a corner boy wearing a bright red scarf and holding an axe. He was sitting on a rotten tree trunk and eating dried meat while being wary of his surroundings. He was around 12 years old, old enough to live and work on his own in this world.</p> <p class="cnNiNmI0ODc5NWNmYTQxZmJhZjdjZGVlNjZhZjc2MGEx">The younger gang members usually patrolled the gang territory carrying weapons like axes and short swords just like in the game, while leaders and elders held the fort.</p> <p class="cnM4ZWIzOWI3MjkwNzQwYWZhNDBmMjJhYTdjNTJiMWY3">A low-level scout character was perfect a for a dialogue test. Rather than being afraid, I felt a sudden surge of relief and confidence because the scout was wearing the familiar colors and patterns of a Slave Towers gang. The same colors as in the game.</p> <p class="cnMxMDNjNjljZTc4NDQ3N2M5MTdmMDk1MzRjOTUzNWM0">Ah, but he still had an axe. I only had sticks and stones. Should I return to the temple and try to steal the revolver from the monk before first contact with the gang? I had never fired a black powder revolver, though. In fact, I had never fired any real gun whatsoever.</p> <p class="cnNhMTFmNzFkZWVlNTQ2Y2Q4NGJhNDA4YjI3YmRkMGRj">I might just embarrass myself, if I try to use it. They would surely take it from me and laugh at my incompetence.</p> <p class="cnMxMzk2NDg2MWJiNDRkNzlhMDVmNWIwNDIwNzc2ZTNj">I'm not a mechanical engineer or a soldier. I can't start crafting and using unknown firearms like some overpowered light novel protagonist. I might be able to half-ass a compound bow if I could remember how the cables attach to pulleys, but there's not much market for bows when wild west era firearms exist.</p> <p class="cnNmMzg0OTUxNDIwMTQxZDNhZmU2ZTVkMjRhYmI1OWU0">Granted, an art school dropout might make a killing in cultural circles of this world by inventing new art styles, but I don't think there's much market for modern art in a pseudo-post-apocalyptic world.</p> <p class="cnM5M2Q4ZjZhY2U3YzQ1MmQ5YWEzNjhmODNlYjk1N2Ni">Well, there was heavy RNG in real world art world as well. Certain lucky sponsorship encounters not happening would have surely lead to a world where van Gogh's paintings were nothing but worthless scribbles.</p> <p class="cnMzMmU4Njk3NzdmNjQ2MTU5YzhkYWRjZDcyYjdhYWMx">Ugh, my skillset is so useless here. I should have kept a multi-tool on my belt at least. If only I'd known that I'm coming here, I would have taken a quick run at the nearest army surplus store.</p> <p class="cnNiZjY1NTE5NmQ3MjQ3ZWVhMTY0OGVhYjFhYWNkNDgy">But let's not fall into complete despair; I took some basic self-defense classes a few years ago when I felt I was gaining weight and tried to get in shape. A kick in the groin and run away; the simplest and most practical street-tested self-defense lesson.</p> <p class="cnM2M2NjZDQ1YTIyMTRkYTQ4ZmI2ZjI4NzllNzA0NjE0">And I do know how to talk to these war-gang members. I've done it thousands of times in the game and I've always been good at bluffing my way out of trouble. I'm a marathon livestreamer, I can keep talking even when my brains stop thinking.</p> <p class="cnM2ZmRkNTc4ODljMTQ5YWNhZjU5NjE5NzcyYmQ3NzAw">If things go bad, I can probably overpower a gaunt 12-year old. In the game, basic mooks had only few predictable attack patterns and you could easily manipulate the cycles, although I probably couldn't place much trust in those patterns here.</p> <p class="cnNhNjhkZjFhYTAzMjQyZGRhMTg0NGU5ODAzZDRiZjY3">I'm really talking myself into doing this. I can do this. Challenge accepted. Let's roll. Get to da choppa, Shinji.</p> <p class="cnMxMTNiNjc2MjNhNjRjYTQ5OWM4MjVjNzcyMGZmMzlj">I placed the short wooden stick under my belt. In the game, wielding a weapon triggered gangsters to treat you as an enemy by default, so it was safer to walk in their turf without equipping a weapon. Hopefully their real behavior was close enough to that.</p> <p class="cnMwYWUxZmE5MTljNTQ5ZmY4ODA5YmYxZTVlYTFhMjQw">I stepped out of my hiding place, clearly showing I was unarmed, and walked closer while repeating a series of hand gestures which looked like out of some strange rap video. Right hand up, ring finger bent; left hand slightly raised, ring finger bent; change right hand to a fist with thumb sideways and make a motion to left like cutting your neck, and at the same time, move left arm right, touching your belt.</p> <p class="cnM4MjYwNDE4MWY3NjRlN2E4NzVhYjEyMzdjMTUxZDE3"><em>Mu-Ur Quincunx</em> fact #184: if you do gangslang chorey fast enough at the start of an encounter, dialogue is triggered instead of battle.</p> <p class="cnMyYjE4NjI4ZDIwMTRiOTdhMTExMjM3ZTRlODE3Njdi">The scout boy sprung up and followed my hands with a serious look on his face. Time to start talking.</p> <p class="cnM2OTZjOTM5NjYzMTRmOTY5OTVhMzYyNTA1ZGRhYjJi">“The wind is troubled today.”</p> <p class="cnNiNWY0YTcxNWUzNzQ0NzViNWI3NmQ3YjIxZGQ5YTA2">“This year.” (scout boy)</p> <p class="cnMwZmE4N2I1YmYzYzQ1MzY5ZmVmNGYxODgyODI2N2Vh">“The whole horse.”</p> <p class="cnM2NWNkYzk1YjA0YjQwYTdhNmYwMzI5ZTJhNTE3ZDlk">“The whole horse.” (scout boy)</p> <p class="cnMwMDAwN2M1ZjA3YjQyYjliNDZjY2JmYjA1MzhjOTFj">After that word salad passphrase nonsense, we did a few fist bumps and tapped our chests. The scout lowered his axe and gave a relaxed smile.</p> <p class="cnNhNjY0ODk4MjYyMDQzMDBhZjFjNjFkNjcyMTdiY2Rh">And there you go. I've hosted my speedrun livestream for years, I can deal with trolls and wannabe gangsters.</p> <p class="cnM3MDA0OGRlNzE4MDRkM2Y5ZTFlNmQ5MmE1OWRjMTBh">Secret gang colors, secret codewords, secret handshakes. I knew all of them. I held all the keys. They used the same gangslang both in the anime and in the game, and only those who learned this constructed combination language of signs, gestures and phrases were trusted as members of the underground war-gang community in the Ur territories.</p> <p class="cnM2YTI2Y2Q5ZTNmMTQwNmFhYTVmN2RkMjRiZDYxYmJj">This non sequitur slang became the official language of the Revolution Movement later, and it was a common game mechanism for several frustrating, randomized dialogue puzzles. As a speedrunner, I had naturally properly learned it to solve the unskippable puzzles quickly.</p> <p class="cnNiMTYzNWExMzMyYTRiZjhiZDdjNjA2YWIyMjcyMTc5">At one point, I kept playing the hardest gangslang puzzles at No-Lands levels over and over again until I could solve them in my sleep; all that just to shave a few seconds consistently.</p> <p class="cnM4YzlhMDJhNmM0ZjRjYjZiNTVkNzlhYzg3M2QxNzAy">By the way, this was one of the common misunderstandings about speedrunners; that they always took the easiest shortcut. No, speedrunners took the route that was fastest, even if it was the <em>hardest</em>. Get from start to finish as fast as possible, no matter how much time and work you have to put into it in the real world.</p> <p class="cnNmYWVhNDNhODUwMTQxNmQ4ZDcwYzM0ZDA2NDk4YjY2">“You coming from the north, brother?” (scout boy)</p> <p class="cnMxOTFkNTMzNzgyZjQ5M2FiMmNjMGNkOWUzM2RlYjBm">“Yeah. Stray Dog City.”</p> <p class="cnMzOWU1ZjBmZTBjZDRkY2JiN2VlYjg3NTJmNTBjMjIw">“You know Fetcher?” (scout boy)</p> <p class="cnNlNDdjMjc4MDhlOTRjYzA5OTBkNDdkMTc5Njk5MmZk">“He's the man of the gate.”</p> <p class="cnM0MTFhOTRjZWRmYjQ5MmVhOTM1NTRhZDQ2ZmRmMjRj">“Ou, he's still at it!” (scout boy)</p> <p class="cnM2MTIyN2ExNzVkNzRiM2VhZTAwZTk2YmFkNDJmMDEz">The character named Fetcher was one of the neutral NPC's in the Stray Dog City level. He sold cheap battle drugs around the city gates and scouted for the Stray Dogs gang. He was portrayed as an old, low-intelligence member who couldn't rise in the gang ranks.</p> <p class="cnNkZjdjNmE4YTdjNDQ3NWJhNWQ4YzhlMzY2OWE1NzQx">”My name is Sand Basket. You?” (Sand Basket)</p> <p class="cnNiM2RhNjE3YzYwNjRlYmFiM2I3NzBiNjM1MWEzODM5">”Qwerty Uozewe.”</p> <p class="cnMwYjc2NTQ2N2Q0NDQ1OGE4NWMwNDczNzk5ZTI5NDhl">”Eh? You a Noble?” (Sand Basket)</p> <p class="cnM0NWI1ZTVjNjkyMTRiOWI5OWNjOGI5MWYzNDZlMTgz">”...No.”</p> <p class="cnM4NGM2Zjk2NWU3OTQ2MzNiNDRmZWNlMWNmZThkYzdh">”Using a street name like that will bring you only trouble.” (Sand Basket)</p> <p class="cnM5MjEwNzQzNTczNTQ2NzViNzA1M2Q1ODc3NzE1Y2Jl">”I know. I don't care.”</p> <p class="cnM0OWJhN2YzNTVmNjQ3YjA5ZjdiNWJjMjgyNjliODIw">Oh crap. I accidentally gave my account name instead of coming up with a plausible in-universe street name. Only nobles use surnames here in Suleiman's territories and it takes a special kind of idiot to use a street name without a clear meaning.</p> <p class="cnNhYWE0ODdmYjBjMzQzMzA4NzFiNWM4YmE3ZjE2ZjNk">Well, my game name has a meaning, but it's unknown to these people. Too late to take it back now, I just have to own it.</p> <p class="cnM3N2M5Mzg4NzU2NTQzOWM5ODQ4NDZjNDhkNDJlYzBm">”You got 'em some clean clothes. Took 'em from a noble?” (Sand Basket)</p> <p class="cnNhZGFiNDZjZWY5NjRiZmI5ZjYwMDc1NmJmODI4NGY4">”Yeah, something like that.”</p> <p class="cnMwZWM1NzE3MTk1MTQ5MzE5MzM1OTlhMGFiYjI1MmRm">In the anime, most of the characters – especially elder gang members – wore brightly-colored, custom-tailored and customized clothes. The in-universe reason was that these war-gangs had a street culture similar to <em>kabukimono</em> of Japan or <em>sapeurs</em> of Congo, but the real reason for colorful clothing was probably the same as with the simple street names: to make the characters easily distinguishable and memorable to anime viewers.</p> <p class="cnM0MmExMzBlMGQxZjQ5OGQ4ZDVmNzA2NmU0ZGJmMTU1">I was actually pretty sure I wouldn't stand out too much even in my casual long sleeve shirt and cargo pants, although I should at least throw a random travel cloak on top.</p> <p class="cnM0NDQ0MDI0YzQ3YjQxNGJiZTFjYWI0MDA3NzVjNWQ3">By the way, one of the anime filler episodes was a town raid to steal new clothes because the gang leaders wanted to run a improvised fashion show. Not the best episode, that one.</p> <p class="cnM4OWQ3ODc5YzBiYjQ4MzA5ZDE2MWM2ZTMyZmMxNzYw">Anyway, with my casual modern clothes I probably looked like an elder, successful gangster. For starters, I was healthier than the baseline here and my clothes were clean, even when I was seemingly traveling alone and without any visible firearms. The safest assumption from the boy's perspective was that I had a hidden firearm or skills I could use to protect myself.</p> <p class="cnNjZWFiYTNhZGNlZTQwOTQ4ZmE5M2U3ZDRiZWE1YWZj">Most gang members didn't survive beyond their teens; a 25-year old like me was already an old, respected veteran.</p> <p class="cnM0MDY0ZWI3YTEwMjRmODE5NjIxNTgyODRiNWNiNzBh">By the way, the hair colors in Mu-Ur Quincunx were surprisingly subtle compared to other anime series. Only few characters had naturally blue hair.</p> <p class="cnNiNGVmZDFlYzFhMDQxZTdiY2MwYjIyOWMyZWI4NDNh">“Can you introduce me to the Slave Towers?”</p> <p class="cnNlYThlNjEzY2Q0MjQxYjI4ZmQ1M2QwN2U3NGFiOWNi">“Sure, sure. Leader is at the top floor, but can't disturb him today. New woman. You staying?” (Sand Basket)</p> <p class="cnNmNzYxODI0YzBjNDRhZmM5ZTY4MzZiOWZkZGU4MTBj">”No, just passing through, heading south.”</p> <p class="cnM0MmQ2YmM3MWY4NzQ3YWE5MDJiMjdkZGNhNTU4ZDNm">”Oh, going to Crumbling Shores? What are you cooking? Weapons, drugs?” (Sand Basket)</p> <p class="cnNlZTRjODk0N2MzOTQwNDZiYzE4MzFmZWIwNzljMjNk">”For now, I'm looking for one brother and one sister.”</p> <p class="cnM0YzM5YmQzYTY0OTRmZDNhNTc5ZDJkY2U5NjgwYWZh">”Brother and sister?” (Sand Basket)</p> <p class="cnMwNTQxYmZmM2FhNjRhMGRiNGE4Njk4N2Y2MDNkNDA5">”Yes. They should be here. The boy probably wears a mask and the sister loudly calls his brother an idiot. They both have dark brown hair and –”</p> <p class="cnM4YjM0NjIyMjg3OTQyZGFiNGM0NTRiM2JkMWE1YjZm">”Oh, I know who you mean! That girl is so annoyingly loud...” (Sand Basket)</p> <p class="cnNkYjdlNjM3ZDU1NzRkNTI4Y2I0M2Q4YjhiODcyYzk3">Jackpot! The side characters were here.</p> <p class="cnNhNjEzN2ZhOWFkMDRiMGM4NjcyNWNmMzJhMjJmNzBh">“I'd like to talk with them.”</p> <p class="cnM2YmM3OWRjN2E5NTRmMmI4YmFiYzU0YzczZjhiNDRk">“You pay in krúrick?” (Sand Basket)</p> <p class="cnMzMTYxOWVjODIxZjRkZmM4OGU1YTk5YjMyZGY4NmNl">“I was thinking I'll pay with work for starters.”</p> <p class="cnNkNDY4MjhiNTBkNTRhZGJiZjUxOTJjYTc4ODRjNDYx">“Oh, right, right... I'll introduce you in, brother.” (Sand Basket)</p> <p class="cnNkZTE5MzEzYTIwZTRlNWVhMjNmNjUzYjg0ZGFlOTQz">The scout boy didn't seem to care why I wanted to talk to the sibling; don't ask too many annoying questions from a veteran gangster that walks alone.</p> <hr> <p class="cnM5MDBlYjUyYzYyYjRiZDM5MWM3NzkxNzJlYmUzNDc2">The Slave Towers complex looked like two spiralling apartment blocks connected by neo-gothic cast-iron bridges. Like most things built by Strangers, the architectural style was extravagant concrete-brutalism-meets-gothic-revival, with hints of geometric naturalism by Antoni Gaudí. They seemed to be heavily into Yugoslavian war monuments and Vauban star forts, to sum it up nicely.</p> <p class="cnM4NmY1NjNlODFkODRkODc5YzlhMjI4ZTI4M2Q1NzZk">Or let me put it this way: my art school trivia knowledge was meaningless in this world. I could only entertain myself with it.</p> <p class="cnNjYzI4OTM4ZDI2ZjQ5YmJhNTIzMGRhOGZiZjg0OTIw">An older boy was standing in guard at the small side gate of the Slave Towers. He was holding a naginata. The scout went ahead and explained to the guard who I was, then showed me another gang sign meaning “okay”.</p> <p class="cnMxZjU5MTRiOGY3ODRmYjc4ZWFlMDdlZGU2ZmE1MTMz">I approached the guard boy and talked to him in gang slang. “Please don't body block, that's not cool” was the implied meaning of my signs in a nutshell. Thankfully he approved and lead me inside, leaving the scout boy to stand at guard in his place.</p> <p class="cnM3YjRjYWFiMGIwNTRkZWRhODQwN2IyYWZmOTE5N2Q4">“So you want to talk to some younger members? What's that about?” (guard boy)</p> <p class="cnNmYzI2YzM2MWM4MzRlNWQ5ZjNkYmE3OGI0ZWM0YWNm">”Personal matter. Are they here?”</p> <p class="cnM5ZmU5OWQ0YTQ4MzRjNTBhMDM1MmE3ZjBkMjc1NTJh">”We don't sell members, you know?” (guard boy)</p> <p class="cnM4MGQzN2EwZmMxNTRlYWJhMWYwNjkzMDllNDk4OGUy">”I'm not buying slaves. I need to buy some information from them. I'll pay to this house with work. I don't carry any krúricks.”</p> <p class="cnM4OTg3ZTNmOTgyZDRjMTQ4ZmQ2Zjc5NmExOTA3ZjJl">”Right, right... they're at the second floor.” (guard boy)</p> <p class="cnMzYWQxZmRlODcwNzQ0ZmM4OWZjY2JmNGUzNGZkNGIy">The guard boy pointed at the second floor through a large hole in the ceiling. There seemed to be a large group of kids on the second floor making ropes out of threads and sewing clothes. I nodded at the guard boy and climbed the spiral staircase up to the second floor.</p> <p class="cnMwYzNhYjcyMGMzNTQ2YjQ4MmM4NzU1NTY3Y2Q0YmU1">I recognized the side characters sitting together in a corner immediately: a boy with a mask turned to the side of his head and a girl with a red hair ornament behind her ear. Magic Word and Snowstone, Word and Snow.</p> <p class="cnM1YzgzYzViMGIwMzQwZjZhN2UyYzQyZmYyMDlmNDIy">They were clearly younger than the characters in the game. I had a bad feeling about this.</p> <p class="cnNlMGI1ZmYyZjk5YzRmNjNhNmVkMzU1YzJiMjFhYmUy">“How do you do, fellow kids."</p> <p class="cnNjMGU2YmFjNmQ1MDRkM2U5ODIzYTkxM2VmYmUwNGM3">"Huh?" (Word)</p> <p class="cnM1YjZlMzk1MWVmZDQwOGNiY2ViNzQzYjVkODNlYWM2">"Greetings, I mean. Hi there. By the way, how old are you?”</p> <p class="cnM1ZjNjZjU2MjU1MzRlZGNhNjRmNTlkOWNiZGRhMWYx">“Who's asking?” (Word)</p> <p class="cnMwMzAzOWJlM2M4ODQ3YzM4OWU0MDg3YTE1M2I2NWNl">“Oh right, I should introduce myself first. I am Qwerty Uozewe. I'm 25 years old. What's your name?”</p> <p class="cnMyNTQxZDc0YTgxNjQyYWY5ZmNmOWZkZTkzNzQ0ODUz">“Word.” (Word)</p> <p class="cnM5MmM3OTkzZjFkYjQzNmU4MTM1ZGExMDY1YTM0ZDVj">“I see, I see. And how old are you?”</p> <p class="cnM0ZDExYTg3NmViZDQ0NTlhNzJlZmU3ZTI0ZWUyN2Iz">“Guess.” (Word)</p> <p class="cnMxNzc4YTQzMTM5NTRjZTY4ZmJmMzQ3NzMwM2E3YzJj">“Hmm, ten, no, twelve?”</p> <p class="cnM4OTRiYzQyNmVjZjQwN2JiYzU3NTViYjA5ZDE4Njhi">“Tch!” (Word)</p> <p class="cnMzMGNiM2RiY2E1ZDQ2YmVhMDEyMWIxZmI1YTBjMzg0">“Twelve was right? Are you sure?”</p> <p class="cnM4MmNjYjQwYTI2YzQ5Yzc5MmU2OWY2ODZhMjkzYTc1">“You think I'm stupid or something? I can count.” (Word)</p> <p class="cnNmYTNmN2M1N2VmODQzYzk5ZTI5ODEzZTRlZjE0MmRi">“Yes, sorry that I doubted you. Nice to meet you, Word. What is your sisters name?”</p> <p class="cnM4ODQ1ZjYzMzdkZDQyNTA4ZGY4YWYxNWM2NGJjNWVh">“She's not my sister.” (Word)</p> <p class="cnMwYTU4OGE1MjA4ZDRkNTZhMDlhZjU5NzJkMDU3MzY0">“Shut up, idiot! Your name is Date and my name is Sun!” (Snow)</p> <p class="cnMwYjc2ODNjZGRmYTRjOThhNGQ0MTc1OWIyYzM5MDU5">“Don't use our slave names, fool!” (Word)</p> <p class="cnNjMTZkYmM1MjlmMzQwMTFiMTgyYTAxZDJlMjEyNWY4">Yep, they were definitely the same characters. But Date and Sun? So they had actual real names that were never used in the series... No, rather than that, if they are only twelve years old now, that means...</p> <p class="cnM4YmY4ZjI3MjhhMzRiN2I5NDZkZTU4M2Q2MzI3ZWFh">...it's three years before they go to school. That means Inside Out School hasn't been found yet, It's still just a haunted house in the Black Forest.</p> <p class="cnNmNmE0NDI1NzMxZTQwNWFiNDZhYWE0YzVmOTllNGNj">Starfish Mansion hasn't been found yet either. The twins are still far south somewhere.</p> <p class="cnNjNzYwODZhZTY5ZjRjNWI5OGJkMzYzOGViYzQxNWEz">Rainwoman and Sorry Man are still at the station</p> <p class="cnM2ZTlmMTMyZGJkMTQ3YzI4ZjUxNTcwMjc1YmIwNWU5">This is too early in the timeline! It's far too early!</p> <p class="cnMyYjY4NTZjMjEwZTQ1ODRhOWNhMzMxZGUxNDlkN2U1">No, wait. Calm down and think about it.</p> <p class="cnNiMmQ3ZGZiOGYyNDQzMzdhM2U2OWViZGI0MzA1M2Ix">I'm basically living in the flashback scenes. This run starts from negative numbers.</p> <p class="cnNkMmJkMmNkMzcwMzQ0YWI5MjBiYzNhYTk4ZTg5MTMz">Out of level bounds? <em>I'm out of time bounds</em>. How are you going to introduce this glitch in your walkthrough video, fellow speerunner CubePusher?</p> <p class="cnNlMWIyZjgyYmY5OTQ5NjJhMjFlMTdmMTVmNjBkMzVl">Rukhkh-bird hasn't made its nest yet.</p> <p class="cnM1MzMwNjlmMTA3ZTQ0NTQ5MmNiYTVlMDI2MjBmYTZk">Final boss hasn't powered-up yet.</p> <p class="cnMwZWNmMTVjZjk2MTQ0NzNiNmYyMDdkZWUxNjhmMmE0">In the anime time, the main characters were broken, war-weary addicts, and final boss Caliph Tze was gaining more and more power. At this point in the timeline, the main characters are still in good health and Caliph Tze is still vulnerable.</p> <p class="cnM1YzBkMzdmMWJmZTQwODc4ZDdiMTg3NGQxODVjYWI3">Isn't this actually good news? I'm running in the backstory, not in the main story. I have a huge pre-game advantage. I'm crazy-prepared. I don't have to trigger any check points or do any mandatory quests. I might be able accomplish something that was impossible in the game...</p> <p class="cnM1ZjFhYzI4ZWNiMzRhYjY4ZTA0YTAzMzAzMTkwMDhh">...I could actually get the good ending.</p> <p class="cnNlOWJlZWZhNGNmNTRiZDQ4NDQyZjE2MmQxZWU3MjQ3">&nbsp;</p> </div>

Speaking of side characters Magic Word and Snowstone, I had a few magic words I could give to the members of the Slave Towers gang. But I need to take some precautions and test if my knowledge about this world really works. If I show up unannounced, and talk like an outsider, they'll probably take my shoes and my life, and not in that order. Unfortunately this has to be a live test. *Can't make a world record run with safe strats*, as the saying goes. As I carefully approached the area next to the Slave Towers, I spotted a corner boy wearing a bright red scarf and holding an axe. He was sitting on a rotten tree trunk and eating dried meat while being wary of his surroundings. He was around 12 years old, old enough to live and work on his own in this world. The younger gang members usually patrolled the gang territory carrying weapons like axes and short swords just like in the game, while leaders and elders held the fort. A low-level scout character was perfect a for a dialogue test. Rather than being afraid, I felt a sudden surge of relief and confidence because the scout was wearing the familiar colors and patterns of a Slave Towers gang. The same colors as in the game. Ah, but he still had an axe. I only had sticks and stones. Should I return to the temple and try to steal the revolver from the monk before first contact with the gang? I had never fired a black powder revolver, though. In fact, I had never fired any real gun whatsoever. I might just embarrass myself, if I try to use it. They would surely take it from me and laugh at my incompetence. I'm not a mechanical engineer or a soldier. I can't start crafting and using unknown firearms like some overpowered light novel protagonist. I might be able to half-ass a compound bow if I could remember how the cables attach to pulleys, but there's not much market for bows when wild west era firearms exist. Granted, an art school dropout might make a killing in cultural circles of this world by inventing new art styles, but I don't think there's much market for modern art in a pseudo-post-apocalyptic world. Well, there was heavy RNG in real world art world as well. Certain lucky sponsorship encounters not happening would have surely lead to a world where van Gogh's paintings were nothing but worthless scribbles. Ugh, my skillset is so useless here. I should have kept a multi-tool on my belt at least. If only I'd known that I'm coming here, I would have taken a quick run at the nearest army surplus store. But let's not fall into complete despair; I took some basic self-defense classes a few years ago when I felt I was gaining weight and tried to get in shape. A kick in the groin and run away; the simplest and most practical street-tested self-defense lesson. And I do know how to talk to these war-gang members. I've done it thousands of times in the game and I've always been good at bluffing my way out of trouble. I'm a marathon livestreamer, I can keep talking even when my brains stop thinking. If things go bad, I can probably overpower a gaunt 12-year old. In the game, basic mooks had only few predictable attack patterns and you could easily manipulate the cycles, although I probably couldn't place much trust in those patterns here. I'm really talking myself into doing this. I can do this. Challenge accepted. Let's roll. Get to da choppa, Shinji. I placed the short wooden stick under my belt. In the game, wielding a weapon triggered gangsters to treat you as an enemy by default, so it was safer to walk in their turf without equipping a weapon. Hopefully their real behavior was close enough to that. I stepped out of my hiding place, clearly showing I was unarmed, and walked closer while repeating a series of hand gestures which looked like out of some strange rap video. Right hand up, ring finger bent; left hand slightly raised, ring finger bent; change right hand to a fist with thumb sideways and make a motion to left like cutting your neck, and at the same time, move left arm right, touching your belt. *Mu-Ur Quincunx* fact #184: if you do gangslang chorey fast enough at the start of an encounter, dialogue is triggered instead of battle. The scout boy sprung up and followed my hands with a serious look on his face. Time to start talking. “The wind is troubled today.” “This year.” (scout boy) “The whole horse.” “The whole horse.” (scout boy) After that word salad passphrase nonsense, we did a few fist bumps and tapped our chests. The scout lowered his axe and gave a relaxed smile. And there you go. I've hosted my speedrun livestream for years, I can deal with trolls and wannabe gangsters. Secret gang colors, secret codewords, secret handshakes. I knew all of them. I held all the keys. They used the same gangslang both in the anime and in the game, and only those who learned this constructed combination language of signs, gestures and phrases were trusted as members of the underground war-gang community in the Ur territories. This non sequitur slang became the official language of the Revolution Movement later, and it was a common game mechanism for several frustrating, randomized dialogue puzzles. As a speedrunner, I had naturally properly learned it to solve the unskippable puzzles quickly. At one point, I kept playing the hardest gangslang puzzles at No-Lands levels over and over again until I could solve them in my sleep; all that just to shave a few seconds consistently. By the way, this was one of the common misunderstandings about speedrunners; that they always took the easiest shortcut. No, speedrunners took the route that was fastest, even if it was the *hardest*. Get from start to finish as fast as possible, no matter how much time and work you have to put into it in the real world. “You coming from the north, brother?” (scout boy) “Yeah. Stray Dog City.” “You know Fetcher?” (scout boy) “He's the man of the gate.” “Ou, he's still at it!” (scout boy) The character named Fetcher was one of the neutral NPC's in the Stray Dog City level. He sold cheap battle drugs around the city gates and scouted for the Stray Dogs gang. He was portrayed as an old, low-intelligence member who couldn't rise in the gang ranks. ”My name is Sand Basket. You?” (Sand Basket) ”Qwerty Uozewe.” ”Eh? You a Noble?” (Sand Basket) ”...No.” ”Using a street name like that will bring you only trouble.” (Sand Basket) ”I know. I don't care.” Oh crap. I accidentally gave my account name instead of coming up with a plausible in-universe street name. Only nobles use surnames here in Suleiman's territories and it takes a special kind of idiot to use a street name without a clear meaning. Well, my game name has a meaning, but it's unknown to these people. Too late to take it back now, I just have to own it. ”You got 'em some clean clothes. Took 'em from a noble?” (Sand Basket) ”Yeah, something like that.” In the anime, most of the characters – especially elder gang members – wore brightly-colored, custom-tailored and customized clothes. The in-universe reason was that these war-gangs had a street culture similar to *kabukimono* of Japan or *sapeurs* of Congo, but the real reason for colorful clothing was probably the same as with the simple street names: to make the characters easily distinguishable and memorable to anime viewers. I was actually pretty sure I wouldn't stand out too much even in my casual long sleeve shirt and cargo pants, although I should at least throw a random travel cloak on top. By the way, one of the anime filler episodes was a town raid to steal new clothes because the gang leaders wanted to run a improvised fashion show. Not the best episode, that one. Anyway, with my casual modern clothes I probably looked like an elder, successful gangster. For starters, I was healthier than the baseline here and my clothes were clean, even when I was seemingly traveling alone and without any visible firearms. The safest assumption from the boy's perspective was that I had a hidden firearm or skills I could use to protect myself. Most gang members didn't survive beyond their teens; a 25-year old like me was already an old, respected veteran. By the way, the hair colors in Mu-Ur Quincunx were surprisingly subtle compared to other anime series. Only few characters had naturally blue hair. “Can you introduce me to the Slave Towers?” “Sure, sure. Leader is at the top floor, but can't disturb him today. New woman. You staying?” (Sand Basket) ”No, just passing through, heading south.” ”Oh, going to Crumbling Shores? What are you cooking? Weapons, drugs?” (Sand Basket) ”For now, I'm looking for one brother and one sister.” ”Brother and sister?” (Sand Basket) ”Yes. They should be here. The boy probably wears a mask and the sister loudly calls his brother an idiot. They both have dark brown hair and –” ”Oh, I know who you mean! That girl is so annoyingly loud...” (Sand Basket) Jackpot! The side characters were here. “I'd like to talk with them.” “You pay in krúrick?” (Sand Basket) “I was thinking I'll pay with work for starters.” “Oh, right, right... I'll introduce you in, brother.” (Sand Basket) The scout boy didn't seem to care why I wanted to talk to the sibling; don't ask too many annoying questions from a veteran gangster that walks alone. --- The Slave Towers complex looked like two spiralling apartment blocks connected by neo-gothic cast-iron bridges. Like most things built by Strangers, the architectural style was extravagant concrete-brutalism-meets-gothic-revival, with hints of geometric naturalism by Antoni Gaudí. They seemed to be heavily into Yugoslavian war monuments and Vauban star forts, to sum it up nicely. Or let me put it this way: my art school trivia knowledge was meaningless in this world. I could only entertain myself with it. An older boy was standing in guard at the small side gate of the Slave Towers. He was holding a naginata. The scout went ahead and explained to the guard who I was, then showed me another gang sign meaning “okay”. I approached the guard boy and talked to him in gang slang. “Please don't body block, that's not cool” was the implied meaning of my signs in a nutshell. Thankfully he approved and lead me inside, leaving the scout boy to stand at guard in his place. “So you want to talk to some younger members? What's that about?” (guard boy) ”Personal matter. Are they here?” ”We don't sell members, you know?” (guard boy) ”I'm not buying slaves. I need to buy some information from them. I'll pay to this house with work. I don't carry any krúricks.” ”Right, right... they're at the second floor.” (guard boy) The guard boy pointed at the second floor through a large hole in the ceiling. There seemed to be a large group of kids on the second floor making ropes out of threads and sewing clothes. I nodded at the guard boy and climbed the spiral staircase up to the second floor. I recognized the side characters sitting together in a corner immediately: a boy with a mask turned to the side of his head and a girl with a red hair ornament behind her ear. Magic Word and Snowstone, Word and Snow. They were clearly younger than the characters in the game. I had a bad feeling about this. “How do you do, fellow kids." "Huh?" (Word) "Greetings, I mean. Hi there. By the way, how old are you?” “Who's asking?” (Word) “Oh right, I should introduce myself first. I am Qwerty Uozewe. I'm 25 years old. What's your name?” “Word.” (Word) “I see, I see. And how old are you?” “Guess.” (Word) “Hmm, ten, no, twelve?” “Tch!” (Word) “Twelve was right? Are you sure?” “You think I'm stupid or something? I can count.” (Word) “Yes, sorry that I doubted you. Nice to meet you, Word. What is your sisters name?” “She's not my sister.” (Word) “Shut up, idiot! Your name is Date and my name is Sun!” (Snow) “Don't use our slave names, fool!” (Word) Yep, they were definitely the same characters. But Date and Sun? So they had actual real names that were never used in the series... No, rather than that, if they are only twelve years old now, that means... ...it's three years before they go to school. That means Inside Out School hasn't been found yet, It's still just a haunted house in the Black Forest. Starfish Mansion hasn't been found yet either. The twins are still far south somewhere. Rainwoman and Sorry Man are still at the station This is too early in the timeline! It's far too early! No, wait. Calm down and think about it. I'm basically living in the flashback scenes. This run starts from negative numbers. Out of level bounds? *I'm out of time bounds*. How are you going to introduce this glitch in your walkthrough video, fellow speerunner CubePusher? Rukhkh-bird hasn't made its nest yet. Final boss hasn't powered-up yet. In the anime time, the main characters were broken, war-weary addicts, and final boss Caliph Tze was gaining more and more power. At this point in the timeline, the main characters are still in good health and Caliph Tze is still vulnerable. Isn't this actually good news? I'm running in the backstory, not in the main story. I have a huge pre-game advantage. I'm crazy-prepared. I don't have to trigger any check points or do any mandatory quests. I might be able accomplish something that was impossible in the game... ...I could actually get the good ending.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM0OGIwMjk2ZTEwMDRkYTQ5MTgyNjExMDcwOWIxNmE1">The cold ground could be felt against the soft skin of an old man, with hair graying as swiftly as it takes for a fly to be born and die. Warm rays of sun penetrated an imaginary layer on the old man's body, introducing a warm sensation of heat within him. The sound of footsteps could be heard to his right, as a young woman with crimson red hair would find herself walking forward to the old being.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhYmUzMGVlNjJlYzQ4NzU4Nzg4N2M2OGM0ZDVhYmMx">"Your Majesty, we believe an heir has successfully been found to inherit your throne."&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjZmFkZGNmYzk2MjRlMDY4NTJiN2RmNjM0YmY0YjE1">The woman spoke in a polite manner, respectfully bowing as she spoke her serious words. This would trigger the old man to speak, as he glanced over to the woman with an expression showing his calmed emotions.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4NWQwMzIxOTJiMzQyNjQ5ZjJmY2JlNjhiYzIzYmI1">"Show me the boy, for I want to see the next ruler of these lands."</p> <p class="cnNjODg2ZWNlMWZmMTQwOWM4Nzc4ZDM0OTBlZjZkNDY3">The woman nod her head, as she would return out the room, heading through the nearby door. Around three minutes would pass, until the door opened yet again. The return of the flame-headed woman would come, as she brought in a child with dark hair. Specifically, it would be as dark as a night in a polluted city, without stars. This seemed to give joy to the old king, as he smiled.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwOWFiYWEzYmEzMzQ1MDdhODAzYjc4ZTZiNWQ3MTVh">"This boy will take my kingdom, and rule as the king of relevance."</p> <p class="cnM3MDAwNGQyYmM4YzRlYWFiNjA3ZWQ3NTUyODY1YjQz">A week would go by, as the small black-haired child would be crowned a king. A new ruler for an old kingdom, filled with a variety of humans. To those within the kingdom, a day of rejoice would be set. A day to enjoy the continuing of a still-great land. All until flames would be all the eye could see, as death brought itself to the uncalled kingdom. The old king, a man of previous joy, glanced down upon the ravaging of what his lands used to be. As a deep feeling of cold and bitterness reverberated throughout his now limp body. A knife sat within his back, as he fell from the top of his balcony onto the hard ground below.</p> <p class="cnM0NjIyZjAxZmJkMDQ4M2Q5YTkxZmI2Nzk3OTQ2ZmIz">Zorome, a human girl belonging to the kingdom of Kasengo, quickly found herself jolting upward within her bed. The fair-skinned girl quickly reached her hand toward her lower back, as if feeling for that of a stab wound. Nothing out of the ordinary would be there.</p> <p class="cnNjZTE0NDdlM2Y5NDRjZDI4OTE0NmUzYTM3M2IwZTAx">"A King's Inevitable Downfall?"</p> <p class="cnNiZTJiYmU3ZDI5ODQxYWRiMzQwODBmMDQ0YThlYzA3">Attempting to shrug the strange 'dream' off, the messy blonde haired woman hurried to get out of bed. Her first action would be to make her way to the nearest mirror, inspecting her sleepy head of hair. With how it currently remained, unbrushed and messy, she would feel somewhat embarrassed should she decide to leave her home without doing anything. As such, the teen grabbed the nearest brush, and quickly released the knots within her hair.</p> <p class="cnMzZjU4MDFjMmM0ZDRiYjk5MWY0MmU2YWM4OTA2OWIz">"To think I could dream something like that. . ."</p> <p class="cnM0MDU2NmQ4YzMxMDRhZjNhM2Y0NjQzMjM3NzA5MjZl">Regardless of her night, she smiled and continued with her daily routine.</p> <p class="cnNmNTA0ZDkzNDczNzQ2NDg4NmY5MThkYjMyYjlmMWM0">Eventually, Zorome found herself walking out into the open streets of her town, Falton. Falton remained as a lower middle class town near the capital, as the majority of people who lived in Falton were less fortunate with money and societal standing.</p> <p class="cnNiZGViNjFjMWJmNDRlMzM4MzQ4NDc4NWFlOGI5NmQ0">She continued her walk down the open streets, until the nearest guild building came into sight of her lime-green eyes. This would follow with her entering, as the sight of a friendly high elf would welcome her.</p> <p class="cnM0OWQ1MGQyNDg1ODRlOTM5ZTA3NWU3NmU4NDNjM2Fi">"Welcome back Zoro!"&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM5ZGEzODdhYzI0MTQwZjI4OGJlNjhkYTQ0MWUzNjdm">The teen would feel two hands wrap around her, as one of her friends with pink hair could be seen. The elven girl wore a white tank top, and black shorts to keep her movements swift. Sitting above her shoulders was that of a leather cloak, which completed the outfit. To top it all off, she carried an expression of a bright smile.</p> <p class="cnM5NzA0M2E4MGJiYTRiYzg5ZTI4ZTkzYTAzN2ZkNWQw">"Ki- You seem like you're doing well today."</p> <p class="cnNiMGIyZTFhMzdlMjRmODViNjE0Njk0NTk4YTU3M2Ix">Speaking out in a buoyant tone of voice, Zorome would smile. Her arms would move in a similar movement to Ki's, giving a plentiful hug to the slightly shorter girl. This would be followed by a quick pat on her head, which ended the short moment of hugging.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjNzcwM2FkY2FlMDQwMDY4N2VmMGYzNzUzZWNlMGYx">"Have you picked out a quest for us to do today, and hopefully something Silver-leveled this time?"</p> <p class="cnNjZTMzYzA4NWUxZjQ4ZGJiZGJlYWU3YzAzNGY4Mzcw">The blonde haired swords woman gave off a curious look to Ki, joking around as to ensure she didn't pick the wrong guild-class quest this time around. As if wasting no time, she would open her mouth and speak in an ecstatic tone of voice.</p> <p class="cnM5YTA4OWE0MjM2OTRlN2I5OGQ2ODIwZTYxMDUzYTZm">"We're going to slay some creatures that are causing trouble in the forest this time, and it's a silver quest just like we need!"</p> <p class="cnNhNWVjYjJiMTM1YzRlOWNhMmM5MTk2Njk4OTIwYzky">The rogue continued to give a thumbs up, before moving over toward the rest of the party. The two girls found themselves at a familiar desk, glancing toward three friendly faces. Together, they made up a party. This party would be called 'Genlock', a group of three girls and two guys alike.</p> <p class="cnNjMDkzNjI0ZWRlZDQ1M2M4YTY1NGY3M2FhYzUzZDkw">&nbsp;In particular, the tallest of the group would be a man called Varou, who was a swordsman. Being a human who fought many battles, he wore a simple outfit involving a black shirt, leather pants, and iron plates of armor to help protect him. Sai would be next, a human girl who studied magic as a mage. Her casual attire took on the form of long gray leggings and a chain-mail vest to protect herself. Her hair would be pinned together using hair clips the shape of an infinite symbol, as to prevent hair from getting in her eyes. The party would be finished to introductions with Kel, another elf in the party. Wearing leather armor, he kept himself to studying Archery and Summons.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjMGZhNDRlNDM2OTRkODg4NWJjYWFmNzc1MjIxMWE4">With all of that put together, Genlock would be complete. The group of misfits, bad personalities and good personalities alike, remained as a family to each other. Though, they had to stick together if they wanted to complete the missions they received for money. It wouldn't take much longer than two minutes to depart from the guild building, as they made their way off for their quest.</p> <p class="cnM5MTBiNDM2ZDY2MzQ1MGViYTUxMGViN2Q0YjdhNGZk">Around thirty minutes after leaving, the group would be well on their way toward the nearby forest labeled 'Grim of the Dark'. This would be due to what creatures lie within it, specifically the most dangerous ones which escaped at the time of night fall. While ordinarily a party would be scared or nervous to enter this area, it was bright outside. This meant that there wasn't anything specifically to be fearful for. Arriving toward that of a webbed cave, the party would enter, holding weapons tightly within hand.</p> <p class="cnNjN2FhOGJmYjVlNjRjYTBiOWQyODk3N2QzMjBjMWFj">&nbsp;</p> </div>

The cold ground could be felt against the soft skin of an old man, with hair graying as swiftly as it takes for a fly to be born and die. Warm rays of sun penetrated an imaginary layer on the old man's body, introducing a warm sensation of heat within him. The sound of footsteps could be heard to his right, as a young woman with crimson red hair would find herself walking forward to the old being.  "Your Majesty, we believe an heir has successfully been found to inherit your throne."  The woman spoke in a polite manner, respectfully bowing as she spoke her serious words. This would trigger the old man to speak, as he glanced over to the woman with an expression showing his calmed emotions.  "Show me the boy, for I want to see the next ruler of these lands." The woman nod her head, as she would return out the room, heading through the nearby door. Around three minutes would pass, until the door opened yet again. The return of the flame-headed woman would come, as she brought in a child with dark hair. Specifically, it would be as dark as a night in a polluted city, without stars. This seemed to give joy to the old king, as he smiled.  "This boy will take my kingdom, and rule as the king of relevance." A week would go by, as the small black-haired child would be crowned a king. A new ruler for an old kingdom, filled with a variety of humans. To those within the kingdom, a day of rejoice would be set. A day to enjoy the continuing of a still-great land. All until flames would be all the eye could see, as death brought itself to the uncalled kingdom. The old king, a man of previous joy, glanced down upon the ravaging of what his lands used to be. As a deep feeling of cold and bitterness reverberated throughout his now limp body. A knife sat within his back, as he fell from the top of his balcony onto the hard ground below. Zorome, a human girl belonging to the kingdom of Kasengo, quickly found herself jolting upward within her bed. The fair-skinned girl quickly reached her hand toward her lower back, as if feeling for that of a stab wound. Nothing out of the ordinary would be there. "A King's Inevitable Downfall?" Attempting to shrug the strange 'dream' off, the messy blonde haired woman hurried to get out of bed. Her first action would be to make her way to the nearest mirror, inspecting her sleepy head of hair. With how it currently remained, unbrushed and messy, she would feel somewhat embarrassed should she decide to leave her home without doing anything. As such, the teen grabbed the nearest brush, and quickly released the knots within her hair. "To think I could dream something like that. . ." Regardless of her night, she smiled and continued with her daily routine. Eventually, Zorome found herself walking out into the open streets of her town, Falton. Falton remained as a lower middle class town near the capital, as the majority of people who lived in Falton were less fortunate with money and societal standing. She continued her walk down the open streets, until the nearest guild building came into sight of her lime-green eyes. This would follow with her entering, as the sight of a friendly high elf would welcome her. "Welcome back Zoro!"  The teen would feel two hands wrap around her, as one of her friends with pink hair could be seen. The elven girl wore a white tank top, and black shorts to keep her movements swift. Sitting above her shoulders was that of a leather cloak, which completed the outfit. To top it all off, she carried an expression of a bright smile. "Ki- You seem like you're doing well today." Speaking out in a buoyant tone of voice, Zorome would smile. Her arms would move in a similar movement to Ki's, giving a plentiful hug to the slightly shorter girl. This would be followed by a quick pat on her head, which ended the short moment of hugging.  "Have you picked out a quest for us to do today, and hopefully something Silver-leveled this time?" The blonde haired swords woman gave off a curious look to Ki, joking around as to ensure she didn't pick the wrong guild-class quest this time around. As if wasting no time, she would open her mouth and speak in an ecstatic tone of voice. "We're going to slay some creatures that are causing trouble in the forest this time, and it's a silver quest just like we need!" The rogue continued to give a thumbs up, before moving over toward the rest of the party. The two girls found themselves at a familiar desk, glancing toward three friendly faces. Together, they made up a party. This party would be called 'Genlock', a group of three girls and two guys alike.  In particular, the tallest of the group would be a man called Varou, who was a swordsman. Being a human who fought many battles, he wore a simple outfit involving a black shirt, leather pants, and iron plates of armor to help protect him. Sai would be next, a human girl who studied magic as a mage. Her casual attire took on the form of long gray leggings and a chain-mail vest to protect herself. Her hair would be pinned together using hair clips the shape of an infinite symbol, as to prevent hair from getting in her eyes. The party would be finished to introductions with Kel, another elf in the party. Wearing leather armor, he kept himself to studying Archery and Summons.  With all of that put together, Genlock would be complete. The group of misfits, bad personalities and good personalities alike, remained as a family to each other. Though, they had to stick together if they wanted to complete the missions they received for money. It wouldn't take much longer than two minutes to depart from the guild building, as they made their way off for their quest. Around thirty minutes after leaving, the group would be well on their way toward the nearby forest labeled 'Grim of the Dark'. This would be due to what creatures lie within it, specifically the most dangerous ones which escaped at the time of night fall. While ordinarily a party would be scared or nervous to enter this area, it was bright outside. This meant that there wasn't anything specifically to be fearful for. Arriving toward that of a webbed cave, the party would enter, holding weapons tightly within hand.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM2N2EzOGM3ZWFjNTQ1M2I5YmMyOWU4NmI3ZTBhM2Vj" style="text-align: center"><strong><img src="https://i.imgur.com/IgLgxmL.png" alt="" width="250" height="12"></strong></p> <h4 style="text-align: center"><strong>A palace beyond<br></strong></h4> <h4 style="text-align: center"><strong>Places below, Fourth Ring<br></strong></h4> <p class="cnM4ZDkwMmQ2ZmY3MDRjOGI5YmE3ZTlkZDAzM2Y5MWI5" style="text-align: center"><strong><img src="https://i.imgur.com/IgLgxmL.png" alt="" width="250" height="12"></strong></p> <p class="cnM3ZGZjOWFlMzU1NDQ5ZDFiMjhjMDk5Mjg5MTFmZTk4">Annabelle was struggling on the inside. She let Tharia continue the conversation while she was left to the whirling chaos of thoughts inside of her. She fought against the sensations the palace brought her. With each pulse, there came a curious clarity of mind. It was an euphoric rush she thirsted for. At first, the pulse healed her wounds, no matter how tiny. In time it brought back an aspect of understanding she had lost when she fell. The letters of the cursed tongue no longer escaped from her view and she let her gaze wander. The words on the door communicated the concept of a True Vessel while the plant itself had been inscribed with a concept of harvest.</p> <p class="cnMwNzNmMGIwMDY3ZjRiYjhhOWY4ODJjOTdjOTY5ZGIz">This was what the gods really were, what she had been at some point too: Cruel beyond measure. She understood it now as the energy surged through her and awakened fragments of her divine self. All that mattered back then was a carefully curated act. It was all to get close to humans, to instill them with hope and then harvest their emotions as they fell to despair. This was a part of her memory that hadn’t made sense until now. Why did she have fond memories of suffering people? It was because her kind thrived on passions. Everything they did, they did to instill even stronger passions in people. Religious zeal, incomparable lust, elation over miracles, the gratefulness at having been healed – it all served passion.</p> <p class="cnNhZWVkNGZmZTM4NDQwZDdiODdhZDQxOGU4MzYwYjI1">With this clarity, there also came a realization. She had broken through. Those feelings inside of her were her own. She did love Tharia now, it wasn’t just a parasitic make pretend. Yet what defined divinity? Absolute power over creation. The power to keep a man alive against his will for what amounted to centuries of suffering.</p> <p class="cnMyNDVlNWUwN2M3ZDQ5ZjJiM2ZkNzZkYmFiNDIwOGY4">“We should fulfill his wish”, Annabelle said when the conversation reached a quiet point. The man quickly nodded.</p> <p class="cnMxYjhhZThkNmQyZDQ3YTlhODUwZDE0NTY1ZDY1ZTA3">“I would appreciate that very much”, he replied.</p> <p class="cnM0NzljODhmM2Q0ODQxNjhhMzczNGQ4YmFmMjA2N2U1">Tharia looked at her and then nodded. In reaction, Annabelle moved her scythe to the side. Getting into a combat stance was second nature to her. She opted for a quick slash from her right and twisted her torso into it. Air sang as the blade cut through it, yet the delicacy of the sound was cut short by an ugly crunch as the weapon cut straight through his neck. It fell to the ground where it stared up at her with empty eyes.</p> <p class="cnM5MDBkM2M0MzRmODRhZTdhMmU3NTk0YjEwMGFkODMy">“I’m sorry for what my kind did to you”, Annabelle said and felt a sudden knot in her stomach as the body remained standing and the head dissolved into a golden light. Pulse after pulse soured into the corpse until the head reappeared on his neck. A shudder followed and he was alive once more. He looked at Annabelle with pleading eyes.</p> <p class="cnM4YjNkNzUzNWYxZTQwNmY4MGQ5YTA2YzVjYmZhNzRm">“We need to somehow cut him off from the palace”</p> <p class="cnM3NmM0OTUzNGFjMjQ1MjhhOTc3Njc5MzhjOTU3YTQ3">Tharia bit her lower lip and wrapped her arms around her own chest. Her nose had a cute wrinkle and her eyebrows were narrowed. She suddenly sucked in air through her lips and smiled.</p> <p class="cnM5MTM3OWNlNTI3YzQ1MGFhZjM3NmFhMzUwMmI0M2E0">“Can you take a step back, I think I know how to do this but for it to work, you can’t be near”, Tharia said and while she spoke, she started to unwind the chain from her arm. The center piece she placed at the feet of the naked man while trying her best to not look at what was in front of her. Annabelle noticed a slight muscle tension in her own face and realized she was grinning. Shaking her head, she stepped outside of the ring her friend created with the chain. It didn’t take long before Tharia knelt down inside the barrier chain and raised her voice.</p> <p class="cnM1ZGE2NDY1M2JmNjRhYmVhNWM1NTU2MDY2ZjIxMDVh">“Holy Bethany, I seek your protection. Come forth and let none through. Pay special attention to the energy of the divine”</p> <p class="cnNhODY4OTVjMTY4MzQ5NGM4YjIxNTE0YzhlZmEzOWNl">A familiar dome sprang up from the arms of the chain. With the energy of the constant pulses, Annabelle could read the letters shaping around it. This chain really had been part of a palace at some point. Although it was dedicated to a god she had never heard of. Tharia was still chewing on her lower lip and Annabelle judged that without the spark inside of her, she would probably be bleeding all day long. Still, the two women looked at the plant.</p> <p class="cnMyYTliOTc1ZDliYzQzNTk4YmVhYjk5NTA2OWFhMTc5">The barrier had cut clean through its tendrils and the flower had regenerated them already once the next pulse came. It tried to return to the man but couldn’t get through the barrier. This was working. Tharia then got up from the ground and reached for the rapier.</p> <p class="cnNlODNjOGQ5ZTcxODQ0NzRhZDUxNTdjMGE5MWNlNWUz">“I really don’t enjoy this. Are you sure death is what you seek?” she asked. The man just nodded and Tharia drove the rapier straight through his chest. She had aimed well as the man quickly died. A rest of golden energy sprang up from the detached plant tendrils still inside the barrier but it wasn’t enough to bring the man back. The second he breathed his last, the palace suddenly shuddered.</p> <p class="cnM3NzMyZmY3ZmYwYTRmMWU5MzM0NmYxZGVmZDdkNjhl">At the far end of the room, the flower bulb opened up and unleashed a torrent of tendrils against the barrier. Spurned by explosive growth, it quickly enveloped the entire barrier from all sides, even below as sudden bumps in the ground could attest. Annabelle made a quick forward step and used her momentum to strike her scythe against the plants. She cut off a whole swath of tendrils and momentarily saw into the barrier, yet more growth covered up the hole.</p> <p class="cnNiYTVhNTQ0OWI1NTQzZDlhNGM2ZmEwMTdkZDUyZjQy">“Keep up the barrier”, Annabelle shouted, not knowing whether Tharia heard her, “I’ll deal with this unruly palace”</p> <p class="cnM2ZDUxMTdhZjRkNzQzMGQ4NzVmNmRhZjE4NWIwMmJi">She stumbled back and each step she gave was quickly conquered by an ever-growing plant. Soon, Annabelle stood outside the room and a thick web of plant matter pulled shut the door behind her. The goddess didn’t have time to ponder this, as a spear suddenly buzzed past her face. She blinked and stepped back by instinct, only to be clipped by another spear. A sharp but unimportant pang of pain followed.</p> <p class="cnMzNWVjOTA5MGY0ODQwOWY5YzNiNWI0NTY1NmFmYjFi">Annabelle saw a construct out of the corner of her eyes and quickly gained distance. It was a curious thing that had attacked her. Three metallic cones formed the legs while overgrown, cancerous looking flesh coalesced into a knot in the middle. A sphere of golden light pulsed from within the constructs and three multi-jointed metal arms held onto a selection of long spears. Two of which had drawn blood already, the third suddenly stabbed forward.</p> <p class="cnNlM2VhOGNjNzVmODRmZmY4NmFhZmZlMmRjY2UxYWM0">She hurriedly dodged to the side and just barely dodged a second spear. Uttering a curse she had picked up from Tharia, Annabelle weaved her way into the range of the spears and brought about her own Scythe. She twisted her torso for a horizontal cut and dislodged two of the arms and felt the blade bite into the golden sphere. The construct spasmed in place before falling to the ground.</p> <p class="cnM3MGE0NzBiYjY1OTQ0NDNhNWQwNTNiMTkxM2RkZjY4">Another pulse washed over her and she felt the tiny wounds close up again. Yet the construct at her feet started to reassemble itself as well. Annabelle slammed the handle into the sphere and turned it into a fine paste before it could reform. She then ran towards the end of the corridor. There weren’t many places the heart could be, especially with half of the place trashed.</p> <p class="cnMwODU5N2M3MzI5ZjQ0ZjViYmVlNTc1OWZhMWYxMDY0">The door gave her a momentary pause, it was stuck in a position that was half open. Using her scythe for leverage, she forced it open all the way, yet that proved almost fatal. Three spears suddenly punched straight through her abdomen. She stumbled forward with extreme pain and slid off the weapons. The pain really was too much to go on. Yet with the next pulse, the wounds closed enough for her to get back up on her feet. She brought the scythe around and caught two of the spears while the third stabbed right past her. Her eyes focused on the core inside the flesh. It too had regenerated.</p> <p class="cnM0ZjFmNDExZWU2OTQ4ZjM4OWJlY2Q5NmVhNmQxZWMz">Annabelle carefully moved back while checking the room around her. It was a long hallway with pillars in regular intervals. She saw hundreds of beds situated around a central path. Many of them were inclined half-way with flower bulbs attached to them. These flowers lay dormant at least. A grate ran underneath the beds and gave Annabelle a sudden idea. She once more focussed on the construct. It hobbled in her direction, seeing it walk on those metal legs was unsettling. It moved with jerking motions, one of the legs even dragged behind but despite all that, it had surprising speed.</p> <p class="cnNlYmYzODIwMWNhMDQ4ZWNiMzA5NDZjZWQ1NWE2ZmEy">She waited for the golden pulse to heal the remaining damage and then dashed towards the construct. It used all three of the spears to cover its body by keeping them in constant motion. Annabelle didn’t falter in her approach, she stormed directly for the core. One spear suddenly stabbed towards her but since she saw it coming, she sidestepped it easily. The second one stabbed towards her, she used the blunt side of her scythe to deflect it but the impact wrested the weapon from her hands. At no one’s surprise, the third spear impaled her all the way through.</p> <p class="cnM5YWY2MmM4ZjY4ZjRkZGJhYzY0ZTMxMGU0NDI1Yzlj">The goddess let out a loud scream and pushed on, forcing the spear deeper into her. Once she was close up, she grit her teeth and then held a hand towards the core of the construct. A war-fan appeared in an eruption of golden light and materialized directly inside the construct-core. Like before the strange being fell to the ground. With the spear still inside her, she collapsed on the ground and forced open the fan. She then patiently awaited the next pulse. It sent renewed agony through her body as the light couldn’t expel the spear in one go.</p> <p class="cnM5OWI1ZTVlYmY1OTQ0ZDk5YjI5ZGQzOTZiZDBiYWNm">It could, however, reshape the core of the construct. This time she flipped open the war-fan and cut it out of the flesh with the blade-side. Holding the pulsating sphere in her hands, she scrambled over towards the grates and while clenching her teeth, she jammed the sphere through the metal bars and into whatever was below.</p> <p class="cnM1ZDQ4YjAxMGMyOTQ5ZTQ4ODU5YjMxYmJjNjc3YTYw">With fading strength, she then reached for the spear and forced it out of her body. It fell to the ground with a clang while another pulse finally healed the damage. A cheeky grin found its way on her lips as the sphere reformed into the construct. It was locked underneath the grate and slammed it’s metal limbs against its prison.</p> <p class="cnM3M2I4N2JiYTY1NzQyMjc4YTlmZTMyMjU4MGFkYzYx">“To quote a friend, fuck you, your family and the high horse you came in on”, Annabelle said and ran a finger along her lips. Cursing really felt strange to her but she couldn’t deny a certain joy in doing so. Still, she would keep it to a limit. The goddess got back up and then made her way down the hallway. The beds were a depressing sight, many of them had stained sheets but only a few seemed to have been used recently at least. Her eyes saw metal clasps and name tags on many of these beds. She recognized some of the names. They belonged to children of nobility that had suddenly disappeared from public view.</p> <p class="cnMzYmZiODU1ZjRiZDQ2NjM5MjQzNzU2NzVhN2FmZjk4">One bed still had an inhabitant and the view made Annabelle nauseous. Whatever had been in it, was now in eternal agony. The skin lay flat on the reclined bed. She only knew it had been a human once because the skeleton lay on the ground, beside the suffering creature. It looked like it had been expelled one bone at a time. She had to fight off the queasy feeling by focussing on the path ahead.</p> <p class="cnNlODBkMGY1ZDNmYjRmZDliOTBmY2JlZmEzMDYwYTdh" style="text-align: center"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/ZPzywxR.png" alt="" width="252" height="25"></p> <p class="cnNlMzEyMGMwNzVjZTRiZDBhNGQ2YTQ0NjJkN2JjNDMx">Tharia had forced her eyes shut. She felt incomprehensible panic flood her senses and couldn’t understand why. During her time in the capital, she had seen worse and suffered worse. A sudden touch on her skin made her jump back until her back brushed against the barrier. Her eyes flew open and looked straight at a featureless golden woman. Even without eyes or a mouth, it looked straight at her.</p> <p class="cnMxOGFmOWYwNDM2ZjRiYzBhODc5YWYwZjQ3NmRiYmNm">“The prodigal child returns”, the shape said.</p> <p class="cnNlOGEwNjA5ODhlNDQyZDNhNzcxZWMyNWY3N2Q4ZmQ2">“Holy Bethany, expel all that doesn’t belong”, she shouted, but the shape of her trusty barrier sat on the ground, inactive. At least it kept the dome going. The golden figure swayed to the side and then suddenly leaped forward. Tharia suddenly felt glowing hands on her cheek.</p> <p class="cnNhZTJmM2M5OWY3MjRhYjJhNjY2Zjk5YWJmNWIyMzFh">Within a breath, she found herself in a strange place. Someone dragged her along by her arm, she noticed how thin it was and how small her fingers had become. When she shook her head, long black hair flowed down her shoulders. She hadn’t worn out her hair since she was a young teenager.</p> <p class="cnMzY2UzZmRlMzJjNDQ1Yjk4ZjdhNTM2YjQxMmUyMWJl">The hand that dragged her along was filled with odd detail. She saw every pore and wrinkle in it, yet the rest of the body disappeared into a vague shape. Her ears heard a sudden distorted voice.</p> <p class="cnNjYzMzYWE2NGNhNDRhNTY5ZWEyZjJmMGYxZWNjMDMz">“Your cruelty seems inspired”, it said.</p> <p class="cnMzNzRlMTM4NDc4NjRjMDM4YmE4ODQ1Y2VmZGExOGYz">She tried to make out who was talking but only saw a shape. Another voice answered and she felt her young teenage body shudder with fear.</p> <p class="cnMzOGNlMDk3ODk2YjQyZjQ5NzBiYzQxYzJjNDZiNDJh">“Of course it is. This thing here has no worth. It may further our purposes or perish, both are equally beneficial”, the voice said.</p> <p class="cnMyNjNlN2FhMGE0YzRiOWU5YWE4MTBhNTdlZGNlMDk1">“Papa?” young Tharia spoke with a whimper and tears on her cheeks.</p> <p class="cnM3NWVkNWY2ZWMxYzQ1MDM5YzhhOTM2MDc1NmZjNWUy">“Put that thing on the bed, let’s begin with the ascension process”, her father said without paying her any further attention. Adult Tharia noticed that his face lacked all detail, safe for that mustache that had always intimidated her. Her young body was suddenly lifted off the ground and pushed into one of the reclined beds. Metal clasps forced it into place.</p> <p class="cnMyZWE1ZGNiNzQ4YTQ3Zjg5MWE0Y2NiYThmYjgwNmUz">“Papa!?” young Tharia screamed.</p> <p class="cnMyMzBlY2FlMWEzMTQ3ZWE4NGE4ZTg3YzNiYjQ4YmM1">Another person suddenly stepped into view. It too was just a formless shape until it spoke with a voice adult Tharia had come to hate.</p> <p class="cnMzNTAwMGIwMjg5YjRiYzQ5ZTJiOGQ2YjU0MWViNTk2">“This is not how this must go, Mister Verholden”, the Muse said. His figure suddenly became focussed. He looked like a younger version of himself. The hair still had color in it too.</p> <p class="cnNjNTQyODMxYjAxMDRjZWE4MWMxNGZhZWRiOWZhNTgz">“You know very well that the subject must agree to it, or failure is guaranteed. Unless you wish to sabotage this one for the sake of your cultivated neglect”, the Muse chastised her father.</p> <p class="cnMyYTRmOTNmYmIwZjQwZGVhOThhNjIyMWUyNGNjZTc4">"She's only here because that divine brat gave her a fragment of power", her father snarled but then sighed in exasperation.</p> <p class="cnM1MzU4ZTQ4ZGU3ODQzNzFiNDIwODQzYjY1NWQ0M2M2">All that time, the young girl had struggled with her bindings. The wrists hurt and so did her legs. Yet when a sudden strong scent filled her nostrils, she held completely still. A face with a mustache appeared in front of her. It was featureless at first but then memory quickly pieced in the details. The saw the disdain on it, the hatred this man felt for her. How she had disappointed him, how useless she had always been to everyone around her. How vile her existence was, to be of no use to anyone.</p> <p class="cnMyN2RmN2RjOWFlZDQ3ZjY5NTZmYjRlOTEzMmQxNzAw">“Very well then. Child. Your divine friend left you for dead. She couldn’t stand your pathetic whining and your pitiable weakness. Me? I’m a generous father but I’ve got limits too. I offer you a chance to earn my affection and win back your friend you so dearly and foolishly love. Do you want to be strong? Do you seek a use in life?”</p> <p class="cnM5ZmZjOThjYTcyYTRjNGM5MjEwOTRjMzFhMzUwNzJm">Adult Tharia was disgusted at what she saw but her younger self agreed with hope flooding her senses. Both versions saw her father turn around with a smug expression.</p> <p class="cnM0YzI5ZjRjMDJkNTQ0OWQ4M2E0MGViM2JjMWFkZTA3">“Happy now, Zuresti?” he said and walked away.</p> <p class="cnNkM2MyNmQzODhlMjQyNzNiODQ1Zjg4MDVjNzMxMTlk">Time passed. She had no idea how long. A golden figure suddenly appeared hovering above her. It floated down until it touched her skin and without even giving pause, the golden figure poured into her. Crushing agony pulsed through her every vein and made her small body thrash on the bed.</p> <p class="cnM4Yzc1MzVlMDNjZDRkZDg4ZWQ5ZjQ3OTI2NTdhY2Zi">In the midst of the pain, she felt someone force open her hand. Something ticklish was poured into it. Young Tharia stared with feverish eyes at the visage of the Muse.</p> <p class="cnM1ODAxMWU3YTE3ZTRiNjg4YTU0ZDA3ZTI0NGE0NTVh">“Consider this a favor repaid. Mother Bone, wake from your aeon slumber”, he said and forced her hand shut around the earth, “Sing your lullaby for this girl, so that she may yet live. Cure her heart and help her mind, carry her through the coming storm”</p> <p class="cnNhYzQ1NWQ4NjJiOTRlZjVhYjEzNDQ1NDA1Mzc0ZWNj">The face of the Muse disappeared into a vague shape and then dissolved entirely. She suddenly found herself in an ancient forest. The agony quickly faded away. Trees the size of mountains raised far above her. Majestic creatures snaked their way through the forest, everything was in motion with primal energy. She saw a lone crone sit on a slab of stone. Her coat was made of earth with bones woven into it. The old one looked up and her eyes stared directly through the teenage Tharia until it felt like they looked straight at the adult mind inside. Tharia was suddenly ejected from her younger self. When next she opened her eyes, she was back in the barrier. The plant was still trying to crush through it, but the golden figure cradled Tharia's body as a mother would. Tharia quickly moved away from it.</p> <p class="cnMxN2Q2N2I3NzM2ZjQ1NGM5ODZjOTY1ODlmNWU1NGQ3">“What did you show me?”</p> <p class="cnMxYTAzZjg5YTMxNDQzMmVhMmVhZDNmNjdkMmZmMDg1">“Your memories. The old one locked them away. She did it to help you - I understand. But a mother does not accept strangers stealing her child”, the golden figure said with sudden anger.</p> <p class="cnM1ZWEyMjhmNmQwZjQ1MDViYmY3YzkyYjY1YTAyZjkw">Tharia leaned back into the barrier and sorted her thoughts. All things considered, this was just another string pulling the puppet along. She grinned with bitter emotions overwhelming her. How had Mother Bone called it? You chose, you became? Yeah sure, that was one way to look at it, Tharia thought. Manipulative scumbags. She made a mental note to visit her father too - preferably with a long rifle and enough shots for a day or two.</p> <p class="cnNhYmEzNWRlZDMzMDQ0Mjg5YTIzMzY1ZTViMzQwN2Zl">“So what am I?”</p> <p class="cnMyOGU5MjMwYzc2MDRmZDI5N2RiYzU4ZGQ3NmRmMjU5">“A true vessel and a failure. The first one to survive ascension during this era. Yet you were broken with no power of your own and then those thieves took you from me before I could nurture you”, the golden figure suddenly wrapped her arms around the neck of the Holy Bethany.</p> <p class="cnNiODk4MWM4OTYxNDQyNDE5ZmZjYWZjMjZiYzllZDYy">“It’s time this ends”, the figure said and then started to choke the spirit of the barrier.</p> <p class="cnM3MzU0MjI1N2ExMDQ1MDZiNzlhNWE5NWI0MGM4NzM5" style="text-align: center"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/ZPzywxR.png" alt="" width="252" height="25"></p> <p class="cnM5YmRlNmM5ZDZmNTQxNWZhZWUxOGY3YWQwYWE5OTJh">Annabelle stepped into a large dome-like structure. This was without a doubt the heart of the palace. A living crystal formed the foundation inside a several meter long pool. It moved with a purpose of its own, a creature in constant motion and never-ending creation of new crystalline formations. In the center, the crystal formed a throne on which there sat a stark naked woman with flowing golden hair. Somehow, the hair covered all the cliché spots while golden pulses emanated from her.</p> <p class="cnM4NzdlNGFlMjExNTQ2MzI5MWRmMjc3ZDU5ZjUwNzc1">Chains attached to the throne locked the woman in place but they had some leeway that the stranger woman used to suddenly float towards the edge of the pool. She moved with a weightless grace until her face appeared in front of Annabelle.</p> <p class="cnNlZGM1Nzc3YTI5ZTRmMGI5NGRkM2FjNDhiMmE3NjQ3">“You’re broken”, the woman said with a distorted voice.</p> <p class="cnNmYzhjYmRmMDA3NjQ0MGJiZjE0NDRiZDI5OTI0MTdh">“So are you. Your palace is in shambles”, Annabelle replied.</p> <p class="cnMwZTRlMTJiODA5MjQ2YjZiMzNlZTM5MmY1NTYxZGNi">“True”, the core said with a smile, “These days, few things aren’t. Have you come to enjoy the last hours of this slave?”</p> <p class="cnNhMmY4MGEwZjY5MjQzNzliNDc4YTY0NTJmNjdkMmRm">Annabelle shook her head, “I’ve come to help my love”</p> <p class="cnMwYmJmMjAyNzc2NTQ1MzVhNzc2MmU1NzlhYzkyOTVh">The core suddenly floated up and then raced around the corner of the pool, always held by eight chains preventing her from going far. She flew a loop and then appeared before Annabelle again, this time she floated upside down.</p> <p class="cnM1MjdiZGI5Mzk5ZDRiYmJiY2ViZGE5OTYwYzRmNWU5">“Really now?” the living crystal started to shape into sharp spears “A goddess that feels for someone? What manner of a joke is this? This is the third time your kind has broken this world. Each time you come back, you piece together the shambles and then break it further. In all those aeons, none of your kind has ever had feelings of their own”</p> <p class="cnMxMmNmZDk2NGJjODQ4NWFiNjRiNTE4MzFkYmZhOTky">“I don’t quite know myself”, Annabelle said and held out her hand. The scythe manifested itself in front of her eyes, “I will however not leave without my friend. You will free her”</p> <p class="cnNjOWI0Yjk2ZGU2YTRiZjJiNmY5YjM0ZWFkZTI3ZjQ4">The core floated back into the center of the room. Underneath her, the crystal reformed into a throne and she placed down in it. During all this, the hair never once allowed a look underneath the places it covered. The pulsing stopped. Golden energy collected within the nude frame of the woman and pretty soon, it lost all definition and detail to turn into a living pyre of divine energy. The floating humanoid fire tore on the chains and broke free one edge. The living crystal shuddered in response, it quickly grew upwards to snatch the end of the chain but the bright fire burned it away.</p> <p class="cnM2NDcyOTRlN2Y3NzRiNmJhNzE5OThlOGZiY2Q0MjMx">“So much death within my halls”, the core said and tore out a second arm of the chain.</p> <p class="cnM4YmFjMjg0OTQ2YzQzODc4MzNlZDM4MGIwNDAwMTZk">“Children, adults, humans, pets”, she continued and let out a rumbling growl.</p> <p class="cnMyYzExNTVhZmFkNzQ5Y2M4ZmEzMzFmZmM5M2FlMWNj">“I no longer care. None of my family live. I’ve just killed the last one. Poor Bethany, a soul bewitched by the lies of thieving gods”, the core said and grinned - visible by a shadowy gap in the flames. Another pair of chains was pulled free. The remaining crystal started to peel away as the sprite tugged on the chains. The burning female figure stretched her arms and legs, flames dripped off her skin and scorched the earth underneath. With a metallic clang, the last of the anchors came undone. The spirit gracefully glided towards Annabelle. Her words took on a low rumbling tone.</p> <p class="cnM2NDVkN2E2NzMyMTRiMzVhODc1ZmVhZjAyODQ0NDc4">“Have you ever faced the fury of an elemental?”</p> <p class="cnM1YThlZWNkM2QzMTQwNGFhYTc0NTg0Mjk4OGM4NWEx" style="text-align: center"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/ZPzywxR.png" alt="" width="252" height="25"></p> <p class="cnMwZjQ5ZmQ3NDk5YjQ0OTg5M2NmODY5MzZjMGJmYzlk" style="text-align: center">End: To repay a favor | Coming up: The last dance of the firesprite.</p> </div>

**** #### **A palace beyond** #### **Places below, Fourth Ring** **** Annabelle was struggling on the inside. She let Tharia continue the conversation while she was left to the whirling chaos of thoughts inside of her. She fought against the sensations the palace brought her. With each pulse, there came a curious clarity of mind. It was an euphoric rush she thirsted for. At first, the pulse healed her wounds, no matter how tiny. In time it brought back an aspect of understanding she had lost when she fell. The letters of the cursed tongue no longer escaped from her view and she let her gaze wander. The words on the door communicated the concept of a True Vessel while the plant itself had been inscribed with a concept of harvest. This was what the gods really were, what she had been at some point too: Cruel beyond measure. She understood it now as the energy surged through her and awakened fragments of her divine self. All that mattered back then was a carefully curated act. It was all to get close to humans, to instill them with hope and then harvest their emotions as they fell to despair. This was a part of her memory that hadn’t made sense until now. Why did she have fond memories of suffering people? It was because her kind thrived on passions. Everything they did, they did to instill even stronger passions in people. Religious zeal, incomparable lust, elation over miracles, the gratefulness at having been healed – it all served passion. With this clarity, there also came a realization. She had broken through. Those feelings inside of her were her own. She did love Tharia now, it wasn’t just a parasitic make pretend. Yet what defined divinity? Absolute power over creation. The power to keep a man alive against his will for what amounted to centuries of suffering. “We should fulfill his wish”, Annabelle said when the conversation reached a quiet point. The man quickly nodded. “I would appreciate that very much”, he replied. Tharia looked at her and then nodded. In reaction, Annabelle moved her scythe to the side. Getting into a combat stance was second nature to her. She opted for a quick slash from her right and twisted her torso into it. Air sang as the blade cut through it, yet the delicacy of the sound was cut short by an ugly crunch as the weapon cut straight through his neck. It fell to the ground where it stared up at her with empty eyes. “I’m sorry for what my kind did to you”, Annabelle said and felt a sudden knot in her stomach as the body remained standing and the head dissolved into a golden light. Pulse after pulse soured into the corpse until the head reappeared on his neck. A shudder followed and he was alive once more. He looked at Annabelle with pleading eyes. “We need to somehow cut him off from the palace” Tharia bit her lower lip and wrapped her arms around her own chest. Her nose had a cute wrinkle and her eyebrows were narrowed. She suddenly sucked in air through her lips and smiled. “Can you take a step back, I think I know how to do this but for it to work, you can’t be near”, Tharia said and while she spoke, she started to unwind the chain from her arm. The center piece she placed at the feet of the naked man while trying her best to not look at what was in front of her. Annabelle noticed a slight muscle tension in her own face and realized she was grinning. Shaking her head, she stepped outside of the ring her friend created with the chain. It didn’t take long before Tharia knelt down inside the barrier chain and raised her voice. “Holy Bethany, I seek your protection. Come forth and let none through. Pay special attention to the energy of the divine” A familiar dome sprang up from the arms of the chain. With the energy of the constant pulses, Annabelle could read the letters shaping around it. This chain really had been part of a palace at some point. Although it was dedicated to a god she had never heard of. Tharia was still chewing on her lower lip and Annabelle judged that without the spark inside of her, she would probably be bleeding all day long. Still, the two women looked at the plant. The barrier had cut clean through its tendrils and the flower had regenerated them already once the next pulse came. It tried to return to the man but couldn’t get through the barrier. This was working. Tharia then got up from the ground and reached for the rapier. “I really don’t enjoy this. Are you sure death is what you seek?” she asked. The man just nodded and Tharia drove the rapier straight through his chest. She had aimed well as the man quickly died. A rest of golden energy sprang up from the detached plant tendrils still inside the barrier but it wasn’t enough to bring the man back. The second he breathed his last, the palace suddenly shuddered. At the far end of the room, the flower bulb opened up and unleashed a torrent of tendrils against the barrier. Spurned by explosive growth, it quickly enveloped the entire barrier from all sides, even below as sudden bumps in the ground could attest. Annabelle made a quick forward step and used her momentum to strike her scythe against the plants. She cut off a whole swath of tendrils and momentarily saw into the barrier, yet more growth covered up the hole. “Keep up the barrier”, Annabelle shouted, not knowing whether Tharia heard her, “I’ll deal with this unruly palace” She stumbled back and each step she gave was quickly conquered by an ever-growing plant. Soon, Annabelle stood outside the room and a thick web of plant matter pulled shut the door behind her. The goddess didn’t have time to ponder this, as a spear suddenly buzzed past her face. She blinked and stepped back by instinct, only to be clipped by another spear. A sharp but unimportant pang of pain followed. Annabelle saw a construct out of the corner of her eyes and quickly gained distance. It was a curious thing that had attacked her. Three metallic cones formed the legs while overgrown, cancerous looking flesh coalesced into a knot in the middle. A sphere of golden light pulsed from within the constructs and three multi-jointed metal arms held onto a selection of long spears. Two of which had drawn blood already, the third suddenly stabbed forward. She hurriedly dodged to the side and just barely dodged a second spear. Uttering a curse she had picked up from Tharia, Annabelle weaved her way into the range of the spears and brought about her own Scythe. She twisted her torso for a horizontal cut and dislodged two of the arms and felt the blade bite into the golden sphere. The construct spasmed in place before falling to the ground. Another pulse washed over her and she felt the tiny wounds close up again. Yet the construct at her feet started to reassemble itself as well. Annabelle slammed the handle into the sphere and turned it into a fine paste before it could reform. She then ran towards the end of the corridor. There weren’t many places the heart could be, especially with half of the place trashed. The door gave her a momentary pause, it was stuck in a position that was half open. Using her scythe for leverage, she forced it open all the way, yet that proved almost fatal. Three spears suddenly punched straight through her abdomen. She stumbled forward with extreme pain and slid off the weapons. The pain really was too much to go on. Yet with the next pulse, the wounds closed enough for her to get back up on her feet. She brought the scythe around and caught two of the spears while the third stabbed right past her. Her eyes focused on the core inside the flesh. It too had regenerated. Annabelle carefully moved back while checking the room around her. It was a long hallway with pillars in regular intervals. She saw hundreds of beds situated around a central path. Many of them were inclined half-way with flower bulbs attached to them. These flowers lay dormant at least. A grate ran underneath the beds and gave Annabelle a sudden idea. She once more focussed on the construct. It hobbled in her direction, seeing it walk on those metal legs was unsettling. It moved with jerking motions, one of the legs even dragged behind but despite all that, it had surprising speed. She waited for the golden pulse to heal the remaining damage and then dashed towards the construct. It used all three of the spears to cover its body by keeping them in constant motion. Annabelle didn’t falter in her approach, she stormed directly for the core. One spear suddenly stabbed towards her but since she saw it coming, she sidestepped it easily. The second one stabbed towards her, she used the blunt side of her scythe to deflect it but the impact wrested the weapon from her hands. At no one’s surprise, the third spear impaled her all the way through. The goddess let out a loud scream and pushed on, forcing the spear deeper into her. Once she was close up, she grit her teeth and then held a hand towards the core of the construct. A war-fan appeared in an eruption of golden light and materialized directly inside the construct-core. Like before the strange being fell to the ground. With the spear still inside her, she collapsed on the ground and forced open the fan. She then patiently awaited the next pulse. It sent renewed agony through her body as the light couldn’t expel the spear in one go. It could, however, reshape the core of the construct. This time she flipped open the war-fan and cut it out of the flesh with the blade-side. Holding the pulsating sphere in her hands, she scrambled over towards the grates and while clenching her teeth, she jammed the sphere through the metal bars and into whatever was below. With fading strength, she then reached for the spear and forced it out of her body. It fell to the ground with a clang while another pulse finally healed the damage. A cheeky grin found its way on her lips as the sphere reformed into the construct. It was locked underneath the grate and slammed it’s metal limbs against its prison. “To quote a friend, fuck you, your family and the high horse you came in on”, Annabelle said and ran a finger along her lips. Cursing really felt strange to her but she couldn’t deny a certain joy in doing so. Still, she would keep it to a limit. The goddess got back up and then made her way down the hallway. The beds were a depressing sight, many of them had stained sheets but only a few seemed to have been used recently at least. Her eyes saw metal clasps and name tags on many of these beds. She recognized some of the names. They belonged to children of nobility that had suddenly disappeared from public view. One bed still had an inhabitant and the view made Annabelle nauseous. Whatever had been in it, was now in eternal agony. The skin lay flat on the reclined bed. She only knew it had been a human once because the skeleton lay on the ground, beside the suffering creature. It looked like it had been expelled one bone at a time. She had to fight off the queasy feeling by focussing on the path ahead.  Tharia had forced her eyes shut. She felt incomprehensible panic flood her senses and couldn’t understand why. During her time in the capital, she had seen worse and suffered worse. A sudden touch on her skin made her jump back until her back brushed against the barrier. Her eyes flew open and looked straight at a featureless golden woman. Even without eyes or a mouth, it looked straight at her. “The prodigal child returns”, the shape said. “Holy Bethany, expel all that doesn’t belong”, she shouted, but the shape of her trusty barrier sat on the ground, inactive. At least it kept the dome going. The golden figure swayed to the side and then suddenly leaped forward. Tharia suddenly felt glowing hands on her cheek. Within a breath, she found herself in a strange place. Someone dragged her along by her arm, she noticed how thin it was and how small her fingers had become. When she shook her head, long black hair flowed down her shoulders. She hadn’t worn out her hair since she was a young teenager. The hand that dragged her along was filled with odd detail. She saw every pore and wrinkle in it, yet the rest of the body disappeared into a vague shape. Her ears heard a sudden distorted voice. “Your cruelty seems inspired”, it said. She tried to make out who was talking but only saw a shape. Another voice answered and she felt her young teenage body shudder with fear. “Of course it is. This thing here has no worth. It may further our purposes or perish, both are equally beneficial”, the voice said. “Papa?” young Tharia spoke with a whimper and tears on her cheeks. “Put that thing on the bed, let’s begin with the ascension process”, her father said without paying her any further attention. Adult Tharia noticed that his face lacked all detail, safe for that mustache that had always intimidated her. Her young body was suddenly lifted off the ground and pushed into one of the reclined beds. Metal clasps forced it into place. “Papa!?” young Tharia screamed. Another person suddenly stepped into view. It too was just a formless shape until it spoke with a voice adult Tharia had come to hate. “This is not how this must go, Mister Verholden”, the Muse said. His figure suddenly became focussed. He looked like a younger version of himself. The hair still had color in it too. “You know very well that the subject must agree to it, or failure is guaranteed. Unless you wish to sabotage this one for the sake of your cultivated neglect”, the Muse chastised her father. "She's only here because that divine brat gave her a fragment of power", her father snarled but then sighed in exasperation. All that time, the young girl had struggled with her bindings. The wrists hurt and so did her legs. Yet when a sudden strong scent filled her nostrils, she held completely still. A face with a mustache appeared in front of her. It was featureless at first but then memory quickly pieced in the details. The saw the disdain on it, the hatred this man felt for her. How she had disappointed him, how useless she had always been to everyone around her. How vile her existence was, to be of no use to anyone. “Very well then. Child. Your divine friend left you for dead. She couldn’t stand your pathetic whining and your pitiable weakness. Me? I’m a generous father but I’ve got limits too. I offer you a chance to earn my affection and win back your friend you so dearly and foolishly love. Do you want to be strong? Do you seek a use in life?” Adult Tharia was disgusted at what she saw but her younger self agreed with hope flooding her senses. Both versions saw her father turn around with a smug expression. “Happy now, Zuresti?” he said and walked away. Time passed. She had no idea how long. A golden figure suddenly appeared hovering above her. It floated down until it touched her skin and without even giving pause, the golden figure poured into her. Crushing agony pulsed through her every vein and made her small body thrash on the bed. In the midst of the pain, she felt someone force open her hand. Something ticklish was poured into it. Young Tharia stared with feverish eyes at the visage of the Muse. “Consider this a favor repaid. Mother Bone, wake from your aeon slumber”, he said and forced her hand shut around the earth, “Sing your lullaby for this girl, so that she may yet live. Cure her heart and help her mind, carry her through the coming storm” The face of the Muse disappeared into a vague shape and then dissolved entirely. She suddenly found herself in an ancient forest. The agony quickly faded away. Trees the size of mountains raised far above her. Majestic creatures snaked their way through the forest, everything was in motion with primal energy. She saw a lone crone sit on a slab of stone. Her coat was made of earth with bones woven into it. The old one looked up and her eyes stared directly through the teenage Tharia until it felt like they looked straight at the adult mind inside. Tharia was suddenly ejected from her younger self. When next she opened her eyes, she was back in the barrier. The plant was still trying to crush through it, but the golden figure cradled Tharia's body as a mother would. Tharia quickly moved away from it. “What did you show me?” “Your memories. The old one locked them away. She did it to help you - I understand. But a mother does not accept strangers stealing her child”, the golden figure said with sudden anger. Tharia leaned back into the barrier and sorted her thoughts. All things considered, this was just another string pulling the puppet along. She grinned with bitter emotions overwhelming her. How had Mother Bone called it? You chose, you became? Yeah sure, that was one way to look at it, Tharia thought. Manipulative scumbags. She made a mental note to visit her father too - preferably with a long rifle and enough shots for a day or two. “So what am I?” “A true vessel and a failure. The first one to survive ascension during this era. Yet you were broken with no power of your own and then those thieves took you from me before I could nurture you”, the golden figure suddenly wrapped her arms around the neck of the Holy Bethany. “It’s time this ends”, the figure said and then started to choke the spirit of the barrier.  Annabelle stepped into a large dome-like structure. This was without a doubt the heart of the palace. A living crystal formed the foundation inside a several meter long pool. It moved with a purpose of its own, a creature in constant motion and never-ending creation of new crystalline formations. In the center, the crystal formed a throne on which there sat a stark naked woman with flowing golden hair. Somehow, the hair covered all the cliché spots while golden pulses emanated from her. Chains attached to the throne locked the woman in place but they had some leeway that the stranger woman used to suddenly float towards the edge of the pool. She moved with a weightless grace until her face appeared in front of Annabelle. “You’re broken”, the woman said with a distorted voice. “So are you. Your palace is in shambles”, Annabelle replied. “True”, the core said with a smile, “These days, few things aren’t. Have you come to enjoy the last hours of this slave?” Annabelle shook her head, “I’ve come to help my love” The core suddenly floated up and then raced around the corner of the pool, always held by eight chains preventing her from going far. She flew a loop and then appeared before Annabelle again, this time she floated upside down. “Really now?” the living crystal started to shape into sharp spears “A goddess that feels for someone? What manner of a joke is this? This is the third time your kind has broken this world. Each time you come back, you piece together the shambles and then break it further. In all those aeons, none of your kind has ever had feelings of their own” “I don’t quite know myself”, Annabelle said and held out her hand. The scythe manifested itself in front of her eyes, “I will however not leave without my friend. You will free her” The core floated back into the center of the room. Underneath her, the crystal reformed into a throne and she placed down in it. During all this, the hair never once allowed a look underneath the places it covered. The pulsing stopped. Golden energy collected within the nude frame of the woman and pretty soon, it lost all definition and detail to turn into a living pyre of divine energy. The floating humanoid fire tore on the chains and broke free one edge. The living crystal shuddered in response, it quickly grew upwards to snatch the end of the chain but the bright fire burned it away. “So much death within my halls”, the core said and tore out a second arm of the chain. “Children, adults, humans, pets”, she continued and let out a rumbling growl. “I no longer care. None of my family live. I’ve just killed the last one. Poor Bethany, a soul bewitched by the lies of thieving gods”, the core said and grinned - visible by a shadowy gap in the flames. Another pair of chains was pulled free. The remaining crystal started to peel away as the sprite tugged on the chains. The burning female figure stretched her arms and legs, flames dripped off her skin and scorched the earth underneath. With a metallic clang, the last of the anchors came undone. The spirit gracefully glided towards Annabelle. Her words took on a low rumbling tone. “Have you ever faced the fury of an elemental?”  End: To repay a favor | Coming up: The last dance of the firesprite.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMwYjEwYzY2MDk5ODRlM2M4OTc2NTYyZjA5M2UxNGY1">Everything begins tomorrow. The life I once led will be thrown away into history. My name will be one that will bring a smile to everyone. My legacy will be known throughout Silverestia and all the rest of the kingdoms. This is the beginning of a journey. A beginning of a hero. A hero I will become.</p> <p class="cnNkZjg0YjUxYzcyYTRjZmZhMDg5OThiZTg5N2M3M2Nk">My name is James. James Noah Smith. Anybody who happens to come across this best remember it.</p> <p class="cnNmMGJmMjRlMzc0NDQ5MTFiNWJmZjM4Y2RhZTViYjRj">Silverestia is the kingdom I was born, raised, and will need to save. A once amazing kingdom which no one could speak ill of began to become tainted and sickly. The enemy kingdom of Sheedhied is seeking to spread a plague which could doom every living being in Silverestia. The authority has become weak, the people live in fear and the brightness that once glowed throughout the land has become dark and bleak. This cannot continue. Somebody needs to rise up and stand against evil and injustice.</p> <p class="cnNlNDc3N2JlZGFkMjRlN2ZiODkyZjBmNjhiYWU2YjUz">I will not pray to the gods, for I do not believe in them. I will not ask for help, for I prefer to work alone. I will carry all of this. To the underworld and back.</p> <p class="cnNmODY3M2VlN2RhMzQ2NjE5ODJjY2QwYTA5YTQwYzJm">This is the Silverestia Chronicles. I will write every account of my adventure here, and I will make this end in a happy ending.</p> <p class="cnMwMjY0NTNmNmIwODRlZjg5OWU4MmExOTNiNjY0OGNk" style="text-align: right"><em>Signed, James Noah Smith</em></p> </div>

Everything begins tomorrow. The life I once led will be thrown away into history. My name will be one that will bring a smile to everyone. My legacy will be known throughout Silverestia and all the rest of the kingdoms. This is the beginning of a journey. A beginning of a hero. A hero I will become. My name is James. James Noah Smith. Anybody who happens to come across this best remember it. Silverestia is the kingdom I was born, raised, and will need to save. A once amazing kingdom which no one could speak ill of began to become tainted and sickly. The enemy kingdom of Sheedhied is seeking to spread a plague which could doom every living being in Silverestia. The authority has become weak, the people live in fear and the brightness that once glowed throughout the land has become dark and bleak. This cannot continue. Somebody needs to rise up and stand against evil and injustice. I will not pray to the gods, for I do not believe in them. I will not ask for help, for I prefer to work alone. I will carry all of this. To the underworld and back. This is the Silverestia Chronicles. I will write every account of my adventure here, and I will make this end in a happy ending. *Signed, James Noah Smith*

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNmZmM0MGE1ZjlhYzRmNGQ5YWMwMzRmNmExMTNmZTJi">Day 0</p> <p class="cnM5N2IxOWNhMjE1NDQxOGU5ZTUxMjYwM2YxYjZlMWQ0">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwNzNiZjRkOGNiMDQzMTFiZjZjZTc3MDg2OTg1MjA0">After his masterful break-in / blessing episode Aphiir appeared back in the cave by the golem.</p> <p class="cnNkMGI1YmI4ZTk2ODQ1MTQ5OTYxZDc2NTllZjExZWJh">Its body shook slightly in the dark cavern as the last of the silvery light faded into the gemstone in the middle that held the golems core and now its soul too. The core pulsed energy into the rest of the body, slowly pushing mana through the metals that made it up, carving conduits into it that would let both mana, soul and divine energies circle it. <br>It stood there for a full minute before the pulses reached the head of the small body and lighted up the eyes with a dim silvery glow.</p> <p class="cnM3Y2YwN2IyNTIxNTRkMDA5NDVjODk1NzA5YzM2ZWM3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlY2Y4ZDIxMjgzMjQ3OWRiOGRjYTcyZDFmMDRlYmZm">[Hello my child]</p> <p class="cnNhODk3ZTJkMzhhMDRiOWZhNTI2MGRjNDc4NzAwZGM1">[Hello… Daddy?]</p> <p class="cnM3ZTg4Mzc5OTA0MjQ5YTRiNWNkY2NmNmNiNDM4NzA3">[No. NO.]</p> <p class="cnMzZmRlMjFlZWM3YjQyODg4NDA0NWUxYzY3ODM0MWE5">[…]</p> <p class="cnNmNWNkY2FkZWNlYjQwN2ViYjY1NDk5YzZhY2I1ODQw">[Sigh- I don’t have time for shit like this- call me either father, Aphiir or creator, take your pick later. I haven’t got much time Soul, but-]</p> <p class="cnMzYmNlYTMxMjQxODQ3MjViMWRmZTkwNGYzM2ZkNjQx">[I’m ‘Soul’ then?]</p> <p class="cnM2ZTJhZTQ4MGQxNTQ0MTNhZjAxNWZjM2YwMTY4MzMy">[Yes, you’re a soul. Maybe don’t tell people that though… anyway I have a blessing and a quest for you]</p> <p class="cnM4ZjZkZTZlOWIxNzQyZWZiNzkwNWQzNGJhODQ1YWQ0">[I’ll be-]</p> <p class="cnM1YTYyMTU0ZDA0NTRiMjI4NTEzMmZjM2Q0MzVjNjBj">[No wait, shush! – now the blessing of knowledge, hold still…. <strong>Grant: basic world knowledge</strong>,<strong> Grant: Inspect</strong>,<strong> Grant: Survival Instinct</strong>,<strong> Grant: Evolution Instinct and lastly</strong>…<strong> Grant: Pray and Grant: Pain</strong>]</p> <p class="cnMyMTAwNDhkYmE1ODRhNTk4NjJmY2E2MWJlMmI2Mjc3">An intense silvery light engulfed the small golem once again, leaving it stunned.</p> <p class="cnMyZjJjMDE3MDRkZDQ1MjFhNzExZDk1MTZmYTlmYWZi">[I’ve got to go child, live long and prosper.] Aphiir sent tiredly. He looked gaunt, frail even, he had used almost all his divine power to ensure that his creation would have a chance in life and was very much betting on it being a worthwhile investment. With a small smile the god disappeared into thin air.<br>In the silent cavern the golem slowly got it’s bearings while knowledge of the world flooded it and its new instincts began carving out the starts of a personality.</p> <p class="cnNmOTlmODdhMTNkMjQ5NGFiMDFlYTI5ODMyNWRiOWVl">[Bye fa-... Bye Daddy!] It sent into the empty cavern, but there was no answer.</p> </div>

Day 0   After his masterful break-in / blessing episode Aphiir appeared back in the cave by the golem. Its body shook slightly in the dark cavern as the last of the silvery light faded into the gemstone in the middle that held the golems core and now its soul too. The core pulsed energy into the rest of the body, slowly pushing mana through the metals that made it up, carving conduits into it that would let both mana, soul and divine energies circle it. It stood there for a full minute before the pulses reached the head of the small body and lighted up the eyes with a dim silvery glow.   [Hello my child] [Hello… Daddy?] [No. NO.] […] [Sigh- I don’t have time for shit like this- call me either father, Aphiir or creator, take your pick later. I haven’t got much time Soul, but-] [I’m ‘Soul’ then?] [Yes, you’re a soul. Maybe don’t tell people that though… anyway I have a blessing and a quest for you] [I’ll be-] [No wait, shush! – now the blessing of knowledge, hold still…. **Grant: basic world knowledge**, **Grant: Inspect**, **Grant: Survival Instinct**, **Grant: Evolution Instinct and lastly**… **Grant: Pray and Grant: Pain**] An intense silvery light engulfed the small golem once again, leaving it stunned. [I’ve got to go child, live long and prosper.] Aphiir sent tiredly. He looked gaunt, frail even, he had used almost all his divine power to ensure that his creation would have a chance in life and was very much betting on it being a worthwhile investment. With a small smile the god disappeared into thin air. In the silent cavern the golem slowly got it’s bearings while knowledge of the world flooded it and its new instincts began carving out the starts of a personality. [Bye fa-... Bye Daddy!] It sent into the empty cavern, but there was no answer.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM0ZTA1MjcwMWYwNDRhZWRhYzk2MDZkNGE4MTUzZjYx">They stepped out of the cavern for the first time in over a day. Though dimmed brown and red by the Tainted sky, the light of the noon was still bright enough to cause Adelle to squint after readjusting her eyes from the darkness. It was the first time she saw the Taint from within the continent. Where it was a rust-grey blob from afar, it looked akin to storm clouds of fire from the middle of the land. Occasionally, portions of the sky would light up in bright orange flames. Luce explained it was the rust in the air sparking off each other and igniting the metallic dust.</p> <p class="cnNhOTA2YjFkYjFmYjQ2MDk5NjY0MDk1OTM3YmQyY2I4">Standing within visible distance of the base of Reveries Mountain, the Titan's Graveyard stretched south and southeast expansively. The flat basin was littered with the bodies of mechs and golems as old metallic machines and drooping stone arches. In the far south, a pile of maybe 5 or 6 of the giants' bodies looked as if they had fused together to form a small mount.</p> <p class="cnMzYTI4ZjRhZWRkODQ5YTI5MDU0MmM5ZDIwNjMxMmQw">Rumbling.</p> <p class="cnM4MGVmN2NkMjQzYjQ3NjRiZTJhNzFlZjk4MTg1YTFj">Adelle turned towards to sound from the west. A line of 5 golems ten times her height and as wide and long as mansions crawled across the landscape on all fours, hunched on their backs. Aside them, the groups of soldiers were barely ants, scrambling around the large moving creatures.</p> <p class="cnM3ZWY1ZjkwNTAwYzQ3MDRiOTM2YTAyODliN2Q5YWQz">"Varicks," Josh noted. "Excavator golems meant for clearing mines. See the front legs with its shovel-like hands? Those things can dig up vast chunks of land and they are reinforced to take the blasts of explosions."</p> <p class="cnM4MWNmNTcwNGVhMTQzYjc5YTAzYTFlMWQ1YmJhMDU1">Luce asked, "So are they mine clearing?"</p> <p class="cnMwYTQ3ZmM3MzJiMzQ1MjA5ODdmMjVmZWY1YTk2YWEz">"No. That road isn't used by any army. Probably just sent out to scout or something," Talia answered. "Not our problem, and definitely not mine with such worthless information. We have to get to Altaro, she gestured to the horizon. It's a small town where we can resupply and we're about three days away with only two days worth of food left."</p> <p class="cnM1ZmQ3ODgyZDgzYzQ5NDhiNmEyMWY1Zjg1MDFmMjVi">Adelle sighed. It was definitely getting hotter and less humid the further south they went. Her lips were cracking and she was sweating much more than she expected. Luce and Josh seemed to have adapted much faster to the dry, barren climate, likely due to having lived on the continent for extended years.</p> <p class="cnM2ZTE2NzMzYTMxMTQzNDM5ZGEwZjhkYTQwYmNlN2Uw">For about an hour, they made their way down the mountain in silence, occasionally glancing over towards the golems which had started digging the dirt of the land. Then she noticed a bulge of men sized figures moving across the landscape towards the Titans.</p> <p class="cnM2ZGJjNjAyNzk2ODRkY2RiNTk1OTc5ODhmMjYxMDI3">"Hey," she called out. "What's that?"</p> <p class="cnM3ZmZiZmVjYmNjYzQ5MTFhOWQ0ODI3Mzc1Y2JkYzg5">Josh raised a curious brow. From his large bag, he pulled out a telescopic telescope and trained it on the group.</p> <p class="cnNjOTQ3ZTZiODEwYzRhNTFiZjUxYzVlMWJhMDA3Njg2">"Huh. It's the Pyrerai."</p> <p class="cnMxNzhjNDZlNjY4YTQ1ODA5NjFjNjJmNTA1MmY5NTU1">Talia added in confusion, "That can't be right. The Pyrerai never leaves the city." She snatched the telescope from his grasp and followed the view. "Well I'll be damned. It really is her. Barely see it, but I won't miss that bombastic cloak anywhere."</p> <p class="cnMzYTQ0NzNlZDcxMzRmNWZiMGVjZGExNWFlZDYzZDA5">Luce asked, "What does this mean?"</p> <p class="cnMyNWNiYWQwN2M4NTQ3ZDQ4NWY0MzZmMGIyN2I5MTQz">"It means," Talia began excitedly as she lowered the telescope. "That once I've delivered you to Altaro, I'm heading back to report this to Eca and getting me a cart of credits!"</p> <p class="cnM4ZmE0OWY4OTRiNjRmZDNhODAwZTcwZjYyOWNhNmYy">"Just hold your horses," Josh said. "You can't just-"</p> <p class="cnM4ZmM4ZTFjMzliZjQzY2U4OGI0YWI0NTA5ZmQ2MWMw">"What are horses?" Talia cut in, returning the telescope.</p> <p class="cnM1ZmJkNGM5OGM5MTRmMTU4MjU1NzVhNzg3YWIyZTMz">"I-that doesn't matter right now! You can't just leave us midway."</p> <p class="cnMwYWU1OTI1OGRiOTQ3NjFiY2FmOTg5NGU0YmY4ZmE0">"I'm not leaving you midway. It's more like a quarter."</p> <p class="cnM1MjIxODQ4NjBjMDQxODM5OWFhZDllMzcxM2I1ZWQ3">"Talia!"</p> <p class="cnMxNzNjODExMDczZTQ4ODZhMWUyYmZlMDliY2U2MzAy">"Don't worry. I know another Guide that's currently in Altaro. I'll pass you off to him and then I'll get off!"</p> <p class="cnNkODlkN2U3OWUxYzRhZDFhOTRhMzAzMzk0MmU1NThj">"And give up your share of the money?"</p> <p class="cnMxY2VlYTg5ZDNhMzQyMDE5OGEyZmMyY2Y0N2E1Yjc0">Talia shrugged. "Guy's new. He's cheap. And the info drop will be worth more for the amount of work than delivering you guys."</p> <p class="cnMyNzk0NTBiMTdiNTQ2Y2ViNDY1MDQ1NjBhMGY3Yzc3">Josh groaned. "Why are you always like this?"</p> <p class="cnMwYjZmODUxZTA0ODRmMGM5NzYzZDA0ODk1YzdjM2Uw">"Money makes the world go round, my dear. Besides," she laughed. "You guys don't really have much of a choice."</p> <p class="cnM5ODYwYTA0NWFiNTRmZDI4ZDJlYjU3MmMyMDI3Y2Nl">"What about your reputation?" Josh threatened. "I could ruin you."</p> <p class="cnM5ZGIwZGRhMWUzYTQwOGM4MzE5ZmMwNTAxNTA1MzNm">Talia laughed. "Cute threat, Joshy. But you're not one to do that. I've known you long enough. Besides, you're a Guide yourself. Nobody will take a Guide trashing another Guide seriously."</p> <p class="cnNmYjFhOGY0NjMwMjQ1Mjk4MDZkYmQ0NjAyYzIzYTAw">The stunned man could not reply.</p> <p class="cnMyM2RlNjZkYzBhYjRmNzhhN2ZkMDBhMjE3MWYzNGI2">Adelle grunted. "I don't like that she's right."</p> <p class="cnM2NThlNmUxMTBlNDRjOTU4MjNlMDBmN2UzNzIyMTdm">There was a lot more that she didn't like. The mysterious digging through none combat areas. How the Pyrerai was moving in an unusual fashion. Eca's behind the scenes manipulation.</p> <p class="cnM4MGYzNDQ3OTBhMDQzZWY5YzM4MTU0OWFiZGRjNDE1">Talia reassured them. "Don't worry. The other Guide's new, but he's good. I'm just undercharging him because I'm thrifty."</p> <p class="cnNhZGY2MmZlMmI2ZDQyMDBiNGM5NmU0MTM2NjZhNmVm">"Well," Luce huffed. "At least you admit it."</p> <p class="cnM4YmI3NzFkYjQ2NTQ1ZTM4Nzc1YTVhZTkwYWUzN2Fi">"I am nothing if not consistent," Talia admitted, readjusting her pack and restarted leading the way down the path.</p> <p class="cnMxMDU0Nzc1NmVjOTQzYWE5MzE5NGEzYmNiMGJmZjI5">Towards Altaro they continued. Occasionally, Adelle would throw glances towards the Titan digging in the far distance. On one such occasion, she found Luce catching her in the act and quickly looked up to the sky instead, pretending to be fascinated at the scenery.</p> <p class="cnMzZGRlNWZmZWIxNjRkMDU4NDI4ZGY4ZDZkOGI4MDAz">But she could not shake the sense of dread. It ate at her and must have shown on her face, for Luce asked in worry.</p> <p class="cnM4YTRhZWYyOTMzMjRlYzk5NTc2MGEwZjk5MWUyMTA3">"What's on your mind?"</p> <p class="cnMyNzNkYWExOTAxMDQwOTQ4Zjg4YTFlMmE3MzA4ZjVl">For some reason, Adelle felt forthcoming to her. "I don't know." She wanted to follow her gut, but her gut was wrangled. So she did what The Watcher would do in these situations and followed her curiosity instead. "Why is it called 'Titan's Graveyard?'"</p> <p class="cnNjZTViOTczNDAwNzQ1MzViOWQ4MGQ4MDMyOGU5MjI5">Luce shrugged. "I'm not sure. It was already named that when I was born. Josh?"</p> <p class="cnM1ZWNlZmNhMTU4NzQzZjBhNDkyNzlmOWQ1MmQyOWM4">"I heard you," the man answered from the front. He spun on his legs and begun walking backwards. "I'm not sure either. My best guess would be due to the numbers of dead Titans there. It is a last line of defence, after all."</p> <p class="cnM1MjY2OGVjYjA2NjQ5ZDI5ZWMzMjE2NjFiY2YyNmUz">Talia corrected, "Nope. It was called that even before the war, hundreds of years ago."</p> <p class="cnM1MWZkNGUzODE0YTQzNzc4ZTdhZDA5OTM2OTU2OWQ2">Adelle's mind began to think, something which she still was not comfortable with, causing her to groan before saying, "Urgh... wait. So, a graveyard is where you bury things. What Titan's old enough to be buried for hundreds of years?"</p> <p class="cnM1YWE0ZTcxYzNiNjQ1ODdiOWI1NDA1ZGRkMWU2OTc0">"No mechs," Luce said. "They weren't invented until the war."</p> <p class="cnM4MWJjNGYxZGQwMzQ3ZTViZGZlOTA1YmI2ZDRkYjIz">"Can't be golems either," Talia added. "They were not combat ready until a couple of decades before the war began."</p> <p class="cnNjODYxMGIzNDczMjRiY2E5ZjU1NGVmYWQyNjljNWZh">Josh finished, "That leaves sentient Titans."</p> <p class="cnNiMTYxYWU4NjBhNDQ1MDQ4ZWYyNTYxYTg1MjAwMWE2">"What's the point of that?" Talia exclaimed. "You can't control those things. They'd just run around doing whatever."</p> <p class="cnNlMjk0MjBjMjI2ZjRmOGM5NzVmMTE0YjU4ODMxNjUz">They stopped in their tracks and Josh muttered, "Unless someone pilot's them..." He looked to Adelle.</p> <p class="cnM0YzIzM2ZhNWRhZjRmZGI5YjE2M2U2NGE0NjE1ODMx">"Lachesis's a sentinel. She's like me."</p> <p class="cnNhN2UzYzcyYmU0NDQyNzM5ZWJkNGNlYTNlMTZkNjk1">Luce added, "You piloted the Leviathan."</p> <p class="cnM3ZjQzNjZjYzA5MjRmM2U5NzMwNzM0OGMwOGEyYzZm">"So she can probably do the same with some other sentient."</p> <p class="cnNiYmI1NGUyMDQ1OTQxYmFiZDg3NTU3Mjg3OGU1NjBl">Talia threw her arms up. "What are you three talking about?"</p> <p class="cnMxNjBiY2QxMjY5YzQ5YWFiYmY1OGZhZmRjYjFkZTJh">Luce explained, "Sentinels can pilot sentients."</p> <p class="cnMzZjFlMWJlYjQ0NjRmZDQ4NGEzOTFhZjI2M2VmZjcw">"No they can't. That's just an old ground's tale."</p> <p class="cnM4YjUyZmZmNjBjNDRlYzc4YzYxYmQ3MmE0NTg0OGY5">"Adelle did. She got in Leviathan and told it to move and it did."</p> <p class="cnNiZTg4ZjJjZWE2ZTQyNmRiOGZhYmMwMjcwNjU0MzY5">Exasperated, Talia tried to reason away the lunacy. "Even if she could, why would the Pyrerai dig one up from the grave? Why not just go after one that's still functioning?"</p> <p class="cnNiZjkwYzE3ZTMwYTQzODNhZWQ1OWQyNDkzZmVjYjYx">"Grotslang's underground," Josh explained. "And Arklut's all the was in The Burning South. Not exactly easy Titans to locate, which is surprising given their sizes."</p> <p class="cnNkNDQ0YzdkMTJjYTQ1N2E5ODE1YmY3Y2JkYmZhMzVk">"I can't just take your words for it."</p> <p class="cnNmMzBiZTBhY2JhNDRlNWU5M2RjMWVmMjMyYTNjNDJh">"Fine then," Luce retorted. "Don't take our words for it. Not like we're here to play the hero or anything. Just give the information to Eca. If he thinks it's valuable, you get paid. If not, no harm done."</p> <p class="cnNiMzA3ODdhYmFkYjRlMzBhZDJkOGEzNGJhZGY3MDRl">Talia thought the idea over before finally shrugging. "Fine. It's not a big thing for me either. Let's just get to Altaro first, shall we?"</p> <p class="cnM5YTUxZmU4MGE2NTQ1NTY4YjEyZDI3MDE4YmIyZmY4">The rest continued down the path, but Adelle hung back for just a moment. With one last look towards the Titan digging in the distance, she teleported to catch up to the rest of her companions.</p> <hr> <p class="cnMxNzllNTk3ZDlhODQyZWJiZmY0OGJhMjQwZDAwZjgx">The giant shovel-claws dug straight through the crust of the earth, pulling apart mounts of rocks and stones as easily as one does flesh and blood.</p> <p class="cnMyMjBiZmU2ZGU4NjQ4NjZiNTkzODg3ZTM2ZTA4NmEz">Lachesis stood at the side, watching with arm's crossed. She waited anxiously for the news. They had been scouring the Graveyard for years now, searching for the sentient from legends. Now, with only less than a tenth of the land remaining to dig, she was itching for results.</p> <p class="cnNkNjM0NzkwMGFlMjQ2NDk4MjMxMjQ5NjRjZTQyOGQ5">Most sentient Titans were larger than life. Easy to spot even if you were to be flying high in the skies on a glider. But she was looking for just the core of one. An ancient Titan monstrous in size in its own rights, but with just a titanium sphere no larger than perhaps a small room for a body. The ultimate contradiction. The ultimate weapon.</p> <p class="cnNkNjFkZTlkNjMyZDQ1MDRhMmViMmI1MDY3MDlhM2Mz">The Varicks swung its arm into the dirt again. But instead of slicing through like before, a loud smash echoed out. The golem recoiled, almost as if in pain. Lachesis scoff. Weapons should have no use for pain.</p> <p class="cnNhZDlmN2JkODFiZjRkZWFiNTVjM2YwZjBmMmUyZGMw">Her soldiers ran up to examine the dig. After a moment, they began calling in mortal excavators armed with shovels and wheelbarrows. An hour passed. Then, two. What were a few hours for a woman who had waited centuries for her vengeance?</p> <p class="cnMxZjllNzU3MDQ5YjRiZWU4YjZkNmQ2YjAxMjEwMTkz">Finally, one of her 2nd ranked ran up to her. "My Pyrerai, we've made a discovery."</p> <p class="cnMyY2IyMmQ2Mzc3OTRlZjk5MWEyNjkwMDE4MDk3N2Q5">She abandoned her cloak to one of her servants. At the left of her hip hung a gunrifle, the ceremonial mace nowhere near an effective weapon on a potential battlefield. In a cloud of rust, she teleported over to the edge of the dig site. Staring down into the hole, the silver glint at the bottom caught her eyes and she smiled. The archaeologists parted to let her through and she teleported into the ditch.</p> <p class="cnMxYTgyZDExOWM1YjRiMjQ4ZWU2NWZjMzE0OTUxZWNl">Immediately she felt the whispers like a million flies whizzing in her mind and she smiled. The ground around her seemed to tremble, but there were no shakes of the earth. Dust particles began rising around them but only floating to her shin like a low hanging mist.</p> <p class="cnM5NDNmODM2NDEyNzRkNzViNzE3N2FlZGRiY2ZjZjAx">"Patience. We'll fix you up real good." She grinned. "<em><strong>Exodus</strong></em>."</p> </div>

They stepped out of the cavern for the first time in over a day. Though dimmed brown and red by the Tainted sky, the light of the noon was still bright enough to cause Adelle to squint after readjusting her eyes from the darkness. It was the first time she saw the Taint from within the continent. Where it was a rust-grey blob from afar, it looked akin to storm clouds of fire from the middle of the land. Occasionally, portions of the sky would light up in bright orange flames. Luce explained it was the rust in the air sparking off each other and igniting the metallic dust. Standing within visible distance of the base of Reveries Mountain, the Titan's Graveyard stretched south and southeast expansively. The flat basin was littered with the bodies of mechs and golems as old metallic machines and drooping stone arches. In the far south, a pile of maybe 5 or 6 of the giants' bodies looked as if they had fused together to form a small mount. Rumbling. Adelle turned towards to sound from the west. A line of 5 golems ten times her height and as wide and long as mansions crawled across the landscape on all fours, hunched on their backs. Aside them, the groups of soldiers were barely ants, scrambling around the large moving creatures. "Varicks," Josh noted. "Excavator golems meant for clearing mines. See the front legs with its shovel-like hands? Those things can dig up vast chunks of land and they are reinforced to take the blasts of explosions." Luce asked, "So are they mine clearing?" "No. That road isn't used by any army. Probably just sent out to scout or something," Talia answered. "Not our problem, and definitely not mine with such worthless information. We have to get to Altaro, she gestured to the horizon. It's a small town where we can resupply and we're about three days away with only two days worth of food left." Adelle sighed. It was definitely getting hotter and less humid the further south they went. Her lips were cracking and she was sweating much more than she expected. Luce and Josh seemed to have adapted much faster to the dry, barren climate, likely due to having lived on the continent for extended years. For about an hour, they made their way down the mountain in silence, occasionally glancing over towards the golems which had started digging the dirt of the land. Then she noticed a bulge of men sized figures moving across the landscape towards the Titans. "Hey," she called out. "What's that?" Josh raised a curious brow. From his large bag, he pulled out a telescopic telescope and trained it on the group. "Huh. It's the Pyrerai." Talia added in confusion, "That can't be right. The Pyrerai never leaves the city." She snatched the telescope from his grasp and followed the view. "Well I'll be damned. It really is her. Barely see it, but I won't miss that bombastic cloak anywhere." Luce asked, "What does this mean?" "It means," Talia began excitedly as she lowered the telescope. "That once I've delivered you to Altaro, I'm heading back to report this to Eca and getting me a cart of credits!" "Just hold your horses," Josh said. "You can't just-" "What are horses?" Talia cut in, returning the telescope. "I-that doesn't matter right now! You can't just leave us midway." "I'm not leaving you midway. It's more like a quarter." "Talia!" "Don't worry. I know another Guide that's currently in Altaro. I'll pass you off to him and then I'll get off!" "And give up your share of the money?" Talia shrugged. "Guy's new. He's cheap. And the info drop will be worth more for the amount of work than delivering you guys." Josh groaned. "Why are you always like this?" "Money makes the world go round, my dear. Besides," she laughed. "You guys don't really have much of a choice." "What about your reputation?" Josh threatened. "I could ruin you." Talia laughed. "Cute threat, Joshy. But you're not one to do that. I've known you long enough. Besides, you're a Guide yourself. Nobody will take a Guide trashing another Guide seriously." The stunned man could not reply. Adelle grunted. "I don't like that she's right." There was a lot more that she didn't like. The mysterious digging through none combat areas. How the Pyrerai was moving in an unusual fashion. Eca's behind the scenes manipulation. Talia reassured them. "Don't worry. The other Guide's new, but he's good. I'm just undercharging him because I'm thrifty." "Well," Luce huffed. "At least you admit it." "I am nothing if not consistent," Talia admitted, readjusting her pack and restarted leading the way down the path. Towards Altaro they continued. Occasionally, Adelle would throw glances towards the Titan digging in the far distance. On one such occasion, she found Luce catching her in the act and quickly looked up to the sky instead, pretending to be fascinated at the scenery. But she could not shake the sense of dread. It ate at her and must have shown on her face, for Luce asked in worry. "What's on your mind?" For some reason, Adelle felt forthcoming to her. "I don't know." She wanted to follow her gut, but her gut was wrangled. So she did what The Watcher would do in these situations and followed her curiosity instead. "Why is it called 'Titan's Graveyard?'" Luce shrugged. "I'm not sure. It was already named that when I was born. Josh?" "I heard you," the man answered from the front. He spun on his legs and begun walking backwards. "I'm not sure either. My best guess would be due to the numbers of dead Titans there. It is a last line of defence, after all." Talia corrected, "Nope. It was called that even before the war, hundreds of years ago." Adelle's mind began to think, something which she still was not comfortable with, causing her to groan before saying, "Urgh... wait. So, a graveyard is where you bury things. What Titan's old enough to be buried for hundreds of years?" "No mechs," Luce said. "They weren't invented until the war." "Can't be golems either," Talia added. "They were not combat ready until a couple of decades before the war began." Josh finished, "That leaves sentient Titans." "What's the point of that?" Talia exclaimed. "You can't control those things. They'd just run around doing whatever." They stopped in their tracks and Josh muttered, "Unless someone pilot's them..." He looked to Adelle. "Lachesis's a sentinel. She's like me." Luce added, "You piloted the Leviathan." "So she can probably do the same with some other sentient." Talia threw her arms up. "What are you three talking about?" Luce explained, "Sentinels can pilot sentients." "No they can't. That's just an old ground's tale." "Adelle did. She got in Leviathan and told it to move and it did." Exasperated, Talia tried to reason away the lunacy. "Even if she could, why would the Pyrerai dig one up from the grave? Why not just go after one that's still functioning?" "Grotslang's underground," Josh explained. "And Arklut's all the was in The Burning South. Not exactly easy Titans to locate, which is surprising given their sizes." "I can't just take your words for it." "Fine then," Luce retorted. "Don't take our words for it. Not like we're here to play the hero or anything. Just give the information to Eca. If he thinks it's valuable, you get paid. If not, no harm done." Talia thought the idea over before finally shrugging. "Fine. It's not a big thing for me either. Let's just get to Altaro first, shall we?" The rest continued down the path, but Adelle hung back for just a moment. With one last look towards the Titan digging in the distance, she teleported to catch up to the rest of her companions. --- The giant shovel-claws dug straight through the crust of the earth, pulling apart mounts of rocks and stones as easily as one does flesh and blood. Lachesis stood at the side, watching with arm's crossed. She waited anxiously for the news. They had been scouring the Graveyard for years now, searching for the sentient from legends. Now, with only less than a tenth of the land remaining to dig, she was itching for results. Most sentient Titans were larger than life. Easy to spot even if you were to be flying high in the skies on a glider. But she was looking for just the core of one. An ancient Titan monstrous in size in its own rights, but with just a titanium sphere no larger than perhaps a small room for a body. The ultimate contradiction. The ultimate weapon. The Varicks swung its arm into the dirt again. But instead of slicing through like before, a loud smash echoed out. The golem recoiled, almost as if in pain. Lachesis scoff. Weapons should have no use for pain. Her soldiers ran up to examine the dig. After a moment, they began calling in mortal excavators armed with shovels and wheelbarrows. An hour passed. Then, two. What were a few hours for a woman who had waited centuries for her vengeance? Finally, one of her 2nd ranked ran up to her. "My Pyrerai, we've made a discovery." She abandoned her cloak to one of her servants. At the left of her hip hung a gunrifle, the ceremonial mace nowhere near an effective weapon on a potential battlefield. In a cloud of rust, she teleported over to the edge of the dig site. Staring down into the hole, the silver glint at the bottom caught her eyes and she smiled. The archaeologists parted to let her through and she teleported into the ditch. Immediately she felt the whispers like a million flies whizzing in her mind and she smiled. The ground around her seemed to tremble, but there were no shakes of the earth. Dust particles began rising around them but only floating to her shin like a low hanging mist. "Patience. We'll fix you up real good." She grinned. "***Exodus***."

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNiYTgwZjVlMTkwMTRhZTliMjE4NzAxOWMyZTZkMWNl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Chapter 3</span></p> <p class="cnM2ZGRiOTM0OTU2ODQ1MTE4NGYzNTc0OGE2ODFjN2Nl"><span style="font-weight: 400">When I emerged onto the roof the cold Lior air greeted me. I briefly regretted not getting my coat from my locker, since my hoodie was barely enough protection from the stinging winds. You’d think I’d learned my lesson. Lior had only been terraformed over the last 60 years, and the climate had only been suitable for sustaining life for the past 45 years. Global temperatures were still rising, but for now, living around the equator still saw a sun dawn over thinly frozen water every morning. The sun high over my head cast a small shadow around my feet. The view still amazed me. The high rising buildings around the school dwarfed the small complex, a testament to humanity’s current Golden Age, as we revolved around a yellow star. I’d seen some images on the LinkWeb, showing Lior at night from high above as a fairly barren planet, and a thin line of glowing lights all around the equator, broken only by the occasional frozen lake.</span></p> <p class="cnM0ODY0MTg2ODljODQxNDM4YWViNzViYWQzYjhjYThl"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Hey, Vorn!” Tonk’s voice reached from the edge of the building where he sat with Lian and Rond. As I approached them and sat on one of the benches with them, Rond gave me a friendly upwards nod, and Lian briefly interrupted her rant to greet me.</span></p> <p class="cnNkZTI2YmUyZGZhNTRmZmU5OTQ4YTE3NzQwMTZlNTM1"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Mornin’, Vorn”, she spoke with her usual chipper attitude, beaming a smile at me. She was cute, in a way one might find a kitten cute. I’d say she seemed Hispanic, if humanity had not mixed and intertwined enough to mostly make such distinctions archaic. Straight oak hair to her shoulders, round brown eyes and a small mouth that talked way too much without actually saying anything. I sometimes pitied Rond for that. “So why is it that after all that time and money, they still don’t have the PDE up and running? I still have power outages now and then. What is this, the pioneering age?”</span></p> <p class="cnMyNzI0ODIxMDk5MjQxMWZhNjgwNzI5ZDUwMTQ5OTRh"><span style="font-weight: 400">Rond seemed to suppress a sigh at that. He’d been going out with Lian since she came to Lior half a year ago, and while they had come to the point in their relationship where they had the occasional spat, they were still definitely in love. Despite her verbal diarrhea on repeating topics and despite his seeming lack of ambition and heavy drawling accent. Rond was slightly pudgy, but it fit his large posture. He had a permanent 5 o’clock shadow on the lower half of his face and friendly eyes. They seemed right for each other. <br></span></p> <p class="cnM1ZWNjZWFkMTViNzQ4ZGY5YTQwMzA1NDM0YzA0OWQz"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I told you sweetie, the PDE takes </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">time</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> to make. A lot of it. Stars are huge y’know. Besides, surface-based power-plants are still necessary so long as it’s freezing out here. Next time there’s a power outage, you can just crash at my place. Da won’t mind, y’know.”</span></p> <p class="cnMzMzkxNGJiN2Q2MzQ0MzRhN2JiZDI4MjAxMmNlNjFj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Lian broke out a wicked smile at that, and I turned to Tonk before I was forced to hear -and yeah, envy- their relationship talk. “Say Red, made up your mind yet for what you’re gonna do after graduation?”</span></p> <p class="cnNmMzhmZDM1ZDcxYTQ2YmE5OWIwZWUxYzVjZTQyMjNi"><span style="font-weight: 400">Tonk seemed glad for the distraction, as Lian and Rond had devolved into discussing possible ‘activities’ during a power outage. Too private. “Nah, not yet. Figured hosting might be nice, bringing some humanity to the service industry. Better and easier than managing AIs at least, though the pay is likely shit unless people really enjoy my company. But who </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">needs</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> money anyways. How ‘bout you, big guy?”</span></p> <p class="cnM1MTAwMTY1ZGE4MjQ3NzJhNmE5Mzc5ODEzZTY3MDg3"><span style="font-weight: 400">I’d asked myself the same question quite a few times. Officially, hybrids were equals to humans, but there was no ignoring our obvious physical differences. The service industry was not really for my kind, since a 7.5ft tall warrior would hardly rhyme with 'hospitality'. The only ‘services’ some pervs sought in hybrids was due to some sexual fantasy about massive size differences. Though my mom oddly enough managed to be a tour guide for people looking to buy property on Lior. Lior was booming, and would be a great place to live and raise children when the Partial Dyson Engine was running and the climate had grown more comfortable. And right now property was still cheap. A once in a lifetime opportunity! Or so she claimed. My dad managed and ‘raised’ medical AIs. Profitable, but too little contact with organic lifeforms for my taste.</span></p> <p class="cnM0YzE4MzE2NDg1NDQxYzZiYjc1YjQ4N2E2NzM4YTBm"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I’m thinking of joining the Frontier Mission. I know it can be dangerous, but if there’s one thing pretty advanced on Lior, it’s the Frontier. Mostly because it's not exactly </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">on</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> Lior. And some Hybrid muscle is always welcome, I’ve heard. Besides, I think it’s pretty cool to explore unknown worlds, discover new species. Space still has so many different images to see that telescopes simply cannot capture.”</span></p> <p class="cnM4NzA2MTQ4NmFmNjRiZjJiY2IxYTQwODljYTNkNDA4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Tonk thought of what I said, touching his hair again. An odd tic of his. “It does sound pretty damn awesome, but some Missions never return. What are you gonna tell your parents? ‘Hey mom and dad, I’m just gonna go to unknown space and maybe you’ll see me again in ten years, maybe never. Toodles!’ You think they’ll be okay with that?"</span></p> <p class="cnM4OTg4M2YwY2ZlNDRlNTZhYzA3Mzc5OTkyZWE2ZWFk"><span style="font-weight: 400">I snorted at that, “You know how my parents are, they’re even more driven to doing exciting new stuff than I am. My dad actually suggested it. I think they’d be proud to have a son who might get the chance to do what we were made to do. Bash in alien threats. If there </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">are</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> any.”</span></p> <p class="cnMwYWFhM2M0OGIwOTQ3MWRiODU4NGU5MTMxNjJlMWI2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Tonk tilted his head and looked at me with confusion. “Your parents would be fine with you dying?”</span></p> <p class="cnNjNWE0Mzg0ZWIwYzRkMzU5OWRlYjc0NTE3NDQxZGRh"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Of course not!” I said with some exasperation. “But we were literally made for war. There is this itch deep inside of us, that we never get to scratch, and those of us that try by fighting others meet with the Chaining Frequency.” I looked down into Tonk's eyes. “My parent would not want me to die, but if I get to scratch that itch that has been nagging at my parents since their birth, they would be happy for me.” I looked out at the city around us. ”It’s a weird kind of love, really. My grandpa never shut up about his war stories. He’d tell about some of the most horrific battles, and made them seem grand. I think he exaggerated some of the stuff he could do to impress his only grandson. I think he enjoyed that war. Except for Attion, he didn’t talk about that”, I drifted off. <br></span></p> <p class="cnMwYWZhMWQ3MjNjZjQ3NDQ4ZjJhODIxZDdlZGU0N2Ez"><span style="font-weight: 400">The diversion of Attion was a large-scale invasion of T.O.R.I.’s home planet’s moon. A way to draw in as many forces from the planet itself as possible. It was instrumental in winning the war, but also where the greatest losses of Hybrid forces were suffered of the entire campaign. Almost two million dead in the span of three days. A nightmare, even by Hybrid accounts.</span></p> <p class="cnNhNmM3MGJjNDBhYTQ0M2I4OWJkMTBkNzgzMDU3MWE0"><span style="font-weight: 400">We let the matter rest there for now. Lian and Rond had stopped their lovey-dovey dialogue and joined in a conversation and banter about a lot of nothing, until the low hum of the buzzer signaled the end of recess.</span></p> <p class="cnM1MjQ2MDMyMDBkMTQ0NjhhYjAyZWI2OTQyNzExZTkx"><span style="font-weight: 400">That night, I found myself in bed looking up application forms for the Frontier Mission on the LinkWeb, having excited myself for the prospect of becoming a space explorer. Were I to actually sign up, my life would take an all new direction. On one hand, I would no longer be confined to a single planet. On the other hand, starting a functional family would be damn near impossible if I was out in deep space most of the time. Besides, I would become an adult away from home. My eighteenth birthday was fast approaching, but not fast enough to celebrate it on Lior </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">and</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> board the next academy ship that would leave. And my eighteenth birthday would be somewhat special. Even more special than a human's. I would be an adult, a </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">warrior. </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">That would mean gaining the right to a mark.</span></p> <p class="cnMzNDk2YjdhNTllZTQwYjNhODc0NThmZTZmMjFlZTE2"><span style="font-weight: 400">The mark was an odd custom, one of very few specific to hybrids. It had started near the end of the war that birthed us. My grandfather would sometimes claim that his team and their heroic feats had started the custom, but when pressured on details he would skirt around the meat of the matter. I liked his stories, but one could season a family's dinner with the grains of salt I had needed to listen to him. Official records stated the marks had spread too quickly to define a source.</span></p> <p class="cnMyNjYxNGMyOTdlODRhZTI5NGUzMTg4ODczYzI4N2Nm"><span style="font-weight: 400">Nowadays, it could be found on the cheek of every adult hybrid, though it was incredibly plain. My grandfather and his fellows had invented the right to update the mark for every achievement, mostly achievements related to warfare, but since those were no longer obtainable after the war, people stuck to only marking their greatest milestones in life. A modification for marriage, having your first child, laying down one's arms for the final time -retiring really-, and so on. The LinkWeb dedicated an entire page to it in its library.</span></p> <p class="cnMwNTMwODQ2NDQ4MjQ2MjBiNjMyNTk2MWEzODkxOGQz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Using gestures, I kept navigating the Frontier Mission's Link, only growing more and more excited for the prospect of joining. I turned off the LinkNav on my ceiling, and pulled my bedsheets further up to cover myself. As I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, I made my decision. Then dreams overcame me quickly.</span></p> </div>

Chapter 3 When I emerged onto the roof the cold Lior air greeted me. I briefly regretted not getting my coat from my locker, since my hoodie was barely enough protection from the stinging winds. You’d think I’d learned my lesson. Lior had only been terraformed over the last 60 years, and the climate had only been suitable for sustaining life for the past 45 years. Global temperatures were still rising, but for now, living around the equator still saw a sun dawn over thinly frozen water every morning. The sun high over my head cast a small shadow around my feet. The view still amazed me. The high rising buildings around the school dwarfed the small complex, a testament to humanity’s current Golden Age, as we revolved around a yellow star. I’d seen some images on the LinkWeb, showing Lior at night from high above as a fairly barren planet, and a thin line of glowing lights all around the equator, broken only by the occasional frozen lake. “Hey, Vorn!” Tonk’s voice reached from the edge of the building where he sat with Lian and Rond. As I approached them and sat on one of the benches with them, Rond gave me a friendly upwards nod, and Lian briefly interrupted her rant to greet me. “Mornin’, Vorn”, she spoke with her usual chipper attitude, beaming a smile at me. She was cute, in a way one might find a kitten cute. I’d say she seemed Hispanic, if humanity had not mixed and intertwined enough to mostly make such distinctions archaic. Straight oak hair to her shoulders, round brown eyes and a small mouth that talked way too much without actually saying anything. I sometimes pitied Rond for that. “So why is it that after all that time and money, they still don’t have the PDE up and running? I still have power outages now and then. What is this, the pioneering age?” Rond seemed to suppress a sigh at that. He’d been going out with Lian since she came to Lior half a year ago, and while they had come to the point in their relationship where they had the occasional spat, they were still definitely in love. Despite her verbal diarrhea on repeating topics and despite his seeming lack of ambition and heavy drawling accent. Rond was slightly pudgy, but it fit his large posture. He had a permanent 5 o’clock shadow on the lower half of his face and friendly eyes. They seemed right for each other. “I told you sweetie, the PDE takes *time* to make. A lot of it. Stars are huge y’know. Besides, surface-based power-plants are still necessary so long as it’s freezing out here. Next time there’s a power outage, you can just crash at my place. Da won’t mind, y’know.” Lian broke out a wicked smile at that, and I turned to Tonk before I was forced to hear -and yeah, envy- their relationship talk. “Say Red, made up your mind yet for what you’re gonna do after graduation?” Tonk seemed glad for the distraction, as Lian and Rond had devolved into discussing possible ‘activities’ during a power outage. Too private. “Nah, not yet. Figured hosting might be nice, bringing some humanity to the service industry. Better and easier than managing AIs at least, though the pay is likely shit unless people really enjoy my company. But who *needs* money anyways. How ‘bout you, big guy?” I’d asked myself the same question quite a few times. Officially, hybrids were equals to humans, but there was no ignoring our obvious physical differences. The service industry was not really for my kind, since a 7.5ft tall warrior would hardly rhyme with 'hospitality'. The only ‘services’ some pervs sought in hybrids was due to some sexual fantasy about massive size differences. Though my mom oddly enough managed to be a tour guide for people looking to buy property on Lior. Lior was booming, and would be a great place to live and raise children when the Partial Dyson Engine was running and the climate had grown more comfortable. And right now property was still cheap. A once in a lifetime opportunity! Or so she claimed. My dad managed and ‘raised’ medical AIs. Profitable, but too little contact with organic lifeforms for my taste. “I’m thinking of joining the Frontier Mission. I know it can be dangerous, but if there’s one thing pretty advanced on Lior, it’s the Frontier. Mostly because it's not exactly *on* Lior. And some Hybrid muscle is always welcome, I’ve heard. Besides, I think it’s pretty cool to explore unknown worlds, discover new species. Space still has so many different images to see that telescopes simply cannot capture.” Tonk thought of what I said, touching his hair again. An odd tic of his. “It does sound pretty damn awesome, but some Missions never return. What are you gonna tell your parents? ‘Hey mom and dad, I’m just gonna go to unknown space and maybe you’ll see me again in ten years, maybe never. Toodles!’ You think they’ll be okay with that?" I snorted at that, “You know how my parents are, they’re even more driven to doing exciting new stuff than I am. My dad actually suggested it. I think they’d be proud to have a son who might get the chance to do what we were made to do. Bash in alien threats. If there *are* any.” Tonk tilted his head and looked at me with confusion. “Your parents would be fine with you dying?” “Of course not!” I said with some exasperation. “But we were literally made for war. There is this itch deep inside of us, that we never get to scratch, and those of us that try by fighting others meet with the Chaining Frequency.” I looked down into Tonk's eyes. “My parent would not want me to die, but if I get to scratch that itch that has been nagging at my parents since their birth, they would be happy for me.” I looked out at the city around us. ”It’s a weird kind of love, really. My grandpa never shut up about his war stories. He’d tell about some of the most horrific battles, and made them seem grand. I think he exaggerated some of the stuff he could do to impress his only grandson. I think he enjoyed that war. Except for Attion, he didn’t talk about that”, I drifted off. The diversion of Attion was a large-scale invasion of T.O.R.I.’s home planet’s moon. A way to draw in as many forces from the planet itself as possible. It was instrumental in winning the war, but also where the greatest losses of Hybrid forces were suffered of the entire campaign. Almost two million dead in the span of three days. A nightmare, even by Hybrid accounts. We let the matter rest there for now. Lian and Rond had stopped their lovey-dovey dialogue and joined in a conversation and banter about a lot of nothing, until the low hum of the buzzer signaled the end of recess. That night, I found myself in bed looking up application forms for the Frontier Mission on the LinkWeb, having excited myself for the prospect of becoming a space explorer. Were I to actually sign up, my life would take an all new direction. On one hand, I would no longer be confined to a single planet. On the other hand, starting a functional family would be damn near impossible if I was out in deep space most of the time. Besides, I would become an adult away from home. My eighteenth birthday was fast approaching, but not fast enough to celebrate it on Lior *and* board the next academy ship that would leave. And my eighteenth birthday would be somewhat special. Even more special than a human's. I would be an adult, a *warrior.* That would mean gaining the right to a mark. The mark was an odd custom, one of very few specific to hybrids. It had started near the end of the war that birthed us. My grandfather would sometimes claim that his team and their heroic feats had started the custom, but when pressured on details he would skirt around the meat of the matter. I liked his stories, but one could season a family's dinner with the grains of salt I had needed to listen to him. Official records stated the marks had spread too quickly to define a source. Nowadays, it could be found on the cheek of every adult hybrid, though it was incredibly plain. My grandfather and his fellows had invented the right to update the mark for every achievement, mostly achievements related to warfare, but since those were no longer obtainable after the war, people stuck to only marking their greatest milestones in life. A modification for marriage, having your first child, laying down one's arms for the final time -retiring really-, and so on. The LinkWeb dedicated an entire page to it in its library. Using gestures, I kept navigating the Frontier Mission's Link, only growing more and more excited for the prospect of joining. I turned off the LinkNav on my ceiling, and pulled my bedsheets further up to cover myself. As I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, I made my decision. Then dreams overcame me quickly.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM3MGMzMWQzNzJmNjQyNWJiODEwMzAwOWE3N2JlOTRi">Carmen's vision of the stray Shinigami has Gabriel's crew on a panic state, if it stays loose for too long a lot of people are going to die, the souls destroyed by a stray Shinigami are not transferred to the afterlife but instead are completely erased<br>according to what Mak said, he also said that he has a plan to pin it down for a while...<br>Gabriel-What are we going to do?<br>Mak-I am going to cast a spell that will bind it in the space of the dojo and it won't be able to escape.<br>Kevin-How do you know it's still in the dojo?<br>Gabriel-Yeah, that thing might be moving as we are talking.<br>Mak-You are right. Kevin, give me the car keys!<br>Kevin-Ok..what?<br>Mak-We need the car to go there as fast as possible, we don't have time to argue.<br>Kevin-Fine.<br>Kevin gave the car keys to Mak, Gabriel grabbed the wheel in order to drive because Mak had to put his Glamour on and that would cost them some valuable minutes, by sitting in the back seat and casting the Glamour while Gabriel was driving<br>they minimized the amount of time they needed to get there and to conceal Mak's appearance. Once they arrived at the dojo they head straight to the second floor where they found the body of the man that Carmen saw in her vision, the statue was<br>also there but the Shinigami wasn't...<br>Gabriel-Where is that thing?<br>Mak-Fuck, it's gone already.<br>Gabriel-What now?<br>Mak-Let me think...<br>Gabriel-Do you think it went out the window?<br>Mak-Probably, it doesn't have to use doors.<br>Gabriel-Where would it go?<br>Mak-It doesn't have a purpose so...probably the cafe!<br>Gabriel-I'm on it.<br>Gabriel jumped out of the window and landed on the street, he then realized that some people saw him, amazed by the leap they tried to come close to him but he run full speed to the cafe area where he saw the Shinigami draining the souls of the <br>people sitting there, it was a strange humanoid creature with distorted characteristics and very pale complexion, huge yellow eyes that glowed bright and long hands with talons, it seemed like it was wearing a black torn robe and it was hovering<br>above the dead bodies, Gabriel's first action was to go close and try to punch it, his punch went right through it but it got its attention...<br>Gabriel-(Of course! It's a damn spirit Gabe, what do you think a punch can do?)<br>The Shinigami took a curious look on Gabriel like sizing him up, at that moment Mak got there with the car...<br>Mak-Run Gabriel!<br>Gabriel-Why?<br>The Shinigami also took notice on Mak but then turned again to face Gabriel and continue to watch.<br>Mak-Hit it with your light attack and run!<br>Gabriel-All right, "Holy Flash"!<br>The attack had no effect but the Shinigami seemed shocked, it started to get close to Gabriel, he started to run away, the Shinigami followed him and managed to keep up with his speed, Mak got back in the car and followed as well, Gabriel was<br>running towards the edge of the town where the forest that Mak was originally from, he figured that since there were no people there that if he managed to lure it he could fight with full strength without worrying about collateral damage. His plan<br>was a success and now he has reached the forest, the Shinigami was still on his tail, now that he stopped the Shinigami was hovering nearby, it seemed interested in Gabriel...<br>Gabriel-Ok, let's do this."Holy Flash"<br>The attack had no effect again but this time the Shinigami was mad, it raised its boney pale hand in the air and a black scythe with a serrated blade appeared from thin air, it was obvious that now it was ready to fight, Mak arrived to witness<br>Gabriel dodging the slashes of the Shinigami, for some reason it didn't do the same thing like before where it would drain the soul of the victim but instead tried to physically harm Gabriel...<br>Mak-Oh shit.<br>Gabriel-Don't "oh shit", I can't hit the damn thing!<br>Mak-I will start the spell!<br>After Mak started drawing on the ground something strange happened, the Shinigami paused and started speaking to him with a deep croaky voice...</p>Shinigami-A pathetic attempt.<br>Mak-What the fuck?<br>Gabriel-You can talk? Why are you doing this?<br>Koma-My name is Koma, there is no language that you lesser creatures can speak that I cannot. <br>The fighting stopped and it now turned into a dialogue...<br>Gabriel-Why are you here? Isn't your purpose as a Shinigami to collect the souls of the dying people?<br>Gabriel noticed that Mak was still drawing and if he knows what he is doing then he had to buy some time for him, so he tried to distract Koma...<br>Koma-That was my purpose. Not anymore.<br>Gabriel-Why? What happened?<br>Koma-By the awakening of the true God of Death, the whole world shall crumble and all who aid him shall join in on his kingdom.<br>Gabriel-Who is that?<br>Koma-I have no reason to tell you, human, or probably not. How did you get so much power?<br>Gabriel-I have no reason to tell you, Shinigami.<br>Koma-You are strong enough for me to not drain your soul directly, but this scythe reaps the soul of anyone it cuts, your words are meaningless anyway.<br>While Gabriel was talking to Koma, Mak had finished the pattern and gave a signal to Gabriel, he then focused his energy and threw a fireball at Koma, that pissed him off and then he dashed towards Gabriel who was now standing on top of the<br>drawn pattern...<br>Mak-Now Gabriel, push energy into it!<br>Gabriel ducked to dodge the incoming slash from Koma's scythe and put his hand on the ground channeling energy and powering the binding spell...<br>Koma-I told you that won't...WHAT!? HOW!? Where is this power coming from? So much!<br>The spell activated and Koma was starting to lose the ability to move.<br>Koma-You insolent mortal!<br>Gabriel-Serves you right, ashole.<br>Koma-How can the mere power of a mortal create such a strong catalyst for this spell?<br>Mak-Gabriel, we don't have time to waste, the spell is going to keep him here for one week at most.<br>Gabriel-I think one week is enough time to kill him.<br>Mak-No, in case you didn't notice, you can't damage him with your attacks.<br>Gabriel-So what should we do? Recast the spell again?<br>Mak-And then what? Come back once a week to keep him here?<br>Gabriel-What then?<br>Mak-We are going to need the knowledge of the Onmyoji.<br>Gabriel-Come again?<br>Mak-The Onmyoji are Japanese exorcists who mostly deal with evil spirits.<br>Gabriel-Sure, but Shinigami are good spirits originally, right?<br>Mak-I hope that they have a way to deal with stray ones.<br>Gabriel-So we are going to Japan? Just like that. Are you that sure that my attacks are not effective?<br>Mak-Yes.<br>Gabriel-Shouldn't we at least try?<br>Mak-Physical attacks can't do damage to anything that has a spectral form, your fire and light attacks were also ineffective against it.<br>Gabriel-We don't even know why it's here in the first place, shouldn't we ask him again?<br>Gabriel-Hey ugly, how about telling me everything now that you can't move?<br>Mak-He can't hear you, the barrier acts like a separate space, he can't interact with us.<br>Gabriel-I guess we are going to Japan then...<br>So Mak's spell has managed to bind Koma the Shinigami, now Gabriel has to embark on a journey to seek the Onmyoji for their knowledge. He has one week to locate one and to learn their techniques in order to be able to damage and possibly kill<br>the Shinigami. As they turned around the noticed that the aftermath of Koma's attacks was bigger than they expected, the car was damaged by the scythe and it was in a terrible shape, Gabriel and Mak looked at each other...<br>Gabriel-Shit.<br>Mak-Shit.<br>Gabriel-You were responsible for Kevin's car right?<br>Mak-Don't place all the blame on me.<br>Gabriel-Too late, I already did.<br>Mak-Maybe if we don't mention the car at all he won't say anything and by the time he finds out we will be already in Japan.<br>Gabriel-It's worth a try.<br>With Kevin's car broken both Gabriel and Mak were in trouble, suddenly the trapped Shinigami felt trivial in front of Kevin's anger, this isn't the first time that Gabriel or Mak have lost or broke his stuff, with an anxious look on both their faces they<br>begun to walk back to Kevin's house...<p></p> </div>

Carmen's vision of the stray Shinigami has Gabriel's crew on a panic state, if it stays loose for too long a lot of people are going to die, the souls destroyed by a stray Shinigami are not transferred to the afterlife but instead are completely erased according to what Mak said, he also said that he has a plan to pin it down for a while... Gabriel-What are we going to do? Mak-I am going to cast a spell that will bind it in the space of the dojo and it won't be able to escape. Kevin-How do you know it's still in the dojo? Gabriel-Yeah, that thing might be moving as we are talking. Mak-You are right. Kevin, give me the car keys! Kevin-Ok..what? Mak-We need the car to go there as fast as possible, we don't have time to argue. Kevin-Fine. Kevin gave the car keys to Mak, Gabriel grabbed the wheel in order to drive because Mak had to put his Glamour on and that would cost them some valuable minutes, by sitting in the back seat and casting the Glamour while Gabriel was driving they minimized the amount of time they needed to get there and to conceal Mak's appearance. Once they arrived at the dojo they head straight to the second floor where they found the body of the man that Carmen saw in her vision, the statue was also there but the Shinigami wasn't... Gabriel-Where is that thing? Mak-Fuck, it's gone already. Gabriel-What now? Mak-Let me think... Gabriel-Do you think it went out the window? Mak-Probably, it doesn't have to use doors. Gabriel-Where would it go? Mak-It doesn't have a purpose so...probably the cafe! Gabriel-I'm on it. Gabriel jumped out of the window and landed on the street, he then realized that some people saw him, amazed by the leap they tried to come close to him but he run full speed to the cafe area where he saw the Shinigami draining the souls of the people sitting there, it was a strange humanoid creature with distorted characteristics and very pale complexion, huge yellow eyes that glowed bright and long hands with talons, it seemed like it was wearing a black torn robe and it was hovering above the dead bodies, Gabriel's first action was to go close and try to punch it, his punch went right through it but it got its attention... Gabriel-(Of course! It's a damn spirit Gabe, what do you think a punch can do?) The Shinigami took a curious look on Gabriel like sizing him up, at that moment Mak got there with the car... Mak-Run Gabriel! Gabriel-Why? The Shinigami also took notice on Mak but then turned again to face Gabriel and continue to watch. Mak-Hit it with your light attack and run! Gabriel-All right, "Holy Flash"! The attack had no effect but the Shinigami seemed shocked, it started to get close to Gabriel, he started to run away, the Shinigami followed him and managed to keep up with his speed, Mak got back in the car and followed as well, Gabriel was running towards the edge of the town where the forest that Mak was originally from, he figured that since there were no people there that if he managed to lure it he could fight with full strength without worrying about collateral damage. His plan was a success and now he has reached the forest, the Shinigami was still on his tail, now that he stopped the Shinigami was hovering nearby, it seemed interested in Gabriel... Gabriel-Ok, let's do this."Holy Flash" The attack had no effect again but this time the Shinigami was mad, it raised its boney pale hand in the air and a black scythe with a serrated blade appeared from thin air, it was obvious that now it was ready to fight, Mak arrived to witness Gabriel dodging the slashes of the Shinigami, for some reason it didn't do the same thing like before where it would drain the soul of the victim but instead tried to physically harm Gabriel... Mak-Oh shit. Gabriel-Don't "oh shit", I can't hit the damn thing! Mak-I will start the spell! After Mak started drawing on the ground something strange happened, the Shinigami paused and started speaking to him with a deep croaky voice... Shinigami-A pathetic attempt. Mak-What the fuck? Gabriel-You can talk? Why are you doing this? Koma-My name is Koma, there is no language that you lesser creatures can speak that I cannot. The fighting stopped and it now turned into a dialogue... Gabriel-Why are you here? Isn't your purpose as a Shinigami to collect the souls of the dying people? Gabriel noticed that Mak was still drawing and if he knows what he is doing then he had to buy some time for him, so he tried to distract Koma... Koma-That was my purpose. Not anymore. Gabriel-Why? What happened? Koma-By the awakening of the true God of Death, the whole world shall crumble and all who aid him shall join in on his kingdom. Gabriel-Who is that? Koma-I have no reason to tell you, human, or probably not. How did you get so much power? Gabriel-I have no reason to tell you, Shinigami. Koma-You are strong enough for me to not drain your soul directly, but this scythe reaps the soul of anyone it cuts, your words are meaningless anyway. While Gabriel was talking to Koma, Mak had finished the pattern and gave a signal to Gabriel, he then focused his energy and threw a fireball at Koma, that pissed him off and then he dashed towards Gabriel who was now standing on top of the drawn pattern... Mak-Now Gabriel, push energy into it! Gabriel ducked to dodge the incoming slash from Koma's scythe and put his hand on the ground channeling energy and powering the binding spell... Koma-I told you that won't...WHAT!? HOW!? Where is this power coming from? So much! The spell activated and Koma was starting to lose the ability to move. Koma-You insolent mortal! Gabriel-Serves you right, ashole. Koma-How can the mere power of a mortal create such a strong catalyst for this spell? Mak-Gabriel, we don't have time to waste, the spell is going to keep him here for one week at most. Gabriel-I think one week is enough time to kill him. Mak-No, in case you didn't notice, you can't damage him with your attacks. Gabriel-So what should we do? Recast the spell again? Mak-And then what? Come back once a week to keep him here? Gabriel-What then? Mak-We are going to need the knowledge of the Onmyoji. Gabriel-Come again? Mak-The Onmyoji are Japanese exorcists who mostly deal with evil spirits. Gabriel-Sure, but Shinigami are good spirits originally, right? Mak-I hope that they have a way to deal with stray ones. Gabriel-So we are going to Japan? Just like that. Are you that sure that my attacks are not effective? Mak-Yes. Gabriel-Shouldn't we at least try? Mak-Physical attacks can't do damage to anything that has a spectral form, your fire and light attacks were also ineffective against it. Gabriel-We don't even know why it's here in the first place, shouldn't we ask him again? Gabriel-Hey ugly, how about telling me everything now that you can't move? Mak-He can't hear you, the barrier acts like a separate space, he can't interact with us. Gabriel-I guess we are going to Japan then... So Mak's spell has managed to bind Koma the Shinigami, now Gabriel has to embark on a journey to seek the Onmyoji for their knowledge. He has one week to locate one and to learn their techniques in order to be able to damage and possibly kill the Shinigami. As they turned around the noticed that the aftermath of Koma's attacks was bigger than they expected, the car was damaged by the scythe and it was in a terrible shape, Gabriel and Mak looked at each other... Gabriel-Shit. Mak-Shit. Gabriel-You were responsible for Kevin's car right? Mak-Don't place all the blame on me. Gabriel-Too late, I already did. Mak-Maybe if we don't mention the car at all he won't say anything and by the time he finds out we will be already in Japan. Gabriel-It's worth a try. With Kevin's car broken both Gabriel and Mak were in trouble, suddenly the trapped Shinigami felt trivial in front of Kevin's anger, this isn't the first time that Gabriel or Mak have lost or broke his stuff, with an anxious look on both their faces they begun to walk back to Kevin's house...

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNmMDI4NzE0ZjBiNjRlZTZhNWViMzhiNzY3Y2NhMTRj">“Be careful, the guns are dangerous. I’m not sure if they might have traps either. The person fighting back against us is smart. Probably a genius of some type, most certainly someone with a high level of functioning madness. I’m focusing on defense right now in case we need to retreat.” Tree whispered into Dryads ears as she walked forward. “It will take me awhile to hack into the AI they are using, because I have no idea what I’m doing and can only brute force my way in with my mind.”</p> <p class="cnMzODJiZTUzYTcwNTQwZDFiMWJlZWQ3ZGJmY2Q1NTVj">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM2ODMwNWIyOGViYTQ2ZTliNTU4NzM2ZGU3YjU4ZjM5">While the other three had been given easier sections of the building to conquer, Dryad had specifically requested the strongest resistance.</p> <p class="cnNlNDdhNDU3NTZiNjQ5ZGY5YWM2YzNhMWNkNGQwYzU5">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlODQxMjEyZGQxNzRiYWM4ZDBkNjI1ODlkMDY4M2E4">She’d been training her Dao of Blood, and Life, in order to prepare for the higher levels of Divine enemies that they were sure to eventually meet. However, without actual enemies to fight, it was difficult to judge her current strength.</p> <p class="cnMwMTMzZWQyOGJlYzQzY2FiZjY5M2QyMjBlZWM5YzNk">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMyMDU4YjBmNjdiYTRmNzRhY2ExY2MwNGUwM2RhYjU5">While the enemies that Tree had found so far were dangerous, they were more at a level she could handle. Guns were pretty much the same as magical crossbows, and while they were dangerous, she wasn’t too worried.</p> <p class="cnM4ZmVhZDZjYzBhNTQyOTQ5NzE2ZWNjY2U3MmQ0YTE4">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4YjJjMDM4MmMyMzQ3YzRhYmI4MzQ4NTc4MmZjMTcy">As her beloved Tree continued to natter in whispers at her while she walked, Dryad started to release her first weapon. In such an enclosed area of space, it would be impossible to grow an effective forest.</p> <p class="cnM0NjRhZDg0ZTU5YzQ5ZjVhMGVlZmQ1ODNhYTI4MWI1">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3ZGU3MGQ4YjM0ZTRmMzA5ZjY1YjRhZmQ0YjQ3MjQ1">Moss however.</p> <p class="cnMxNWIxMDQ3NzM0YzQ5MGJiMDY5ZjM1ZDRjODBlMzZh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlZGI3ZjViZDI4MTRjMWRiMDczNWM4MTA2ZDg5MTcz">Moss wouldn’t be a problem.</p> <p class="cnMzNmRhOWRhMTdiMDQxNDhiMTZiYjNmODcxOTRlMWI3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMyNWRkOTk0ZmRjMzRjYjE4ZmVmOTk5NmI0Y2RjMmE4">Slowly as Dryad continued to walk, a strange creeping carpet of blood red moss started to grow out from her footsteps. Within seconds she was walking through an ever growing amount of moss. Within a few minutes the floor, walls, and ceiling of the corridor was covered in carnivorous deep red-tinted moss.</p> <p class="cnMyMzI3NmExMDIzNTQ0NWI5ODU4MTUyMjU0MGIwNWU1">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkYWJkYTMzZmUzNjQ1ZDVhYjMzODI2Mjk1ZjlmY2Jj">As the moss carpet flowed along with her, it appeared as if she was walking in a tunnel of blood. Small seeds fell from her palms causing the moss to start being dotted with small red flowers, and red spotted black mushrooms. Each of these were lethal weapons, the red cap mushrooms shooting out spores constantly into the air, while the flowers emitted a beguiling scent that would crush unwary minds.</p> <p class="cnM3NGNkYzQwMjRhMDRiOTVhYTc2YjI2ZjFiMzFkNWY1">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzMjI5NjI3NTQ4YTRhY2ViNjg5ZWY1MzIyMWMwMTM3">The first guards Dryad encountered were crushed with almost zero time. However, the second set of guards had already adapted and used flamethrower type weapons to hold her back. They also had improved air filtration masks on their helmets that prevented the spores or scents from reaching full effect.</p> <p class="cnNjYmFhYjdiOWVjZjQwMGU5MTJjOWQxMDAxOWI1MTg5">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhNzA3MmE2MTExMTRkZmViYmJlNzg0NzgwYWJlYTUy">Watching the flames harm her current weapon, Dryad grimaced before she used a single nail to open a small cut on her opposite hand.</p> <p class="cnNlN2ZhNzVkZjMwZDQ5MWE4N2U1MDhlODk0YWUxZmJm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNiMjkwZGFkNmZmYTRmMzg5M2RiNWIzMjEwYzE2ZTFl">Blood dripped down onto the moss carpet beneath her, causing growth to explode forth. The new variety of moss was able to resist the higher levels of heat, and quickly overran the guards. As they were devoured while screaming, the lifeforce flowed back through the moss beneath her feet empowering her further.</p> <p class="cnM3Yjk3YjdjMjRlZjRmYjNiM2NkN2RmMzIxOGQyYWNj">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM2YjUzZjA4ZGMzNTRkYTBhYmU5NGVkOGJjM2NmZTAz">Slowly as she moved through the rooms and corridors, the amount of guards seemed to decrease.</p> <p class="cnNhZDAzNTk2MjNjYjQ0OTFhYjIyZTM4MTA0MDJjMjAx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkMzIzYWQ2NTYwZjQxZDRhM2I3MzNmZmNlNWJiODFm">“Tree?” Dryad said, letting power carry her words.</p> <p class="cnM1NzFhZTExMDU3NDQ2MTA5ODU5OTJkMTM3YjE0ZTEw">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMyYTQ1NjNkYWIxZjRhMTk5ZTg2MjM2ZTBkMDYyNjUw">“Hmm? What’s wrong?” Tree said, his whisper slightly distracted.</p> <p class="cnM5MTE3ZWUyYzY1MjQ3MjA5ZWIwYmFhMjc0OTdjYmQ3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMyZDIyNmU2NjBmMTRmMzU5MDE0YWQzZDZkNzkzYmI4">“There’s less defenders.” Dryad said, looking at the current amount of bodies that she’d just finished off being drained.</p> <p class="cnM5YjBiNDViYmQ5OTRkMzZiYTkwMjM3ODU5ZTU3ZjJl">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjNzY4OTkwMGQxMTRiYWRiZjc4MGM0YWRhMjk2ODM0">“Ah, one second. These defensive programs are rather fun.” Tree said as she felt his energy senses flow past her. “They’ve gathered up an enormous amount of forces with a very effective structure and several weapons that look dangerous in a large area ahead. It looks like loading dock or something of that nature.”</p> <p class="cnNmOGE4MzNiZTI5ODQ3YjRiNjJiMzcxODdlNGRmN2Fi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkMzNjYmQzYmYxMzQyNDg5NjYzYjQ2MjZlNGNhYmFl">Dryad narrowed her eyes and started to spend the lifeforce she’d accumulated so far.</p> <p class="cnM4MGZmZDU1Y2FlNDRjNDM5MzNiYTVhODQyNTQ4YTM1">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM2Y2YwZWJmY2RhYjRmYzRhZTQ4ZGUwYzU0MDEwMmI2">Armor covered her form, giving her a faceless demonic appearance. Her weapon evolved with her, and both took on the deepest color of the abyss. She fed the mushrooms and flowers back into the moss. Slowly, like liquid tar, the moss carpet started to engulf her.</p> <p class="cnNjYzYwNzg4Y2M3MDQ3MTY5YmUxMjUwNTE1Y2I4OGU3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhNWIzMWNhMGQ3NTRmMDU4ZDk2ZTZhOWVmMTk1MDQx">One of the projects Tree had her master was a type of combat armor that was more than just defense. He called it a ‘Biological Mech’ and was quite thrilled when she managed to understand the concept.</p> <p class="cnM3MWMwMzZkNTI4YzRmOGI5ODZhZmE1OTA5ZjM1MGVk">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwYTQyNTc1NzllODQyZDBhNGNmYWNlMDRiMWU5NjUz">Layer upon layer of moss covered Dryad’s form, giving her the appearance of a creature from the depths.</p> <p class="cnMxZTBjOWU1YTdlZTQ2ODk5ODczNzJhNjQ2NjVhMDFl">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM0YzY4N2MxYTIyMjQ5YWI4OWM4ZDRlNDZkNjMyZDk2">Between each layer of moss, a thin sheath of blood pulsed as Dryad melded herself completely into the new weapon’s form.</p> <p class="cnNhZWZkYTI4ZmJlMTQ3ZDY5NjBmZjkwZTAzZWUyZDIw">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMxYTQ1NDhkNzYzMTQ4YTY4MmRlYzA3OTRlMGQ3Nzdh">Stepping forward, a hideous creature moved towards the last pocket of resistance that had yet to be crushed.</p> <p class="cnMwZTZmZjM4OGQ1MTQ5YmJiM2M2OWMxYWM5MzljMThj">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkZTdkMDM5NmE0ZTQyYTZhNzgwZWNiYjliODZiMWI0">She could sense that the enemy was throwing everything on an all-or-nothing dice roll. Dryad was happy, it had been a long time since she was able to go all out without worrying.</p> <p class="cnMyMjJhZGFlNDhlZjQ1MDliNzQzYzVmMDJjNGQ5ZDYx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM5YjYwMDI5YTRkYTQ0ZGJiYWY1MGNiNTIyZDk3YWMw">Tree wouldn’t admonish her for making a mess this time, since he was busy elsewhere.</p> <p class="cnNmMjlmZjNiOGVkMDRjY2FhODYyZDc4MTQ2MzMzYjgw">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMxNTdhY2JkNTdiNjQ4ZTA4OGQzNDEwODA4MjM2NTZi">As the final corridor opened up, Dryad could see the forces arrayed against her.</p> <p class="cnMzZTMyNjYyNzkxMzQzMWQ5YWVmZjQ4ODlmODc2YWFi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzM2Y1NTkzMGQwNzQzODhhNzRlMWIyMDQ1M2Y3ZDQx">Large barreled machine turret guns were on enormous tripods, countless forces were gathered behind various protective barricades, and a sea of guns pointed at her.</p> <p class="cnM0OTFiODAxMWU2ODQxNGM4Y2RhMGZlZDFiNTQ0Y2Zj">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzN2Y1MDI2MDljMzQyOWI5MzU0ZTVjYzQwYTliYzJl">From within her ‘Mech’ she looked at the forces arrayed across her, and slowly, Dryad began to smile a terrible crimson grin.</p> </div>

“Be careful, the guns are dangerous. I’m not sure if they might have traps either. The person fighting back against us is smart. Probably a genius of some type, most certainly someone with a high level of functioning madness. I’m focusing on defense right now in case we need to retreat.” Tree whispered into Dryads ears as she walked forward. “It will take me awhile to hack into the AI they are using, because I have no idea what I’m doing and can only brute force my way in with my mind.”   While the other three had been given easier sections of the building to conquer, Dryad had specifically requested the strongest resistance.   She’d been training her Dao of Blood, and Life, in order to prepare for the higher levels of Divine enemies that they were sure to eventually meet. However, without actual enemies to fight, it was difficult to judge her current strength.   While the enemies that Tree had found so far were dangerous, they were more at a level she could handle. Guns were pretty much the same as magical crossbows, and while they were dangerous, she wasn’t too worried.   As her beloved Tree continued to natter in whispers at her while she walked, Dryad started to release her first weapon. In such an enclosed area of space, it would be impossible to grow an effective forest.   Moss however.   Moss wouldn’t be a problem.   Slowly as Dryad continued to walk, a strange creeping carpet of blood red moss started to grow out from her footsteps. Within seconds she was walking through an ever growing amount of moss. Within a few minutes the floor, walls, and ceiling of the corridor was covered in carnivorous deep red-tinted moss.   As the moss carpet flowed along with her, it appeared as if she was walking in a tunnel of blood. Small seeds fell from her palms causing the moss to start being dotted with small red flowers, and red spotted black mushrooms. Each of these were lethal weapons, the red cap mushrooms shooting out spores constantly into the air, while the flowers emitted a beguiling scent that would crush unwary minds.   The first guards Dryad encountered were crushed with almost zero time. However, the second set of guards had already adapted and used flamethrower type weapons to hold her back. They also had improved air filtration masks on their helmets that prevented the spores or scents from reaching full effect.   Watching the flames harm her current weapon, Dryad grimaced before she used a single nail to open a small cut on her opposite hand.   Blood dripped down onto the moss carpet beneath her, causing growth to explode forth. The new variety of moss was able to resist the higher levels of heat, and quickly overran the guards. As they were devoured while screaming, the lifeforce flowed back through the moss beneath her feet empowering her further.   Slowly as she moved through the rooms and corridors, the amount of guards seemed to decrease.   “Tree?” Dryad said, letting power carry her words.   “Hmm? What’s wrong?” Tree said, his whisper slightly distracted.   “There’s less defenders.” Dryad said, looking at the current amount of bodies that she’d just finished off being drained.   “Ah, one second. These defensive programs are rather fun.” Tree said as she felt his energy senses flow past her. “They’ve gathered up an enormous amount of forces with a very effective structure and several weapons that look dangerous in a large area ahead. It looks like loading dock or something of that nature.”   Dryad narrowed her eyes and started to spend the lifeforce she’d accumulated so far.   Armor covered her form, giving her a faceless demonic appearance. Her weapon evolved with her, and both took on the deepest color of the abyss. She fed the mushrooms and flowers back into the moss. Slowly, like liquid tar, the moss carpet started to engulf her.   One of the projects Tree had her master was a type of combat armor that was more than just defense. He called it a ‘Biological Mech’ and was quite thrilled when she managed to understand the concept.   Layer upon layer of moss covered Dryad’s form, giving her the appearance of a creature from the depths.   Between each layer of moss, a thin sheath of blood pulsed as Dryad melded herself completely into the new weapon’s form.   Stepping forward, a hideous creature moved towards the last pocket of resistance that had yet to be crushed.   She could sense that the enemy was throwing everything on an all-or-nothing dice roll. Dryad was happy, it had been a long time since she was able to go all out without worrying.   Tree wouldn’t admonish her for making a mess this time, since he was busy elsewhere.   As the final corridor opened up, Dryad could see the forces arrayed against her.   Large barreled machine turret guns were on enormous tripods, countless forces were gathered behind various protective barricades, and a sea of guns pointed at her.   From within her ‘Mech’ she looked at the forces arrayed across her, and slowly, Dryad began to smile a terrible crimson grin.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM5M2Q3MGI5MGI4NjRlMmQ5MDdmNGJjM2JlNGJhMjYx">  Laurel enthusiastically pulls the hand of Elanor right towards a paling Mellisa. "This girl," Mellisa groans, "Young lady! Have you already forgotten last time you ran off?"</p> <p class="cnMzNmM3M2IwODE5MjQ1NmM5N2I2NDY5MTg2ZWVmNzcz">  Laurel wilts as she sees her angry mom. "But mom," she whines, "I made a new friend! She's super fast and has pretty clothes," Laurel says while waving her hand as if to present how great her find is.</p> <p class="cnNlYWU3MzExM2YwZDQwMWM4NDFiM2I2OTgxMWFkY2Y3">  Elanor smiles at the protective mom. "I don't mean any offense. I don't mean any harm."</p> <p class="cnM3YjU4MDk0OTljYTQyODI5ODEzMmQ0NTU1OTY5M2Iy">  Mellisa gives a half-smile, not wanting to offend. "It's not you. It's just that this girl doesn't seem to learn," She laments.</p> <p class="cnM1MDdkNjFmODMzMDQ3YWU4NWVhOWIzNDRhZDIxMTM4">  Seeing the women talking peacefully, the others in the village come over. Gregory steps out with a big smile. "Good day, miss. we're happy to be graced by someone of your status," he says while bowing deeply. "May I inquire as to your purpose for traveling to this place in the middle of nowhere?" Gregory inquires nervously without coming out of his bow.</p> <p class="cnM2MDQ1ZTM3YmI1NTQ1NThhZGE0N2U5YzM1YTI4NDJl">  "I won't hold anything back. I came here to attempt to retrieve the treasure on the hill." The fairy states as she looks towards the hill. Some of the villagers gasp with worry in their eyes. "NO! You said you weren't bad. You lied," Laurel screams while taking a fighting pose.</p> <p class="cnNlNDAyOTUyOTRhOTRlNWJiNzk1YWFhZWMxY2IyZDJi">  Mellisa covers her daughter's mouth as her face turns grim.<em> 'How did she raise such a willful daughter,'</em> Mellisa chastises herself. "Please, she's just a child and doesn't know the ways of the world."</p> <p class="cnNhZDQzMTFmZGRhNzRmYjlhOGI4NzMyNTgyZDZkMjFm">  Elanor's heart sinks. Sighing, she shakes her head, "It's unfortunate." Elanor holds out her hand to the girl, a bright smile on her face. "Since you're so against it, I'll forget the treasure, okay?" Laurel's eyes are full of conflict. Elanor laughs, "It really is just a small game. As you said, if I'm evil, the bull would've driven me off, right?"</p> <p class="cnM0M2IwNzQyMTFlZTRjYzU5MDY5NTA2YWMyN2FlMjM4">  Laurel nods as if she finally realizes the truth and grabs hold of Elanor's hand. "Come on, let me show you the gardens. The vegetables grow huge!" The girl ecstatically moves on to the next exciting thing.</p> <p class="cnMyMzUxZTBjMzQxOTRiMmNhOGJkYTE5ZDYxM2ZiYWJi">  Gregory stops the energetic girl patting her head. He says, "Now, Laurel, your friend has traveled a long way. I'm sure she doesn't want to be dragged all over creation."</p> <p class="cnM2NDFkNjMyOTg1NTRlNzk5ZWNkYzVlOWZkMTY1OGEz">  However, Elanor shakes her head with a laugh that stirs the hearts of men and women alike. "No, It's fine! If I can spend time with such a cutie, I wouldn't mind traveling anywhere."</p> <p class="cnNkN2YzYjg4YWEzMTQ2NjBiMDMwZWM2MjZlNzEzYzA0">  "If you say so. Still, I feel bad that we have so little to offer you. At least let us set up a banquet for you! We don't have much here, but as Laurel said, we have some of the best vegetables you will ever eat." He gloats while messing Laurel's hair.</p> <p class="cnM1ZDU1YTFiZjNjMTQ4ODk5ZWNlMTE2YmZhOTc0MmE0">  Laurel puffs her cheeks and glares at the shaggy old man. "Stop it! You're ruining my hair," Laurel complains while yanking once again on Eleanor's hand. "Let's go before we catch the old!" Everyone begins to laugh at Laurel's antics, causing her to fume even more.</p> <p class="cnMxNjhhZmUzZTgzYTRhYTBiN2EzNGM4MGNkZjg0YmQw">  Elanor nods to Gregory and Mellisa. "If your willing to host me, it would be rude for me not to attend." She waves at the crowd as she allows Laurel to drag her off.</p> <p class="cnM5NTBiYjk5OGMzNzQxNGI4MzEzZjIyZmY5ZTU4NWU1">  After a short walk, Laurel and Elanor reach a garden. "Look! isn't it amazing?" Laurel asks proudly while pointing to the plants. "I help water them," she brags. The vegetables are twice their average size.</p> <p class="cnM3Yjc4MzcwY2Q1MDQwMzliMzQxOTJmZjUyOTY1NDUy">  "That's great. I've never seen normal vegetables grow so big. Did you guys find some special strain of vegetables?" Elanor asks with feigned interest as she squats down near a large squash.</p> <p class="cnM5ZGFkZDhlMTNjMDQzNmNiNzFhNDczYjA3OGFiN2Fk">  Laurel shakes her head fiercely, causing her hair to fly all over. "No, it's like magic everything grows fast and big here." She then flings her arms up while jumping showing how large everything grows.</p> <p class="cnMxOTEwZmRhMTQ1YjQxZjRhNWIxNGM1MWFiYzg2ZTJj">  Elanor pauses her hand on the squash. She then glances at the hill. She is shocked this whole area is like a cultivation room back at her sect. This kind of atmosphere is scarce on a planet like this. "This is truly a blessed land," Elanor says while looking at the girl with a bright smile.</p> <p class="cnM2N2E4ZmJiZGUyYTRiOGE4NWYzNzBkY2RiZDVjMDk5">  Laurel points over to an open field and says, "Oh, and over there is where Franklin practices. He says he's strong, but Anna had to save us! That's his mom. She is really hurt. It was super scary." Then looking at the hill, her eyes turned bright. "But our guardian spirit saved Anna. Everyone thought she would die. But then up on the hill, she was saved with a bang!"</p> <p class="cnMwZGY2YmQ0YmQzOTQ3MjU4OGU4OTkyYTk1ZjEwNWJi">  Elanor scratches her head. "Wow, your Guardian Spirit must be powerful!" The Fairy placates the young girl. Still, she can't help but glance incredulously at the hill. She remembers she felt two senses earlier. Elanor wonders,<em> 'Was it the other hidden presence that healed the woman? A demonic beast is unlikely to be capable of such a feat.’</em> But no matter how she looks at it, she can’t find the hidden presence.</p> <p class="cnNkYzk1OGQzZjZjYzRiN2FiNWFiZWQ5MGQzYWVlMTNk">  "Come and look at our house! I found pretty flowers yesterday," Laurel exclaims as she skips towards one of the shacks nearby. It has a flower that almost glows with vitality in a wooden flower pot. Elanor shakes her head with a slight smile, thinking,<em> ‘what a vibrant girl.’</em> Elanor joins Laurel in front of the small home.</p> <p class="cnNlYWUzZGY5ZDRlNTRjMjg5MTVmNjI1NWNkYmJkZDQx">  "It's charming." Elanor nods as she bends to smell the flower. The flowers are shaped like little bells. When one observes them, they give the illusion that the flower will ring with a gentle breeze.</p> <p class="cnM4YzJiOGI5ZGI0NzQ3OGFiYTUwMTExNTEzZDk4N2Y3">  The girl thrusts out her chest proudly. "Yeah, I found it when I was helping get water," then Laurel points to the home as she continues, "this is where me and mom live!"</p> <p class="cnNkYmY4NDMzMjQzYjQ3YmVhNzBjN2I1YjMwYTZjZDlm">  Elanor nods and pats Laurel’s head. She replies, "It's a very nice little home."</p> <p class="cnMwZTg4N2ZjZjI4YTRmZDY4OGE0NmMyYmE5MDlkZWZk">  "Yup, we all built it together." However, Laurel's eyes start to turn red. "It's not; sniff; it's not as nice as our old home. It had a window, where we had flowers and the; sniff; Little birdies nested there and; and my dolly is gone. Sniff; My, my friends are all gone. Daddy, Daddy, disappeared,” Laurel mumbles with tears in her eyes. As she’s about to break, she bites her lip. She wipes away her tears and smiles sweetly at Elanor.</p> <p class="cnMxNDIyNzM2NTBkYzRkOTI5Yjg2N2UxZjhiNTcwMTk5">  Elanor feels her heart twitch as she sees the girl doing her best. Elanor can't help herself and quickly collected the girl into her bosom. “That’s the way!” she comforts. Laurel grips tightly onto the fabric of her new friend as her knuckles going white.</p> <p class="cnNjNjZlY2MzZTZiYzQzZmY5MTM5NzIxODA5NDllMTdl">  Gregory sighs as his face droops. He tells all the adults that are scrambling to cook, "We must make sure that from now on, these kids live a happy life." He then whispers to Arron, "If this goes well, we might gain a strong supporter. With her, on our side, the Red River Empire will think twice before coming here."</p> <p class="cnMyZGM2MDE2M2VlMDQ5YTFiZjg3MzE3ODYxYmZhYjZk">  Franklin clenches his fist and continues to carry water from the well. "You should bring that young lass up the hill," Franklin hears his teacher say in his head. He drops the bucket in shock. This is the first time he'd heard this voice while not sleeping.</p> <p class="cnMyNjg3YjY0NDAyMDRiNzg4NmY2MjQyMDQ0MGYzMWFk">  "Come on, I thought you were training!" one of the women chides the boy. "Sorry," Franklin says sheepishly. "It's fine," the woman sighs while waving away the clumsy boy. "Just go get another bucket of water."</p> <p class="cnM0ZWUyMzcxYzViYTRjMzFiNjA5Y2E2ZmI1YjBhZjI4">  "Um, Sorry, I have something else to do!" Franklin shouts as he runs away. "You!" The woman curses. <em>‘What is that boy up to?’</em></p> </div>

Laurel enthusiastically pulls the hand of Elanor right towards a paling Mellisa. "This girl," Mellisa groans, "Young lady! Have you already forgotten last time you ran off?"   Laurel wilts as she sees her angry mom. "But mom," she whines, "I made a new friend! She's super fast and has pretty clothes," Laurel says while waving her hand as if to present how great her find is.   Elanor smiles at the protective mom. "I don't mean any offense. I don't mean any harm."   Mellisa gives a half-smile, not wanting to offend. "It's not you. It's just that this girl doesn't seem to learn," She laments.   Seeing the women talking peacefully, the others in the village come over. Gregory steps out with a big smile. "Good day, miss. we're happy to be graced by someone of your status," he says while bowing deeply. "May I inquire as to your purpose for traveling to this place in the middle of nowhere?" Gregory inquires nervously without coming out of his bow.   "I won't hold anything back. I came here to attempt to retrieve the treasure on the hill." The fairy states as she looks towards the hill. Some of the villagers gasp with worry in their eyes. "NO! You said you weren't bad. You lied," Laurel screams while taking a fighting pose.   Mellisa covers her daughter's mouth as her face turns grim. *'How did she raise such a willful daughter,'* Mellisa chastises herself. "Please, she's just a child and doesn't know the ways of the world."   Elanor's heart sinks. Sighing, she shakes her head, "It's unfortunate." Elanor holds out her hand to the girl, a bright smile on her face. "Since you're so against it, I'll forget the treasure, okay?" Laurel's eyes are full of conflict. Elanor laughs, "It really is just a small game. As you said, if I'm evil, the bull would've driven me off, right?"   Laurel nods as if she finally realizes the truth and grabs hold of Elanor's hand. "Come on, let me show you the gardens. The vegetables grow huge!" The girl ecstatically moves on to the next exciting thing.   Gregory stops the energetic girl patting her head. He says, "Now, Laurel, your friend has traveled a long way. I'm sure she doesn't want to be dragged all over creation."   However, Elanor shakes her head with a laugh that stirs the hearts of men and women alike. "No, It's fine! If I can spend time with such a cutie, I wouldn't mind traveling anywhere."   "If you say so. Still, I feel bad that we have so little to offer you. At least let us set up a banquet for you! We don't have much here, but as Laurel said, we have some of the best vegetables you will ever eat." He gloats while messing Laurel's hair.   Laurel puffs her cheeks and glares at the shaggy old man. "Stop it! You're ruining my hair," Laurel complains while yanking once again on Eleanor's hand. "Let's go before we catch the old!" Everyone begins to laugh at Laurel's antics, causing her to fume even more.   Elanor nods to Gregory and Mellisa. "If your willing to host me, it would be rude for me not to attend." She waves at the crowd as she allows Laurel to drag her off.   After a short walk, Laurel and Elanor reach a garden. "Look! isn't it amazing?" Laurel asks proudly while pointing to the plants. "I help water them," she brags. The vegetables are twice their average size.   "That's great. I've never seen normal vegetables grow so big. Did you guys find some special strain of vegetables?" Elanor asks with feigned interest as she squats down near a large squash.   Laurel shakes her head fiercely, causing her hair to fly all over. "No, it's like magic everything grows fast and big here." She then flings her arms up while jumping showing how large everything grows.   Elanor pauses her hand on the squash. She then glances at the hill. She is shocked this whole area is like a cultivation room back at her sect. This kind of atmosphere is scarce on a planet like this. "This is truly a blessed land," Elanor says while looking at the girl with a bright smile.   Laurel points over to an open field and says, "Oh, and over there is where Franklin practices. He says he's strong, but Anna had to save us! That's his mom. She is really hurt. It was super scary." Then looking at the hill, her eyes turned bright. "But our guardian spirit saved Anna. Everyone thought she would die. But then up on the hill, she was saved with a bang!"   Elanor scratches her head. "Wow, your Guardian Spirit must be powerful!" The Fairy placates the young girl. Still, she can't help but glance incredulously at the hill. She remembers she felt two senses earlier. Elanor wonders, *'Was it the other hidden presence that healed the woman? A demonic beast is unlikely to be capable of such a feat.’* But no matter how she looks at it, she can’t find the hidden presence.   "Come and look at our house! I found pretty flowers yesterday," Laurel exclaims as she skips towards one of the shacks nearby. It has a flower that almost glows with vitality in a wooden flower pot. Elanor shakes her head with a slight smile, thinking, *‘what a vibrant girl.’* Elanor joins Laurel in front of the small home.   "It's charming." Elanor nods as she bends to smell the flower. The flowers are shaped like little bells. When one observes them, they give the illusion that the flower will ring with a gentle breeze.   The girl thrusts out her chest proudly. "Yeah, I found it when I was helping get water," then Laurel points to the home as she continues, "this is where me and mom live!"   Elanor nods and pats Laurel’s head. She replies, "It's a very nice little home."   "Yup, we all built it together." However, Laurel's eyes start to turn red. "It's not; sniff; it's not as nice as our old home. It had a window, where we had flowers and the; sniff; Little birdies nested there and; and my dolly is gone. Sniff; My, my friends are all gone. Daddy, Daddy, disappeared,” Laurel mumbles with tears in her eyes. As she’s about to break, she bites her lip. She wipes away her tears and smiles sweetly at Elanor.   Elanor feels her heart twitch as she sees the girl doing her best. Elanor can't help herself and quickly collected the girl into her bosom. “That’s the way!” she comforts. Laurel grips tightly onto the fabric of her new friend as her knuckles going white.   Gregory sighs as his face droops. He tells all the adults that are scrambling to cook, "We must make sure that from now on, these kids live a happy life." He then whispers to Arron, "If this goes well, we might gain a strong supporter. With her, on our side, the Red River Empire will think twice before coming here."   Franklin clenches his fist and continues to carry water from the well. "You should bring that young lass up the hill," Franklin hears his teacher say in his head. He drops the bucket in shock. This is the first time he'd heard this voice while not sleeping.   "Come on, I thought you were training!" one of the women chides the boy. "Sorry," Franklin says sheepishly. "It's fine," the woman sighs while waving away the clumsy boy. "Just go get another bucket of water."   "Um, Sorry, I have something else to do!" Franklin shouts as he runs away. "You!" The woman curses. *‘What is that boy up to?’*

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <div>'Huh, I'm pretty powerful, I guess I could just waltz out of the castle with this strength."</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'I'll do that if I have do some absurd task. That would be impossible for me, or if I'm enslaved.'</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'But he's a ruler of a country. So he has to be reasonable, right, right. A guy who summoned my soul from another world has be responsible and reasonable. But since I was rushed into the audience room immediately and could not be clothed. He and I must have a urgent matter to attend to, I of course have some ideas of what it could be.'</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Surprised by the damage he had inadvertently caused Michael exclaimed with his arms stretched out "Wow I just busted your balls King!"</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'How dare he say such a thing to me, the King! NO! Whose balls will be busted will be your whole family's BALLS!!! I myself will bust them!' Then the King thought of touching an entire family's balls and then was disgusted beyond belief. 'Never mind I'll allow my knights to do that, if possible anyways.' Since his family is a world away making it hard. If Michael heard the King's first thought he would immediately label him as a man-child one could find in Call of Duty.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>As the last bit of brightness from the orb died down as the King now thought 'The imprisonment curse on the Observation Orb failed??? My trap for the Hero has failed?'</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'How could such a thing happen?' wondered the King.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'As.'</div> <div>'Expected.'</div> <div>'Of.'</div> <div>'The.'</div> <div>'Hero.'</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The King now labeled Michael a person not to trouble.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The Hero looked up from the now shattered glass ball. "Sorry about that, I guess I'm too powerful."</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Damn! the enslavement curse didn't work. I thought he was just some unintelligent bastard. He even touched himself in front of everyone here when I asked him to touch the Observation Orb. Could he be smarter than I have anticipated? And could merely be playing with me? It doesn't matter now I need to know what could have stopped the curse? An even stronger curse? Could it be that God protected him? Maybe he was just lucky? Or was it that, he himself prevented it? Either way, now I have to put the negotiation plan into action.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"We are astounded that the Hero is here and is providing already amazing results." He tried to rile up his subjects watching him and his overflowing splendor.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"By the way Hero we do not know of your name. Could you introduce yourself?" Asked the King from his elevated throne.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"My name?"</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'I have to think hard about this, what if I become famous, or even a criminal? I NEED a good name to be my cover name.'</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Michael pondered for a while until he found an answer.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"My name is" Michael paused for a moment.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Beber Bleach." Michael declared.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>This name actually meant "drink bleach" but that was known only to him, since Spanish wasn't a language here.</div> <div>Inwardly Michael was laughing so much that he couldn't hold it in. Thus had to let air out though blowing like a small fan.</div> <div>The King paused and looked towards the Hero named Beber Bleach confused, but the blowing had finished quickly.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Now Beber Bleach, if only you could help us on the matter that has our kingdom in peril."</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The reward that I will provide you will be more sufficient than you could ever imagine. Riches, women, popularity, or even a way back home, I can give it all to you. Of course the King was lying about the last one but had to use everything to convince this Beber Bleach to stay and help.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"The problem that I wish for you to solve is a grave one."</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The faces of the audience became grim.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"There is an evil people called the Demon folk, they are trying to destroy humanity and want take over the world."</div> <div>'I really hoped it wouldn't be this.'</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Hey king I'm leaving!" Michael waved his hand then cast [Dark Flare] at the wall to his left. Leaving a gaping hole in the once spotless grey bricks. Making dust from the newly made rubble fly up and fill the room.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Flabbergasted at the actions that he was just presented with. He tried to see the Hero through this dust. Luckily the sunlight was streaming in from the hole. Allowing him to see the silhouette of the hero but that silhouette was moving towards the wall to possibly escape?</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The King gasped at the thought that his only tool or, savior to the people would leave him. The King began sweating profusely in his gold throne. In a panic he thought of the greatest treasure he could prepare.</div> <div>"WAIT HERO! I can give YOU! ANYTHING! Even the PRINCESS! she has BOOBS! ROYAL BOOBS I SAY! These BOOBS! can allow you to become KING!! of this entire country!!!"</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"IEYAAA! Father I will pick my own man!" Screamed the princess, her face was crimson and both of her hands where shielding her boobs.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Ignoring his daughter, the king's heart rate quickened while the dust's flow slowed down and started to settle. What he saw was a silhouette drowning in the sunlight at the ledge of the new gaping hole. He had offered everything he could. But the Hero seemingly didn't care.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Flashing the audience one more time Michael then proceeded to jump out of the Audience Room. This fall was around seventy feet. Luckily there was a huge hay pile in close proximity of the wall that he fell from. The pile was twenty feet tall. It could be mistaken as a two story house.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Falling into It he ran inside of the stable next to the hay pile and grabbed a horse. Jumped on it and slapped its ass while shouting "GO!" at the top of his lungs. which made the horse look up at him in confusion. Michael then proceed to slap the horses ass even harder with even more slaps. Only making the horse look at the rider with the darkest nastiest face a horse can make using all of its killing intent. Then he remembered something from a TV show when he was still alive on Earth. In the show a horse rider made a clicking noise to make the horse go. While to stop he said "Whoa!" Michael made a clicking sound with his mouth. Making the horse and him ride off into the sunset.</div> </div>

'Huh, I'm pretty powerful, I guess I could just waltz out of the castle with this strength."   'I'll do that if I have do some absurd task. That would be impossible for me, or if I'm enslaved.'   'But he's a ruler of a country. So he has to be reasonable, right, right. A guy who summoned my soul from another world has be responsible and reasonable. But since I was rushed into the audience room immediately and could not be clothed. He and I must have a urgent matter to attend to, I of course have some ideas of what it could be.'   Surprised by the damage he had inadvertently caused Michael exclaimed with his arms stretched out "Wow I just busted your balls King!"   'How dare he say such a thing to me, the King! NO! Whose balls will be busted will be your whole family's BALLS!!! I myself will bust them!' Then the King thought of touching an entire family's balls and then was disgusted beyond belief. 'Never mind I'll allow my knights to do that, if possible anyways.' Since his family is a world away making it hard. If Michael heard the King's first thought he would immediately label him as a man-child one could find in Call of Duty.   As the last bit of brightness from the orb died down as the King now thought 'The imprisonment curse on the Observation Orb failed??? My trap for the Hero has failed?'   'How could such a thing happen?' wondered the King.   'As.' 'Expected.' 'Of.' 'The.' 'Hero.'   The King now labeled Michael a person not to trouble.   The Hero looked up from the now shattered glass ball. "Sorry about that, I guess I'm too powerful."   Damn! the enslavement curse didn't work. I thought he was just some unintelligent bastard. He even touched himself in front of everyone here when I asked him to touch the Observation Orb. Could he be smarter than I have anticipated? And could merely be playing with me? It doesn't matter now I need to know what could have stopped the curse? An even stronger curse? Could it be that God protected him? Maybe he was just lucky? Or was it that, he himself prevented it? Either way, now I have to put the negotiation plan into action.   "We are astounded that the Hero is here and is providing already amazing results." He tried to rile up his subjects watching him and his overflowing splendor.   "By the way Hero we do not know of your name. Could you introduce yourself?" Asked the King from his elevated throne.   "My name?"   'I have to think hard about this, what if I become famous, or even a criminal? I NEED a good name to be my cover name.'   Michael pondered for a while until he found an answer.   "My name is" Michael paused for a moment.   "Beber Bleach." Michael declared.   This name actually meant "drink bleach" but that was known only to him, since Spanish wasn't a language here. Inwardly Michael was laughing so much that he couldn't hold it in. Thus had to let air out though blowing like a small fan. The King paused and looked towards the Hero named Beber Bleach confused, but the blowing had finished quickly.   "Now Beber Bleach, if only you could help us on the matter that has our kingdom in peril."   The reward that I will provide you will be more sufficient than you could ever imagine. Riches, women, popularity, or even a way back home, I can give it all to you. Of course the King was lying about the last one but had to use everything to convince this Beber Bleach to stay and help.   "The problem that I wish for you to solve is a grave one."   The faces of the audience became grim.   "There is an evil people called the Demon folk, they are trying to destroy humanity and want take over the world." 'I really hoped it wouldn't be this.'   "Hey king I'm leaving!" Michael waved his hand then cast [Dark Flare] at the wall to his left. Leaving a gaping hole in the once spotless grey bricks. Making dust from the newly made rubble fly up and fill the room.   Flabbergasted at the actions that he was just presented with. He tried to see the Hero through this dust. Luckily the sunlight was streaming in from the hole. Allowing him to see the silhouette of the hero but that silhouette was moving towards the wall to possibly escape?   The King gasped at the thought that his only tool or, savior to the people would leave him. The King began sweating profusely in his gold throne. In a panic he thought of the greatest treasure he could prepare. "WAIT HERO! I can give YOU! ANYTHING! Even the PRINCESS! she has BOOBS! ROYAL BOOBS I SAY! These BOOBS! can allow you to become KING!! of this entire country!!!"   "IEYAAA! Father I will pick my own man!" Screamed the princess, her face was crimson and both of her hands where shielding her boobs.   Ignoring his daughter, the king's heart rate quickened while the dust's flow slowed down and started to settle. What he saw was a silhouette drowning in the sunlight at the ledge of the new gaping hole. He had offered everything he could. But the Hero seemingly didn't care.   Flashing the audience one more time Michael then proceeded to jump out of the Audience Room. This fall was around seventy feet. Luckily there was a huge hay pile in close proximity of the wall that he fell from. The pile was twenty feet tall. It could be mistaken as a two story house.   Falling into It he ran inside of the stable next to the hay pile and grabbed a horse. Jumped on it and slapped its ass while shouting "GO!" at the top of his lungs. which made the horse look up at him in confusion. Michael then proceed to slap the horses ass even harder with even more slaps. Only making the horse look at the rider with the darkest nastiest face a horse can make using all of its killing intent. Then he remembered something from a TV show when he was still alive on Earth. In the show a horse rider made a clicking noise to make the horse go. While to stop he said "Whoa!" Michael made a clicking sound with his mouth. Making the horse and him ride off into the sunset.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <div>Michael after riding the horse, went into an inn: A bar with rooms that can be rented. He was glad to be off of the horse since. His balls hurt a lot, ALOT. This was due to his newbie horse riding skills. As he groped his balls to sooth them under his cloak. While doing so the horse looked over and gave him a nasty look, then gleefully pranced back to the castle. Now Michael was recalling what had just happened.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'Wait the King said something to me when I was falling. What was it? I think I heard some magical word, what was it?.'</div> <div>While rubbing his forehead he walked up to the bar counter. Everyone looked at him as he walked in and kept staring.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'Why are they staring?'</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Michael felt a little too breezy down below. He looked down and reminded himself that he was only wearing the robe the princess gave him. He now knew that all the men in the building where now comparing sizes. But is was pointless, clearly Michael's little buddy wasn't a little buddy like the inn's residents. Michael clearly had a big buddy. If this was not true then everyone else had a tiny buddy.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'I need some clothes.' he thought.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Michael looked to the stool to the left of another occupant. He was a big bulky man drinking a liter of beer. He was wearing leather pants and a bear fur vest. The vest showcased his big biceps. Michael turned to his left and looked into his eyes.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Give me your clothes and your horse." Michael was serious.</div> <div>Seeing this the man then stood straight up. He stared into the depths of Michael's eyes. Then he began smoothly and seductively taking off his vest. Starting with, just the shoulder. All while staring at Michael. 'Why the fuck did I pick this guy!? Wait I can't assume he's a guy now!' Screamed Michael on the inside.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The big man's vest was now slipping off of his left shoulder.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'I don't want this, I want big BOOBS!'</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>sfx.CHOOO CHHOOOOOO The train of thought had now hit Michael's conscious. Making a big bloody mess on the train tracks in his head. Making him remember the magical words the king used to plead to him.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'Wasn't the King offering me BOOBS! and the PRINCESS'S BOOBS at that! I missed out BIG TIME!... Oh well, they will probably find me later on, I can ask about it then. I need to take care of what is in front of me right now.'</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Stop that it's disgusting."</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Oh, so your that type! he-he."</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Oi stop that your scaring him." A man in a plain white shirt who had short black flowing hair along with a fancy mustache interrupted. He was the bartender.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Sorry about that, he gets riled up easily." He smiled faintly.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"But you can't blame him. With the way your dressed and all...." The bartender looked at Michael up and down at wits' end. This man had a clearly expensive robe on but nothing underneath? It was truly strange. Putting away his slightly distraught look. He reached under the counter and took out clothes.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Here take these clothes and get changed in the restroom overthere." He pointed to the left of the bar towards an oak door.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Thanks, do I need to pay you anything?" Michael wondered.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"No just cover up for pete's sake." The bartender paused.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Also came back as a customer later, to find the store ask around for Denal, thats me." He pointed his thumb towards himself with a smile.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"And this place is called Denal's bar."</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Thank you very much." Michael walked into the restroom.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"You messed up my fun." Pouted the muscley man at the stool.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"And you messed up my customer." Denal smiled back.</div> </div>

Michael after riding the horse, went into an inn: A bar with rooms that can be rented. He was glad to be off of the horse since. His balls hurt a lot, ALOT. This was due to his newbie horse riding skills. As he groped his balls to sooth them under his cloak. While doing so the horse looked over and gave him a nasty look, then gleefully pranced back to the castle. Now Michael was recalling what had just happened.   'Wait the King said something to me when I was falling. What was it? I think I heard some magical word, what was it?.' While rubbing his forehead he walked up to the bar counter. Everyone looked at him as he walked in and kept staring.   'Why are they staring?'   Michael felt a little too breezy down below. He looked down and reminded himself that he was only wearing the robe the princess gave him. He now knew that all the men in the building where now comparing sizes. But is was pointless, clearly Michael's little buddy wasn't a little buddy like the inn's residents. Michael clearly had a big buddy. If this was not true then everyone else had a tiny buddy.   'I need some clothes.' he thought.   Michael looked to the stool to the left of another occupant. He was a big bulky man drinking a liter of beer. He was wearing leather pants and a bear fur vest. The vest showcased his big biceps. Michael turned to his left and looked into his eyes.   "Give me your clothes and your horse." Michael was serious. Seeing this the man then stood straight up. He stared into the depths of Michael's eyes. Then he began smoothly and seductively taking off his vest. Starting with, just the shoulder. All while staring at Michael. 'Why the fuck did I pick this guy!? Wait I can't assume he's a guy now!' Screamed Michael on the inside.   The big man's vest was now slipping off of his left shoulder.   'I don't want this, I want big BOOBS!'   sfx.CHOOO CHHOOOOOO The train of thought had now hit Michael's conscious. Making a big bloody mess on the train tracks in his head. Making him remember the magical words the king used to plead to him.   'Wasn't the King offering me BOOBS! and the PRINCESS'S BOOBS at that! I missed out BIG TIME!... Oh well, they will probably find me later on, I can ask about it then. I need to take care of what is in front of me right now.'   "Stop that it's disgusting."   "Oh, so your that type! he-he."   "Oi stop that your scaring him." A man in a plain white shirt who had short black flowing hair along with a fancy mustache interrupted. He was the bartender.   "Sorry about that, he gets riled up easily." He smiled faintly.   "But you can't blame him. With the way your dressed and all...." The bartender looked at Michael up and down at wits' end. This man had a clearly expensive robe on but nothing underneath? It was truly strange. Putting away his slightly distraught look. He reached under the counter and took out clothes.   "Here take these clothes and get changed in the restroom overthere." He pointed to the left of the bar towards an oak door.   "Thanks, do I need to pay you anything?" Michael wondered.   "No just cover up for pete's sake." The bartender paused.   "Also came back as a customer later, to find the store ask around for Denal, thats me." He pointed his thumb towards himself with a smile.   "And this place is called Denal's bar."   "Thank you very much." Michael walked into the restroom.   "You messed up my fun." Pouted the muscley man at the stool.   "And you messed up my customer." Denal smiled back.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMwN2Q4NGU5NGNiODQwN2RhMDcyMmM5NWRhNTljZjVk">Well~ I can't do anything about my appearance.<br>Let's leave it alone..<br>...<br><br>Let's assert the situation first...</p> <p class="cnNmMTgwOTg5NWY1MzQyZTM4MmUzZjc3YjAwOGE1MTZm">Hmm... This is a reincarnation right??<br>My memory about my death is too real to be fake.<br>Also my memories about trivial things before my death are quite believable...<br>if everything is only my imagination, then i must be super creative...<br><br><br>If this is not real, then how i able to forget my identity?<br>Did i hit my head?<br>But i feel no pain...<br><br>Don't tell me...<br>it is just a prank???<br><br>OR !?</p> <p class="cnM2ZTQwZTVkODM2MzQxZDc5MGU1MWZmMDkzY2I2Yjk1">I got kidnapped and forced to drink some medication like certain detective kid !!??<br>....<br>...<br>Well, i am sure that's impossible for boring person like me....<br><br>So, the possibility of the reincarnation is quite big.<br>Let's accept that reasoning...</p><br>Hmm, so i was reincarnated..<br>Is it possible for me to have a new special power !??<br><br>Y'know, This is quite usual in common web novel right?<br>The protagonist becomes a cheat like existence after the reincarnation...<br>Then normally, i will right??<br>RIGHT!?<br><br>Hmm Hmmm~ Then i must research my power!!<br><br>Let's try to concentrate my energy in one point...<br>"HAAAAAAAAAA~~~~<br>GATHER ON THE TIP OF MY FINGERR~~<br>SPEEECIAL BEAAAM CANOOON~~~"<br><br><strong>*whoosh*</strong><br>...<br>...<br>...<br><br>L-Let's try another way~<br><br>Haaaa~<br>"MEEGIIDOOO~~"<br><br>...<br><br>"SUMMON IFRIT~~"<br><br>...<br><br><strong>*5 minutes later*</strong><br><br>Haaah Haaah haaah<br>No use...<br>I have tried things that may possible...<br><br>But there is none....<br>....<br>...Don't tell me that i have no cheat !?<br><br>After reincarnated, the only thing that i got is MEMORY LOSS !!!??<br><br>DON'T JOKE WiTh MEEE!?<br>THAT'S NOT CHEAT AT ALL!!!<br><br>WHO iS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SH*TTY REINCARNATION!?<br>COME OUT!!!<br><br>"AAAAAAAARGGGGGGHHHHH~~" <strong>*bam* </strong>"BIG-BROTHER, SHUUT UUP!!!"<p></p> </div>

Well~ I can't do anything about my appearance. Let's leave it alone.. ... Let's assert the situation first... Hmm... This is a reincarnation right?? My memory about my death is too real to be fake. Also my memories about trivial things before my death are quite believable... if everything is only my imagination, then i must be super creative... If this is not real, then how i able to forget my identity? Did i hit my head? But i feel no pain... Don't tell me... it is just a prank??? OR !? I got kidnapped and forced to drink some medication like certain detective kid !!?? .... ... Well, i am sure that's impossible for boring person like me.... So, the possibility of the reincarnation is quite big. Let's accept that reasoning... Hmm, so i was reincarnated.. Is it possible for me to have a new special power !?? Y'know, This is quite usual in common web novel right? The protagonist becomes a cheat like existence after the reincarnation... Then normally, i will right?? RIGHT!? Hmm Hmmm~ Then i must research my power!! Let's try to concentrate my energy in one point... "HAAAAAAAAAA~~~~ GATHER ON THE TIP OF MY FINGERR~~ SPEEECIAL BEAAAM CANOOON~~~" ***whoosh*** ... ... ... L-Let's try another way~ Haaaa~ "MEEGIIDOOO~~" ... "SUMMON IFRIT~~" ... ***5 minutes later*** Haaah Haaah haaah No use... I have tried things that may possible... But there is none.... .... ...Don't tell me that i have no cheat !? After reincarnated, the only thing that i got is MEMORY LOSS !!!?? DON'T JOKE WiTh MEEE!? THAT'S NOT CHEAT AT ALL!!! WHO iS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SH*TTY REINCARNATION!? COME OUT!!! "AAAAAAAARGGGGGGHHHHH~~" ***bam*** "BIG-BROTHER, SHUUT UUP!!!"

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM1YThmNGE3ZDMzZDQ1YTJiMmZiYjRkZmQ4YTNjN2Fh">Singapore is a small island. A small dot on the map that most people won’t notice. A small nation that had to join a coalition of nations to survive in an age ruled by mega corporations and giant alliances. However even on an island as small as Singapore, there is an area set aside for weapon testing. That area is called Pulau Tekong.</p> <p class="cnMwYjc4MzAyYzU2OTQ1Y2M5YWM4NDM1MGRlY2IyOGEz">A small island off the main island of Singapore, Pulau Tekong is home to the local SEAL garrison and uniquely suited as a weapon testing area. If something goes wrong, it was far enough from the densely populated main island that most of the population would be safe and the garrison was there for any emergencies. Thus Pulau Tekong was uniquely suited to be the home of the local branch of the Solar Organization for Standardization.</p> <p class="cnM3YTRlNGM3MWEzNzQxNTg4Mzg3MDI5ZTBmYzY4NjZj">The SOFS issued certification for almost anything you can think of, and weapons are no different. A certification from the SOFS would mean that my Jumpbot-S has been tested and verified to be of a good standard, and the cert would be needed before it could be sold in the pen market. I watched nervously as the crate carrying the Jumpbot-S was driven into the giant workshop that served as the weapon testing center of SOFS.</p> <p class="cnM4N2M2OWVkYzUzOTRiMTg4NzY5YTMyN2Q1YmQ1MWI1">My nervousness was seem by Jaya. The broker gave a small laugh and tried to comfort me. “Hey, don’t worry. This is your first test. Success is wonderful but failure is expected. There’s no pressure here.”</p> <p class="cnMwMTBiYTM2ODBlNzRmMzU5N2VhMGY2MTE4ZjEzMzlk">“Easy for you to say.”</p> <p class="cnNjMjY1Yjk1MTczOTQyYWM5ZjQyNjk1NWE2ZTI1ZTJj">I grumbled and half-wondered how I got myself into this mess. I never wanted to be here in the first place. Frankly I had no intention of sending the Jumpbot-S for any certification as I only built it to complete the mission from the System and had no intention or expectation of ever selling it. However when Latiff Ibrahim made the offer to pay for the certification test in exchange for an exclusive, I couldn’t think of a good way to immediately reject the offer and it just snowballed from there. </p> <p class="cnNkNDhmZjI2ODY5NjQwODQ4ZDM3NWUzMzk3NjQ5ZTEy">Before I knew it, Jaya heard of the offer from The Chronicles and got involved. He insisted on being present during the testing and said he had arranged for a programmer to setup a virtual shop for my workshop that would go online the moment my Jumpbot-S passed certification. When I told him I already got a shop on Dive, he just scoff and said a shop on Dive does not mean anything if I wanted to be taken seriously as a Designer. Jaya say his programmer will link the two websites together but a Designer selling real-life goods need to have a separate virtual shop for his real-life goods. It was all very confusing and seem pretty unnecessary to me but Jaya insist that this was needed.</p> <p class="cnNhNjdiZTZiNjA2MTQzOTJiODMyYWI1Y2VhZTY1YzRk">Passing the test was just my first problem. Another was the possibility that certification might not help me complete the mission given by the System. I had finished the Jumpbot-S two days ago but the mission was still incomplete. When I asked the System when I would receive the rewards, it just said that the mission was incomplete. I reread the mission several times and could only see one reason why it was still incomplete; my Jumpbot-S was not a Grade 0 Battlesuit!</p> <p class="cnNkN2U1NDJjOTE1ZjRlNDdiYmUzZmIzYWY4NzE3M2Jk">The mission state that I had to build a real-life working prototype of my Grade 0 Battlesuit but the Jumpbot-S is currently a Grade 3 Battlesuit. When I asked the System if the mission would be completed once I passed the certification test, it was strangely silent on the matter. In a way, I kind of expected it. It was a risk I took when I made the Jumpbot with Perfected Steel. Unfortunately I had spent a good amount of the one million credit I was given to build the Jumpbot-S. If I fail to pass the test, I had to either waste more credits to rectify the problem or to build a Grade 0 Jumpbot from scratch. Neither option was very appealing.</p> <p class="cnNjYjMxYjk4ODUyODRiY2JiNTQ3MjYzZDY5MTg2YzU5">“Nothing to do but to see if my suit pass muster.”</p> <p class="cnM0NjJiYjNjMWZjYTQwMjRhMmJmNzVjODA3NWM5ODk0">Standing a distance away, I saw several drones flying up to the crate and a technician stepping up to press in the password. A sound came from the crate as it was unlocked and the drones then flew up, lifting up the crate to reveal the Jumpbot-S. My smile only lasted a few seconds as a couple of technicians immediately surrounded the Battlesuit with a variety of instruments. It has begun.</p> <p class="cnNhMWQ0M2I3YzJlZTRmNGI5YThjZWU1ZWQ4ZmFkZmNm">Testing came in two phases; the inspection and the practical. The inspection came first and only after passing it do we go on to the practical testing. The testing center of the SOFS housed a dazzling amount of testing equipment, some of which were so advanced I had only heard of them before.</p> <p class="cnM5YTYwNGJjMGM3MjQzOWRiZDNiOGZlNTZlZWQzMDJj">Testing equipment that are currently combing through my Jumpbot-S for flaws.</p> <p class="cnMzODQ2NGViYWE1ZDQ2NjI5YTQzY2IwNjllOGM4OWU2">"Mister Wong?" Turning away from my Jumpbot-S, I saw Latiff Ibrahim and he was not alone. The reporter was with a man carrying a tablet and he quickly introduced the man. “This is Saravan Thammavong. He will be supervising the testing today.”</p> <p class="cnMzMDZkN2JmODBlZjQ2YjU5MmRhODlmZWNhNWMzZmM5">"Call me Van. Welcome to SOFS. I have to admit I’m kind of looking forward to this."</p> <p class="cnM1MWMzNDg3NjNmZDRjYjU5ZWRiM2NmY2IyZGFjNjUx">We shook hands and I couldn’t help but noticed that the supervisor has a firm hard grip. He obviously wasn’t the office type who look at holograms and blueprints all day, but a real technician who got his hand dirty. His name sounded either Thai or Laotian. </p> <p class="cnM2ODYxNDk0YjIxYjQxZDhhMTZkZjE5ODRiZDdjMzRh">“Want to be here when I go down in flames right?” I put on a smile to take the edge off the words and Van chuckled along.</p> <p class="cnM4ZTRjMzNiNGEwYzQwZjRhYWFkMDMyMTExZTgzMTcx">"Only if you fail. I'm more interested in your Jumpbot-S. It’s not everyday someone bring in a modified Steambot for certification.”</p> <p class="cnNiZjZlMDEzYmNjYjRkNDQ4MTJmM2NjZDFhZTRiOWNj">“You’re a fan of the Steambot?”</p> <p class="cnNlZDg2MDkxY2Y2MDRmZGZhNWQ2NjY3ODA5ZDkzZTcw">“Who isn’t? And a modern version of it that got a Grade 3 on Dive? This was something I just had to see.”</p> <p class="cnNhY2VkMTIzYTAwYjQ0N2RiMjk4NGNhZjE3MzA1Mzdh">I quickly warmed to Van and the two of us engaged in small talk as Jaya and Latiff began talking about the article Latiff was going to write. As the technicians continued their scanning of the Jumpbot-S, I noticed that Van kept an eye over the process but was more than happy to let his men do their work without interference. He trusted his men.</p> <p class="cnMwNDI1ZWQ2NmE5YzQ1Y2JhN2MwM2IyOWI3MzBmZGFl">I was fine with this as in truth, I wasn’t too worried about the inspection. The Dive Design is a robust program and if my Jumpbot-S got the okay from the program, the only possible way it would fail the inspection is if I screwed up big time during the construction. I believe I had too much experience for something like that to happen.</p> <p class="cnM5YzJmOThiYTU1MzQ1Y2U4MTkwNjVkOWE4NTIzOTVh">Van’s tablet received an alert and after the supervisor touched the screen, a small hologram of the Jumpbot-S was shown. A message was shown and after a quick scan, the supervisor nodded his approval.</p> <p class="cnM5YWYxMmYzZDBkODRhZWRhZjkyNDBiNzJiNjQ2OTYy">“Congrats Mr. Wong, your Jumpbot-S passed inspection. Outside some small issues with the legs, everything looks great.”</p> <p class="cnMwMDM3ZjlhNmQ1YzQ1MDhiYWZjZmI4OWMwY2JkZjU0">“Oh…what’s the problem with the legs?”</p> <p class="cnNlZTY1ZWJlZjk5OTRiNzJiODA0NDY3ZWE4MDJjYTRh">“Some small flaws with the connection of the secondary technology but don’t worry, all of the flaws are within the tolerance limit.”</p> <p class="cnM4YTQ1MzYyODEzYzQ0ZTQ4ZTM3NjJmOWI4NWUzZTBj">I took a look at his tablet and saw the results of the inspection. He was right about the readouts. The flaws were all well within the margin of error allowed under official guidelines but I still felt a sense of dissatisfaction at the numbers. The readings were fine but fine was not good enough. I need to do better. If this was the best I could do even with the help of the System, I have a long way to go. I need to improve.</p> <p class="cnNjODliM2I5ZmI5ODRiOTFiZjBjYTczODYwNjcyOWYy">"We’re moving on to the practical tests." Van announced as the technicians slowly moved away the Jumpbot-S. It might be my mind playing tricks on me but it did look to me as if some of them were more than a little reluctant to do so. As the technicians were moving away, I saw one person dressed in a sleek bodysuit walking towards the Jumpbot. It took a second for me to realize what was wrong. I immediately turned to Van.</p> <p class="cnM1ZmY0YTUyYmM1YjQxMWE5MWQzNTZlY2NjMjgzNzcz">“A woman?”</p> </div>

Singapore is a small island. A small dot on the map that most people won’t notice. A small nation that had to join a coalition of nations to survive in an age ruled by mega corporations and giant alliances. However even on an island as small as Singapore, there is an area set aside for weapon testing. That area is called Pulau Tekong. A small island off the main island of Singapore, Pulau Tekong is home to the local SEAL garrison and uniquely suited as a weapon testing area. If something goes wrong, it was far enough from the densely populated main island that most of the population would be safe and the garrison was there for any emergencies. Thus Pulau Tekong was uniquely suited to be the home of the local branch of the Solar Organization for Standardization. The SOFS issued certification for almost anything you can think of, and weapons are no different. A certification from the SOFS would mean that my Jumpbot-S has been tested and verified to be of a good standard, and the cert would be needed before it could be sold in the pen market. I watched nervously as the crate carrying the Jumpbot-S was driven into the giant workshop that served as the weapon testing center of SOFS. My nervousness was seem by Jaya. The broker gave a small laugh and tried to comfort me. “Hey, don’t worry. This is your first test. Success is wonderful but failure is expected. There’s no pressure here.” “Easy for you to say.” I grumbled and half-wondered how I got myself into this mess. I never wanted to be here in the first place. Frankly I had no intention of sending the Jumpbot-S for any certification as I only built it to complete the mission from the System and had no intention or expectation of ever selling it. However when Latiff Ibrahim made the offer to pay for the certification test in exchange for an exclusive, I couldn’t think of a good way to immediately reject the offer and it just snowballed from there. Before I knew it, Jaya heard of the offer from The Chronicles and got involved. He insisted on being present during the testing and said he had arranged for a programmer to setup a virtual shop for my workshop that would go online the moment my Jumpbot-S passed certification. When I told him I already got a shop on Dive, he just scoff and said a shop on Dive does not mean anything if I wanted to be taken seriously as a Designer. Jaya say his programmer will link the two websites together but a Designer selling real-life goods need to have a separate virtual shop for his real-life goods. It was all very confusing and seem pretty unnecessary to me but Jaya insist that this was needed. Passing the test was just my first problem. Another was the possibility that certification might not help me complete the mission given by the System. I had finished the Jumpbot-S two days ago but the mission was still incomplete. When I asked the System when I would receive the rewards, it just said that the mission was incomplete. I reread the mission several times and could only see one reason why it was still incomplete; my Jumpbot-S was not a Grade 0 Battlesuit! The mission state that I had to build a real-life working prototype of my Grade 0 Battlesuit but the Jumpbot-S is currently a Grade 3 Battlesuit. When I asked the System if the mission would be completed once I passed the certification test, it was strangely silent on the matter. In a way, I kind of expected it. It was a risk I took when I made the Jumpbot with Perfected Steel. Unfortunately I had spent a good amount of the one million credit I was given to build the Jumpbot-S. If I fail to pass the test, I had to either waste more credits to rectify the problem or to build a Grade 0 Jumpbot from scratch. Neither option was very appealing. “Nothing to do but to see if my suit pass muster.” Standing a distance away, I saw several drones flying up to the crate and a technician stepping up to press in the password. A sound came from the crate as it was unlocked and the drones then flew up, lifting up the crate to reveal the Jumpbot-S. My smile only lasted a few seconds as a couple of technicians immediately surrounded the Battlesuit with a variety of instruments. It has begun. Testing came in two phases; the inspection and the practical. The inspection came first and only after passing it do we go on to the practical testing. The testing center of the SOFS housed a dazzling amount of testing equipment, some of which were so advanced I had only heard of them before. Testing equipment that are currently combing through my Jumpbot-S for flaws. "Mister Wong?" Turning away from my Jumpbot-S, I saw Latiff Ibrahim and he was not alone. The reporter was with a man carrying a tablet and he quickly introduced the man. “This is Saravan Thammavong. He will be supervising the testing today.” "Call me Van. Welcome to SOFS. I have to admit I’m kind of looking forward to this." We shook hands and I couldn’t help but noticed that the supervisor has a firm hard grip. He obviously wasn’t the office type who look at holograms and blueprints all day, but a real technician who got his hand dirty. His name sounded either Thai or Laotian. “Want to be here when I go down in flames right?” I put on a smile to take the edge off the words and Van chuckled along. "Only if you fail. I'm more interested in your Jumpbot-S. It’s not everyday someone bring in a modified Steambot for certification.” “You’re a fan of the Steambot?” “Who isn’t? And a modern version of it that got a Grade 3 on Dive? This was something I just had to see.” I quickly warmed to Van and the two of us engaged in small talk as Jaya and Latiff began talking about the article Latiff was going to write. As the technicians continued their scanning of the Jumpbot-S, I noticed that Van kept an eye over the process but was more than happy to let his men do their work without interference. He trusted his men. I was fine with this as in truth, I wasn’t too worried about the inspection. The Dive Design is a robust program and if my Jumpbot-S got the okay from the program, the only possible way it would fail the inspection is if I screwed up big time during the construction. I believe I had too much experience for something like that to happen. Van’s tablet received an alert and after the supervisor touched the screen, a small hologram of the Jumpbot-S was shown. A message was shown and after a quick scan, the supervisor nodded his approval. “Congrats Mr. Wong, your Jumpbot-S passed inspection. Outside some small issues with the legs, everything looks great.” “Oh…what’s the problem with the legs?” “Some small flaws with the connection of the secondary technology but don’t worry, all of the flaws are within the tolerance limit.” I took a look at his tablet and saw the results of the inspection. He was right about the readouts. The flaws were all well within the margin of error allowed under official guidelines but I still felt a sense of dissatisfaction at the numbers. The readings were fine but fine was not good enough. I need to do better. If this was the best I could do even with the help of the System, I have a long way to go. I need to improve. "We’re moving on to the practical tests." Van announced as the technicians slowly moved away the Jumpbot-S. It might be my mind playing tricks on me but it did look to me as if some of them were more than a little reluctant to do so. As the technicians were moving away, I saw one person dressed in a sleek bodysuit walking towards the Jumpbot. It took a second for me to realize what was wrong. I immediately turned to Van. “A woman?”

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <div>I got changed into the clothes that Denal gave me. Now I'm dressed in a worn white shirt that fits perfectly and some plain tan pants. Do I have underwear? let's just not talk about it ok. I still have the robe, but I shouldn't keep it since the King will be looking for someone with it. Maybe I should sell it and make some money. Sadly, the shop keeper might remember my face and tell the guards in a few days. The news shouldn't have spread yet so I should sell it fast and to someone that won't betray me. If I go to a poor merchant, they might be tempted by reward money. If I go to a rich merchant, they might turn me away on suspicion or because of my current appearance as a commoner. Then the only choice is a traveling merchant. I should look by the stalls by the gates.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Hey Denal, could you point me towards where some traveling merchants are?" I asked.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Yea, you can find them by the southern gates, over there" Denal pointed south.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Thanks, I'll come back sometime."</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"I hope so." Replied Denal.</div> <div>--------------------------</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>I walked for an hour to the southern gates.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'I really need teleportation magic.'</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>I walked up to a wooden stall that was packing up. The man packing up was an almost middle-aged man who has a brown crew cut. He was wearing leather pants and a green short sleeve shirt. His completion was rough showing that he's been through many travels.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Excuse me sir would you like to buy this robe?" I presented the robe to him.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"My, what a great robe. I would definitely like to buy it."</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"I'll give you, a gold coin for it."</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'A gold coin? How much is that worth? Wait I shouldn't ask that. He would get too suspicious.'</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Deal!" I replied.</div> <div>---In this world there are copper, bronze, silver, gold, and crown gold. It takes 100 copper coins to get a bronze. 100 bronze to get a silver coin and so on and so forth.---</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>I got the gold coin and he got the robe, perfect! He's also leaving the city, so he won't hear the news of a hero escaping with the robe he just bought. Now I need to leave this city. If I leave on foot surely, they would catch up to me on horse. Maybe I should get on with one of these traveling merchants.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Hey what's your name and where are you going?" I asked the merchant who has now finished packing.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"My name is Nathan and I'm going over to the city of Honfor. Why do you ask?"</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Maybe I can tag along as your guard?" I asked.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Sure, you can but you first need to go ahead and get a Adventurer's License." Retorted Nathan.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Ah, ok could you give me directions to where it is?"</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Yea its right down this street. You will see a big sign that says Adventurer's Guild and, on that sign, will be two swords overlapping on a shield." Explained Nathan</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Thank you."</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"We will be leaving tomorrow right here. I'll see you then." Smiled Nathan.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'Let's get that license.'</div> </div>

I got changed into the clothes that Denal gave me. Now I'm dressed in a worn white shirt that fits perfectly and some plain tan pants. Do I have underwear? let's just not talk about it ok. I still have the robe, but I shouldn't keep it since the King will be looking for someone with it. Maybe I should sell it and make some money. Sadly, the shop keeper might remember my face and tell the guards in a few days. The news shouldn't have spread yet so I should sell it fast and to someone that won't betray me. If I go to a poor merchant, they might be tempted by reward money. If I go to a rich merchant, they might turn me away on suspicion or because of my current appearance as a commoner. Then the only choice is a traveling merchant. I should look by the stalls by the gates.   "Hey Denal, could you point me towards where some traveling merchants are?" I asked.   "Yea, you can find them by the southern gates, over there" Denal pointed south.   "Thanks, I'll come back sometime."   "I hope so." Replied Denal. --------------------------   I walked for an hour to the southern gates.   'I really need teleportation magic.'   I walked up to a wooden stall that was packing up. The man packing up was an almost middle-aged man who has a brown crew cut. He was wearing leather pants and a green short sleeve shirt. His completion was rough showing that he's been through many travels.   "Excuse me sir would you like to buy this robe?" I presented the robe to him.   "My, what a great robe. I would definitely like to buy it."   "I'll give you, a gold coin for it."   'A gold coin? How much is that worth? Wait I shouldn't ask that. He would get too suspicious.'   "Deal!" I replied. ---In this world there are copper, bronze, silver, gold, and crown gold. It takes 100 copper coins to get a bronze. 100 bronze to get a silver coin and so on and so forth.---   I got the gold coin and he got the robe, perfect! He's also leaving the city, so he won't hear the news of a hero escaping with the robe he just bought. Now I need to leave this city. If I leave on foot surely, they would catch up to me on horse. Maybe I should get on with one of these traveling merchants.   "Hey what's your name and where are you going?" I asked the merchant who has now finished packing.   "My name is Nathan and I'm going over to the city of Honfor. Why do you ask?"   "Maybe I can tag along as your guard?" I asked.   "Sure, you can but you first need to go ahead and get a Adventurer's License." Retorted Nathan.   "Ah, ok could you give me directions to where it is?"   "Yea its right down this street. You will see a big sign that says Adventurer's Guild and, on that sign, will be two swords overlapping on a shield." Explained Nathan   "Thank you."   "We will be leaving tomorrow right here. I'll see you then." Smiled Nathan.   'Let's get that license.'

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM4MTk3YWZiYTU2OTQ3ZjA5MDMzOTUwY2Y4ZTRlYjll"> </p> <p class="cnNiODA4ZGRlMTcyMzRiNjI5NjUwMzgwZTIwM2MwOTg3" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span>Even though it took five hours, only a moment passed for Jin as he woke up covered in a cold sweat. Pitch black eyes that shone like onyx gems now filled with a scarlet light, a single tomoe dancing around his pupil as he examined his room with new clarity. Seeing the grains of the wood and even counting threads on his blanket. It would be a lie if he said he wasn't enjoying it. Along with his new eyes came knowledge of how they worked as well as how to activate and deactivate them at will.<br><br><br>Searching through the store, he purchased a hand mirror since it was one of the free items as well as a new outfit including an Akatsuki windbreaker with the Sword of Kusanagi Sasuke used as a weapon missing to bring the whole thing together since it cost 50-SP which made him confused if it was expensive or cheap. Then again, considering the only noticeable trait of the sword was just its sharpness and durability, it wasn't worth much compared to Kisame's Samahada which would be able to absorb the profound energy of people it touches. <br><br><br>Looking at himself in the mirror, Jin could already see his cheeks spasm in annoyance. It was no wonder everyone kept mistaking him for a girl with a face like this. He already knew it was going to be feminine, but right now there was virtually no difference between him and a beauty with the way his hair fell around his face in addition to the fact it was ankle length and as smooth as velvet with a shine that put marble to shame. Add in his eyes and you would have a perfect doll despite his height of 182 centimeters, though said doll would have a bright red glow in the evening sun that added a touch of divinity to its looks.<br><br><br>Shutting down his new eyes, they returned to their normal gem like onyx black as he put the mirror down on the bed and felt the sweat sticking to him, letting out a wry smile as he headed out and found the girl hostess. “I guess I'll be taking that water today after all. And do you have any scissors I can use?”<br><br><br>Despite her confusion at the latter portion of his request, he still obtained the items after paying for the water and promising to return the scissors. His ears picking up on a few customers who were talking out loud about the fourteenth birthday of the young miss of the Xia family which he took note of since it gave him a time frame to understand when in the story he arrived since Qingyue got married when she was around 16. Upon returning to his room, the first thing he did was take off his old clothes and throw them into a corner of the room before taking a cloth and wiping his body down. Taking the scissors, he began cutting his hair until the back reached his waist before binding it with a cloth ribbon into a low ponytail that would be used as a whip if he turned his head too quickly, while the front framed his face coming down to just past his chin. The majority of his locks flowing freely towards his shoulders and the longer ones reaching his chest after shaking it out, allowing the hair to settle where natural.<br><br><br>Feeling refreshed, he put on the outfit he got from the system. A pair of black boots with white pants that didn't obstruct his movement, a red robe with golden yellow maple leaves and a blue waist cloth to bind it with, as well as a black form fitting sleeveless shirt and black glove sleeves that went up just past his elbow while leaving his palms and fingers exposed for use. Jin deciding to wear the robe but left one arm out of it and allowing the right side to fall at his waist while the left which held his money remained covering its side.<br><br><br>It was a good outfit, good enough to be his regular thing even if he was using Ninjutsu for the foreseeable future. Adding the windbreaker as something to take off when he needs to get serious.<br><br><br>'Speaking of getting serious, I can't keep my power as it is. I don't have a single drop of profound energy and while I know the steps to master a few jutsu without having to undo the restrictions on the system, it's pointless if I don't have the energy to try.'<br><br><br>Taking a seat on his bed, Jin went over what he knew from the book about cultivating the profound. 'The first step is similar to cultivating chakra in that you take vitality from yourself. The difference being that while you would mix the physical energy extracted from your body and mix it with your spiritual energy to obtain chakra, you would pour the extracted vitality into your profound veins where it would change into sparse profound energy at a slow rate. Once this is done, you simply keep doing it until the veins are full which would be the Elementary Profound Realm.'<br><br><br>Nodding to himself which was starting to become a habit, he began to meditate and look inside himself. The outside world faded away as a inner vision became clearer. Taking a look around, the first thing that he noticed was his 54 profound entrances were all completely opened. This being the condition for Heavenly God's Spiritual Veins, which he considered normal given that his body was crafted instead of born like normal people.<br><br><br>However, there was one thing inside his Profound Veins that did confuse him. The center trunk that wasn't connected to the outside had nine marble shaped holes with a faint feeling of static as well as a breeze coming from them, the first of these marbles slightly stronger than the rest but it was still hard to grasp. Since it was something he couldn't understand, he did the only thing he could and asked someone who did.<br><br><br>“Raven, do you know what's wrong with my profound veins? There are weird openings in the main part.”<br><br><br><br><br></span></p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle"><strong><span>"Yes. Host has discovered the reward for his choice in the ultimate decision, Wind and Lightning Secret Profound Arts. As you remember, the Evil God profound veins in this world had Evil God Arts. The creator decided that it wanted you to have something just as good if not better. The other rewards have already been active except Serenity do to lack of being pressured. <br><br>The Wind and Lightning Arts manifest as nine inner gates of swirling wind and lightning profound energy which have both passive and active effects as well as a technique unique to that gate. Passively, upon reaching the corresponding cultivation level, your speed, reflexes and reaction speed receive a boost that's always in use. At the highest level, it's possible to sense changes in the magnetic field around your body and react to it. Actively, each gate gives a boost to your concussive or cutting force and destructive power. At the highest level even those of the Divine realms can be threatened. As for the respective skills, please cultivate diligently to find out."</span></strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnNlNzg5ZDhlYjY2NzQ5ODNhYTNhMzk4OTQzZTcxYzIy" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><br><br><br><br><br>“... Raven, have I ever told you I love you? You wouldn't happen to have an avatar I could kiss, would you?” Though he was truly grateful, he still couldn't help cracking a little joke at the end. Though her response was rather surprising considering not long after he asked, an actual raven did show up on his shoulder with it's head tilted. Jin asking slowly as he petted the bird's smooth feathers that felt like mist. “And you didn't mention this before because..?”<br><br><br><br><br></span></p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle"><strong><span>"Host did not ask."</span></strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnNkYzZmOGM4ODgwYTRhOGViMGIyYWIwNTY2YmNhYTQz" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><br><br><br><br><br>If he wasn't so sure his hand would go straight through her avatar, Jin would have tried to smack her then and there.<br><br><br>Returning to his meditative state, Jin began extracting his own vitality and pulling it into his profound veins. The conversion which should have been slow only taking a few moments to complete and even filling half of his veins. The result was surprising as well as rather draining as he instantly felt he had went days without eating, which would be accurate since today could also be considered the day of his birth, or rebirth, depending on how one would look at it.<br><br><br>Snapping out of meditation, he couldn't help but make a wry smile as he heard the cry of the beast within which demanded its tribute. <br><br><br>Leaping to his feet, he locked up his room despite not having anything valuable inside as he made his way toward the exit with the basin used for water and scissors to return to the hostess who had her mouth open looking at his change as he flashed her a smile.<br><br><br>“Thank you for letting me borrow these miss?”<br><br><br>Hearing his words, she shook her head as her expression returned to normal with a faint grin tugging at her lips. “Yan Xue, and providing service is the job of an inn after all. Speaking of service, will you be dining here?”<br><br><br>Taking a look around and noticed that the seats were filling up quickly with patrons, he shook his head and replied calmly. “I don't think so for today, it's my first time in the city and I want to take a look around. But I will be looking forward to breakfast if you serve it.” After getting a nod for a confirmation, Jin left and took to the streets. Walking around to various stalls and buying a few dumplings that smelled good while heading toward the smiths and weapon shops. After all, he never had a chance to personally witness a smithy that made actual weapons, one of which he needed if he planned to build up System Points to pay for things in the future. <br><br><br>Thinking about his own strength, Jin remembered there were two talismans for Amaterasu in the pocket of his old clothes and decided to ask a little birdie. “Those talismans, are they like what Itachi planted in Sasuke's eye for protection?”<br><br><br><br></span></p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle"><strong><span>“No. The Amatarasu Divine Talismans are drawn by the sun goddess herself and contain a portion of her flames which are able to burn and purify anything under the sun, depending on the intent of whoever released them.”</span></strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnMwZWM0YTE2NGEzZDQ3OGJhMTYyYzJjNGUzZWFkZTAx" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span><br><br><br><br><br>Stopping mid stride, he looked at Raven with his mouth slightly open. 'if those weren't single use items that would be too powerful for a beginner item.' After having his shoulder bumped by someone in passing, Jin started moving again towards the direction where smoke came from since there were only two places that would have smoke without people panicking; The first being a large eatery with the kitchens going full blast, and the other being a smith.<br><br><br>Making his way into the nearest store where the melody of hammer against metal rang out, he noticed it was an out of home shop since the wears as well as the actual forge itself were basically in the same room. Jin peeked over the counter and found the smith just got started on a new work, deciding to practice his Body Flicker since the distance was short enough that his meager energy could support it since the technique only required the user to vitalize their body with energy to move at high speeds with the distance being in direct relation to the cost.<br><br><br>In an instant, he was beside the smith just as he began shaping the blade with his Sharingan active as he paid attention to his each action. The craftsman too focused on his work to pay attention to someone who wasn't making noise. After spending almost two hours simply standing there and watching in fascination of the man's skills while having long since recovered his expenditure, all that was left was polishing and adding the handle to the sword for it to be completed. He leaving his spot as a notification sounded off.</span></p> <p class="cnM4NWI1ZDEyZmMwMzRiYTZhY2RkZGY0Y2U3ODk3ZjJi"> </p> </div>

Even though it took five hours, only a moment passed for Jin as he woke up covered in a cold sweat. Pitch black eyes that shone like onyx gems now filled with a scarlet light, a single tomoe dancing around his pupil as he examined his room with new clarity. Seeing the grains of the wood and even counting threads on his blanket. It would be a lie if he said he wasn't enjoying it. Along with his new eyes came knowledge of how they worked as well as how to activate and deactivate them at will. Searching through the store, he purchased a hand mirror since it was one of the free items as well as a new outfit including an Akatsuki windbreaker with the Sword of Kusanagi Sasuke used as a weapon missing to bring the whole thing together since it cost 50-SP which made him confused if it was expensive or cheap. Then again, considering the only noticeable trait of the sword was just its sharpness and durability, it wasn't worth much compared to Kisame's Samahada which would be able to absorb the profound energy of people it touches. Looking at himself in the mirror, Jin could already see his cheeks spasm in annoyance. It was no wonder everyone kept mistaking him for a girl with a face like this. He already knew it was going to be feminine, but right now there was virtually no difference between him and a beauty with the way his hair fell around his face in addition to the fact it was ankle length and as smooth as velvet with a shine that put marble to shame. Add in his eyes and you would have a perfect doll despite his height of 182 centimeters, though said doll would have a bright red glow in the evening sun that added a touch of divinity to its looks. Shutting down his new eyes, they returned to their normal gem like onyx black as he put the mirror down on the bed and felt the sweat sticking to him, letting out a wry smile as he headed out and found the girl hostess. “I guess I'll be taking that water today after all. And do you have any scissors I can use?” Despite her confusion at the latter portion of his request, he still obtained the items after paying for the water and promising to return the scissors. His ears picking up on a few customers who were talking out loud about the fourteenth birthday of the young miss of the Xia family which he took note of since it gave him a time frame to understand when in the story he arrived since Qingyue got married when she was around 16. Upon returning to his room, the first thing he did was take off his old clothes and throw them into a corner of the room before taking a cloth and wiping his body down. Taking the scissors, he began cutting his hair until the back reached his waist before binding it with a cloth ribbon into a low ponytail that would be used as a whip if he turned his head too quickly, while the front framed his face coming down to just past his chin. The majority of his locks flowing freely towards his shoulders and the longer ones reaching his chest after shaking it out, allowing the hair to settle where natural. Feeling refreshed, he put on the outfit he got from the system. A pair of black boots with white pants that didn't obstruct his movement, a red robe with golden yellow maple leaves and a blue waist cloth to bind it with, as well as a black form fitting sleeveless shirt and black glove sleeves that went up just past his elbow while leaving his palms and fingers exposed for use. Jin deciding to wear the robe but left one arm out of it and allowing the right side to fall at his waist while the left which held his money remained covering its side. It was a good outfit, good enough to be his regular thing even if he was using Ninjutsu for the foreseeable future. Adding the windbreaker as something to take off when he needs to get serious. 'Speaking of getting serious, I can't keep my power as it is. I don't have a single drop of profound energy and while I know the steps to master a few jutsu without having to undo the restrictions on the system, it's pointless if I don't have the energy to try.' Taking a seat on his bed, Jin went over what he knew from the book about cultivating the profound. 'The first step is similar to cultivating chakra in that you take vitality from yourself. The difference being that while you would mix the physical energy extracted from your body and mix it with your spiritual energy to obtain chakra, you would pour the extracted vitality into your profound veins where it would change into sparse profound energy at a slow rate. Once this is done, you simply keep doing it until the veins are full which would be the Elementary Profound Realm.' Nodding to himself which was starting to become a habit, he began to meditate and look inside himself. The outside world faded away as a inner vision became clearer. Taking a look around, the first thing that he noticed was his 54 profound entrances were all completely opened. This being the condition for Heavenly God's Spiritual Veins, which he considered normal given that his body was crafted instead of born like normal people. However, there was one thing inside his Profound Veins that did confuse him. The center trunk that wasn't connected to the outside had nine marble shaped holes with a faint feeling of static as well as a breeze coming from them, the first of these marbles slightly stronger than the rest but it was still hard to grasp. Since it was something he couldn't understand, he did the only thing he could and asked someone who did. “Raven, do you know what's wrong with my profound veins? There are weird openings in the main part.” | **"Yes. Host has discovered the reward for his choice in the ultimate decision, Wind and Lightning Secret Profound Arts. As you remember, the Evil God profound veins in this world had Evil God Arts. The creator decided that it wanted you to have something just as good if not better. The other rewards have already been active except Serenity do to lack of being pressured. The Wind and Lightning Arts manifest as nine inner gates of swirling wind and lightning profound energy which have both passive and active effects as well as a technique unique to that gate. Passively, upon reaching the corresponding cultivation level, your speed, reflexes and reaction speed receive a boost that's always in use. At the highest level, it's possible to sense changes in the magnetic field around your body and react to it. Actively, each gate gives a boost to your concussive or cutting force and destructive power. At the highest level even those of the Divine realms can be threatened. As for the respective skills, please cultivate diligently to find out."** | | --- | “... Raven, have I ever told you I love you? You wouldn't happen to have an avatar I could kiss, would you?” Though he was truly grateful, he still couldn't help cracking a little joke at the end. Though her response was rather surprising considering not long after he asked, an actual raven did show up on his shoulder with it's head tilted. Jin asking slowly as he petted the bird's smooth feathers that felt like mist. “And you didn't mention this before because..?” | **"Host did not ask."** | | --- | If he wasn't so sure his hand would go straight through her avatar, Jin would have tried to smack her then and there. Returning to his meditative state, Jin began extracting his own vitality and pulling it into his profound veins. The conversion which should have been slow only taking a few moments to complete and even filling half of his veins. The result was surprising as well as rather draining as he instantly felt he had went days without eating, which would be accurate since today could also be considered the day of his birth, or rebirth, depending on how one would look at it. Snapping out of meditation, he couldn't help but make a wry smile as he heard the cry of the beast within which demanded its tribute. Leaping to his feet, he locked up his room despite not having anything valuable inside as he made his way toward the exit with the basin used for water and scissors to return to the hostess who had her mouth open looking at his change as he flashed her a smile. “Thank you for letting me borrow these miss?” Hearing his words, she shook her head as her expression returned to normal with a faint grin tugging at her lips. “Yan Xue, and providing service is the job of an inn after all. Speaking of service, will you be dining here?” Taking a look around and noticed that the seats were filling up quickly with patrons, he shook his head and replied calmly. “I don't think so for today, it's my first time in the city and I want to take a look around. But I will be looking forward to breakfast if you serve it.” After getting a nod for a confirmation, Jin left and took to the streets. Walking around to various stalls and buying a few dumplings that smelled good while heading toward the smiths and weapon shops. After all, he never had a chance to personally witness a smithy that made actual weapons, one of which he needed if he planned to build up System Points to pay for things in the future. Thinking about his own strength, Jin remembered there were two talismans for Amaterasu in the pocket of his old clothes and decided to ask a little birdie. “Those talismans, are they like what Itachi planted in Sasuke's eye for protection?” | **“No. The Amatarasu Divine Talismans are drawn by the sun goddess herself and contain a portion of her flames which are able to burn and purify anything under the sun, depending on the intent of whoever released them.”** | | --- | Stopping mid stride, he looked at Raven with his mouth slightly open. 'if those weren't single use items that would be too powerful for a beginner item.' After having his shoulder bumped by someone in passing, Jin started moving again towards the direction where smoke came from since there were only two places that would have smoke without people panicking; The first being a large eatery with the kitchens going full blast, and the other being a smith. Making his way into the nearest store where the melody of hammer against metal rang out, he noticed it was an out of home shop since the wears as well as the actual forge itself were basically in the same room. Jin peeked over the counter and found the smith just got started on a new work, deciding to practice his Body Flicker since the distance was short enough that his meager energy could support it since the technique only required the user to vitalize their body with energy to move at high speeds with the distance being in direct relation to the cost. In an instant, he was beside the smith just as he began shaping the blade with his Sharingan active as he paid attention to his each action. The craftsman too focused on his work to pay attention to someone who wasn't making noise. After spending almost two hours simply standing there and watching in fascination of the man's skills while having long since recovered his expenditure, all that was left was polishing and adding the handle to the sword for it to be completed. He leaving his spot as a notification sounded off.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNhOTU5YmEzNTNmNjQ0Mzk4MjVhYWNkMjkzNTU5OTY1">“Who are you? Why should we trust you?” Kyran cautiously asked. He had formulated several plans in his mind to deal with the little girl if she really appeared to be an enemy, but seeing Carol’s reaction, he doubted if they could make it in one piece. He could not sense her rwach, still he could tell by instinct that this little girl was not normal.</p> <div>The girl said nothing, taking something out of her pocket. Kyran grew more cautious and strengthen his grip on the spear.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>It was actually a candy wrapped in light blue. The girl opened the wrapper, put the candy in her mouth and closed her eyes. She seemed to savor it. Then, she put the wrapper in her hand, and with the other hand flicked it five meters away. It landed on the ground where Kyran’s previously headed to and sank into the ground in an instant. It’s a demonic living quicksand! It's known that in certain terrain, there's demonic living quicksand which could sink any creature in a minute regardless of their size. What made it even more terrifying was it would suck one’s rwach for each second passed.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>It surprised Kyran and Carol. If they had not stopped in time, they would have been dead. Kyran stared at the little girl, trying to figure out her intention.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>After pondering, they choose to trust her and headed to the direction she pointed at.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Kyran walked toward her and said, “Thank you!”</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>He reached for something in his pocket, took out two candies wrapped in yellow and handed them before walking away. It’s Alice’s favorite candy that she gave as a good-luck charm before he departed.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Kyran turned his head to take a glimpse at the girl for the last time. The girl spoke nothing more, silently stood and watched as they disappeared into the forest.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>At first, they walked in a slow pace to observe the situation and gradually increased their speed, They realized it's&nbsp;not safe yet. Thanks to Carol’s fireball, they could still grasp the surrounding pretty well. They dashed, hoping to reach the end of the forest soon.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Kyran suddenly gave a sign to stop. He noticed a shadow moving behind a tree just now. Enemies again? What a busy day! Kyran thought. He took his stance and wait for the perfect time to strike. Carol was ready with her spell. The other party seemed to notice them also as it made no sound nor movement anymore.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>They abruptly charged at the same time. Kyran dashed forward and aimed for the head.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Clang!</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>A sword met his spear, creating a reverberating sound.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“Wait, it’s me!” Polbo yelled.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“Polbo?” Carol said in disbelief.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“Is that you guys?” Hex’s voice came from right behind Polbo.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Kyran could not hide his excitement and exclaimed, “Hex, Polbo!”</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“Save it for later. Let’s get out of here first!” Hex said. One of the iron rule of a mercenary was one should be always vigilant until safety was confirmed. Not to mention, they’re still in the forest infested with beasts, noone knows what could happen in the next second.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>..............…</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>At the rain tribe settlement.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The shaman, beastmaster and the rest of the tribe were presence. For some reason, the festive atmoshpere just a moment ago was nowhere to be found. No one uttered a single word. It‘s drizzling again, yet they could hardly rejoice. Their god seemed to be powerless to protect them from their current situation.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Everyone presence knelt and bowed with their head on the ground. Even the silver sabertooth tigers lowered their head in fear and did not dare to look at the being standing at the center.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>A little girl was standing there with her hands behind her back, expresionless and unmoving. Only her mouth showed a slight, occasional movement as if chewing something. The pressurized air and dominating aura emanating from the little girl scared them witless. They had never encountered such a being before. They knew they had no chance to survive if they fought. The being was far beyond comprehension. It‘s even comparable to their god’s servant, Leviathan, if not even greater.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“Forgive us, venerable one. We have no idea you’re with those guys.” the shaman said with bated breath, fearing to offend her.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“We won’t pursue them as you wish, venerable one. Please spare us!” the beastmaster said.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The girl look at them indifferently. A brief, eerie silence once again fell over the crowd.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Poof!</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Several silver sabertooth tiger stood far away exploded into puddle of blood without warning at the same time. If one didn’t witness what had happened, noone could guess what creature the puddle of blood originally were as it left no trace. Cold sweat rushed down their forehead. They had no idea what had just happened. They saw nothing strange. Even the little girl did not move her finger.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>At the moment, the shaman almost wanted to dig a hole to allow him to lower his head even deeper and hide himself, if possible. He couldn’t fathom the girl’s strength. He once heard a legend passed down from his predecessors that if one’s power reached the supreme level or above, one could manipulated rwach at will, creating a certain kind of rwach domain that could demonstrate unimaginable power. Judging from the indistinguishable rwach fluctuation, this little girl might be using one just now. Still it’s only a conjenture he had no way to prove as it’s on the realm of power surpassing their understanding. Even the strongest warrior of their tribe’s history never reached the high rank, not to mention the supreme one. A being of that level was almost god-like to the rain tribe.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The shaman trembled and managed to open his mouth, “We swear we won’t tell anyone about what happened tonight!”</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“......”</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>After a while, the girl turned back and ambling on into the cover of trees, disappearing from their sight. It looked like her intention was fulfilled without wasting her breath. Only when the candy melted completely in her mouth did she comment on how good it was.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>As she strolled along, she had not encountered a single beast. From far away, more inteligent beasts sensing her presence had madlly rushed into opposite direction to avoid encountering her. Suddenly something caught her attention. She stopped and lifted her head, staring at one of the ordinary-looking tree.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“It’s a surprise to meet you here, Kong!” the little girl said.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>A man wrapped in dull-brown robe covering up to his head gradually appear from the thin air, standing silently on the branch. As if it’s an illussion, the next second he had vanished and reappeared in front of the girl.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“It’s just a coincidence. I’m just happened to be on a recoinassance mission, milady” the man called Kong nonchalantly said.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The little girl sighed as she continued to walk, “What a lame excuse. Besides, do you think I don’t know it must be Fenrir’s work?”</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“Haha. You got me. That’s partly true. When Fenrir made the request, I’m the nearest one from this place. Besides, it’s reasonable for the general to worry about you since you’re in another kingdom’s territory without any guard, though you don‘t really need one.” Kong said.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Her hand reached for the pocket, taking out a candy-this time wrapped in yellow and put it in her mouth. The moment it entered her mouth, she widened her eyes and nodded lightly.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>She continued, “I told you and Fenrir many times, whenever we’re alone, you can drop the honorific.”&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Kong shook his head and said. “You know I have a loose tongue. I can slip anytime when we’re in formal occasions.”</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>He continued to ask in playful tone, “How come you’re shrinking?”</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The little girl halted her step, seemingly not bothered at all by his casual remark. She reply with a smile “You’ve been away for too long.”</div> <div>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div> <div>The people closed to her knew clearly how she loved candies. Due to her pride, she couldn’t enjoy one in her real appearance. It’s all because of that Taiga. A long time ago, he teased her by saying only kids loved candy, thus she had been eating one in secret or only in her kid appearance.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“Ishtar has eyes even in the outer part of this forest. It’s better if milady doesn’t cause any ruckus here, if not she’ll notice-“ Kong said.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“I know. I know. I just want to see how the chosen one looks like” the little girl interrupted and started to walk again.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“Ooh, And?” Kong curiously asked.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The little girl shook her head, “Pathetic. Weak. On top of that, his look was a disaster”</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>How come the look was relevant to the chosen one‘s status? Still, he bothered to reply with a smug face, “He’s currently cursed. Noone will look any good in that situation, noone but me of course!”</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“Even if he’s not, he’d still nowhere close to Taiga.” the little girl replied.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“.........”</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“It’s pardonable though.” the little girl said as she held a candy wrapped in yellow.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Kong let out a sigh and smile.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“I’ve seen enough. No need to escort me.” the girl said.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“Very well. Have a safe journey, milady. Until we meet again!” Kong said before vanishing into thin air.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> </div>

“Who are you? Why should we trust you?” Kyran cautiously asked. He had formulated several plans in his mind to deal with the little girl if she really appeared to be an enemy, but seeing Carol’s reaction, he doubted if they could make it in one piece. He could not sense her rwach, still he could tell by instinct that this little girl was not normal. The girl said nothing, taking something out of her pocket. Kyran grew more cautious and strengthen his grip on the spear.   It was actually a candy wrapped in light blue. The girl opened the wrapper, put the candy in her mouth and closed her eyes. She seemed to savor it. Then, she put the wrapper in her hand, and with the other hand flicked it five meters away. It landed on the ground where Kyran’s previously headed to and sank into the ground in an instant. It’s a demonic living quicksand! It's known that in certain terrain, there's demonic living quicksand which could sink any creature in a minute regardless of their size. What made it even more terrifying was it would suck one’s rwach for each second passed.   It surprised Kyran and Carol. If they had not stopped in time, they would have been dead. Kyran stared at the little girl, trying to figure out her intention.   After pondering, they choose to trust her and headed to the direction she pointed at.   Kyran walked toward her and said, “Thank you!”   He reached for something in his pocket, took out two candies wrapped in yellow and handed them before walking away. It’s Alice’s favorite candy that she gave as a good-luck charm before he departed.   Kyran turned his head to take a glimpse at the girl for the last time. The girl spoke nothing more, silently stood and watched as they disappeared into the forest.   At first, they walked in a slow pace to observe the situation and gradually increased their speed, They realized it's not safe yet. Thanks to Carol’s fireball, they could still grasp the surrounding pretty well. They dashed, hoping to reach the end of the forest soon.   Kyran suddenly gave a sign to stop. He noticed a shadow moving behind a tree just now. Enemies again? What a busy day! Kyran thought. He took his stance and wait for the perfect time to strike. Carol was ready with her spell. The other party seemed to notice them also as it made no sound nor movement anymore.   They abruptly charged at the same time. Kyran dashed forward and aimed for the head.   Clang!   A sword met his spear, creating a reverberating sound.   “Wait, it’s me!” Polbo yelled.   “Polbo?” Carol said in disbelief.   “Is that you guys?” Hex’s voice came from right behind Polbo.   Kyran could not hide his excitement and exclaimed, “Hex, Polbo!”   “Save it for later. Let’s get out of here first!” Hex said. One of the iron rule of a mercenary was one should be always vigilant until safety was confirmed. Not to mention, they’re still in the forest infested with beasts, noone knows what could happen in the next second.   ..............…   At the rain tribe settlement.   The shaman, beastmaster and the rest of the tribe were presence. For some reason, the festive atmoshpere just a moment ago was nowhere to be found. No one uttered a single word. It‘s drizzling again, yet they could hardly rejoice. Their god seemed to be powerless to protect them from their current situation.   Everyone presence knelt and bowed with their head on the ground. Even the silver sabertooth tigers lowered their head in fear and did not dare to look at the being standing at the center.   A little girl was standing there with her hands behind her back, expresionless and unmoving. Only her mouth showed a slight, occasional movement as if chewing something. The pressurized air and dominating aura emanating from the little girl scared them witless. They had never encountered such a being before. They knew they had no chance to survive if they fought. The being was far beyond comprehension. It‘s even comparable to their god’s servant, Leviathan, if not even greater.   “Forgive us, venerable one. We have no idea you’re with those guys.” the shaman said with bated breath, fearing to offend her.   “We won’t pursue them as you wish, venerable one. Please spare us!” the beastmaster said.   The girl look at them indifferently. A brief, eerie silence once again fell over the crowd.   Poof!   Several silver sabertooth tiger stood far away exploded into puddle of blood without warning at the same time. If one didn’t witness what had happened, noone could guess what creature the puddle of blood originally were as it left no trace. Cold sweat rushed down their forehead. They had no idea what had just happened. They saw nothing strange. Even the little girl did not move her finger.   At the moment, the shaman almost wanted to dig a hole to allow him to lower his head even deeper and hide himself, if possible. He couldn’t fathom the girl’s strength. He once heard a legend passed down from his predecessors that if one’s power reached the supreme level or above, one could manipulated rwach at will, creating a certain kind of rwach domain that could demonstrate unimaginable power. Judging from the indistinguishable rwach fluctuation, this little girl might be using one just now. Still it’s only a conjenture he had no way to prove as it’s on the realm of power surpassing their understanding. Even the strongest warrior of their tribe’s history never reached the high rank, not to mention the supreme one. A being of that level was almost god-like to the rain tribe.     The shaman trembled and managed to open his mouth, “We swear we won’t tell anyone about what happened tonight!”     “......”   After a while, the girl turned back and ambling on into the cover of trees, disappearing from their sight. It looked like her intention was fulfilled without wasting her breath. Only when the candy melted completely in her mouth did she comment on how good it was.   As she strolled along, she had not encountered a single beast. From far away, more inteligent beasts sensing her presence had madlly rushed into opposite direction to avoid encountering her. Suddenly something caught her attention. She stopped and lifted her head, staring at one of the ordinary-looking tree.   “It’s a surprise to meet you here, Kong!” the little girl said.    A man wrapped in dull-brown robe covering up to his head gradually appear from the thin air, standing silently on the branch. As if it’s an illussion, the next second he had vanished and reappeared in front of the girl.   “It’s just a coincidence. I’m just happened to be on a recoinassance mission, milady” the man called Kong nonchalantly said.   The little girl sighed as she continued to walk, “What a lame excuse. Besides, do you think I don’t know it must be Fenrir’s work?”   “Haha. You got me. That’s partly true. When Fenrir made the request, I’m the nearest one from this place. Besides, it’s reasonable for the general to worry about you since you’re in another kingdom’s territory without any guard, though you don‘t really need one.” Kong said.   Her hand reached for the pocket, taking out a candy-this time wrapped in yellow and put it in her mouth. The moment it entered her mouth, she widened her eyes and nodded lightly.   She continued, “I told you and Fenrir many times, whenever we’re alone, you can drop the honorific.”    Kong shook his head and said. “You know I have a loose tongue. I can slip anytime when we’re in formal occasions.”   He continued to ask in playful tone, “How come you’re shrinking?”   The little girl halted her step, seemingly not bothered at all by his casual remark. She reply with a smile “You’ve been away for too long.”    The people closed to her knew clearly how she loved candies. Due to her pride, she couldn’t enjoy one in her real appearance. It’s all because of that Taiga. A long time ago, he teased her by saying only kids loved candy, thus she had been eating one in secret or only in her kid appearance.   “Ishtar has eyes even in the outer part of this forest. It’s better if milady doesn’t cause any ruckus here, if not she’ll notice-“ Kong said.   “I know. I know. I just want to see how the chosen one looks like” the little girl interrupted and started to walk again.    “Ooh, And?” Kong curiously asked.   The little girl shook her head, “Pathetic. Weak. On top of that, his look was a disaster”   How come the look was relevant to the chosen one‘s status? Still, he bothered to reply with a smug face, “He’s currently cursed. Noone will look any good in that situation, noone but me of course!”   “Even if he’s not, he’d still nowhere close to Taiga.” the little girl replied.   “.........”   “It’s pardonable though.” the little girl said as she held a candy wrapped in yellow.   Kong let out a sigh and smile.   “I’ve seen enough. No need to escort me.” the girl said.    “Very well. Have a safe journey, milady. Until we meet again!” Kong said before vanishing into thin air.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNmNjJlYTc3ZmZhNDQ1YWU5ZjUxZDNiMTdiMzU1ZmQ3"><span style="font-weight: 400">I awoke slowly at first, groggily pushing my way through unconsciousness. Once I remembered why I’d passed out in the first place, I woke up much faster. </span></p> <p class="cnM1Yzk1OTg3Yjc3MDQzMTc5YzFhZjM3MDM0MmJjZGIw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Woah, slow down there Lucas. Don’t sit up like that, you took a nasty hit to the head.” Brook stopped me from sitting up with a hand on my shoulder pushing me back down. </span></p> <p class="cnM4MzQ5NDBhMzE4NDRlZWFiM2RiZWMzNGFlYTBlMDQz"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Good, you’re still alive. I really didn’t want to try digging a grave without a shovel.”</span><span style="font-weight: 400"><br></span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“Don’t be silly. Obviously I would want to be cremated, otherwise the beasties would just dig my corpse up and eat it.”</span></p> <p class="cnM4Njc4NzA0MmY5ZTQwOTJiYzMyMzc0OTY3ZjE4ODI0"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Right, of course you’d choose to go out smoking and hot.” The only response to my ill-advised attempt at humor was a light punch to the arm. Brook was currently sitting next to me inside the nest, looking more or less uninjured. Considering how hard that thing had hit me that was a small miracle. As was rapidly becoming tradition, I figured now was probably a good time to check the notifications. </span></p> <p class="cnNjZmUzMmRlYzA5MDRjNWU5ODMzODgyYTQ5NGNmNTM4">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmODE1ZTcyZTA1MzRlNzJiNzU0OTcxOTg3OWI2ZmE0"><span style="font-weight: 400">[Due to your assistance in distracting {Woods Harpy} by staring deeply into its eyes while someone else killed it, you have been awarded +0.1% Charisma and +/-?.?% Luck]</span></p> <p class="cnNmYTI3YjM1NTE4YTQ4ZTdhODRkOWQyNTdmMWFjMDg4">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMyZThhNGE0N2E5YTQzMmNhZWY0NjAxYjBlNjc3OGU3"><span style="font-weight: 400">That one had to be the harpy Brook took out with her throwing knife. At least the notifications were useful for identifying the foes we fought, so long as we won that was. I decided to ignore the snark and just be thankful that I’d gained anything for the encounter at all, however minute. My Charisma could definitely do with being leveled a bit. </span></p> <p class="cnNkYTNlYmU1Nzg4YzQ3MDBhNmRkNjI5ODgwMDIwYTYy">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3YzI3Mzg3Y2FkYzRmNGU4YWI2ZmUyZTJmOTA3ODVj"><span style="font-weight: 400">[x2 Woods Harpy slain. Opponents’ skill and power level outnumbered your own, but against all odds you’ve managed to prevail. Due to method of victory, .3 Agi and .2 Str have been awarded.]</span></p> <p class="cnM1NDUzNGQ1YzEwZjRmMGQ5ZjI1OWYyZjgzMTQ1MGMy">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMxNWEyZmJjZTNjYjRiYzI5M2Q4ZmZmNjBkNzQ0YjI4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Fair enough I guess, I didn’t use magic to slay the harpies so I couldn’t expect Intelligence gains. It was pretty short sighted, considering I wanted to become a wizard. I really would need to make a better effort to cast at least one spell per battle in the future. Still, if I had done that I would not have had enough to handle the boss. If that was the case should I not save my mana for emergencies? The plight of an underpowered mage was starting to give me a headache, so I decided to think on it later and moved on.</span></p> <p class="cnMzZDA4ZDRkMDRkZjQxMDRiMWYwNDAwMDg1ZjMwM2Iw">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmMDJkODY4YjM3YTQ2OTM4MWVhOWUzN2Y2ZTVmN2Fh"><span style="font-weight: 400">[Woods Harpy Broodmother {Hybrid} slain! Opponent was immensely more powerful than you, and you battled almost one on one. Once again, you pushed yourself past your limit to defeat something that should have killed you. This strategy will keep working forever, until it doesn’t and you die. For now, enjoy the rewards for a battle well fought I suppose. +1.2 Int, +1.0 End, +.7 Str, +.7 Agi, +.4 Per] </span></p> <p class="cnM1MWVlMTM3N2ZkMDQ2YTliNjgxZTM0ZTI0MzRlNjVk">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzYWI3MjE1ZTIzNDRkN2RiYmNkMTAzZWU0MmIyMmVj"><span style="font-weight: 400">[Congratulations! You have completed an F ranked instance with a party of 2. Due to small party size and relative levels, rewards have been granted accordingly. +.1 to all visible stats. Instanced cabin will function as a Rest Area for 12 hours. All healing effects x4 within premise.]</span></p> <p class="cnNlZWI0NjExZTRmYTQwNjQ4MzE1OWI2MjQwNWMyNzhj">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM1ZTAzYzVjZjJjZDRmZDFhNTNhNjEyZWQ4NGRmNTUz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Well, that explains how Brook was already looking recovered and I no longer felt like a cabin had run me over. This was how the world was able to keep functioning and have people dungeon dive and what not. If everybody was put out of commission after each battle, nobody would ever complete instances and the world would just be covered in dungeons. These still weren’t the notifications I was looking for so I pulled up the last one.</span></p> <p class="cnMyODk2MmJhNWQ5ZTQ5M2RiMjYyN2I1ZThlYjk3OThi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMxODMwODY5MzlmZjRkYmY4NWEwYmVjNzIzNTU0ZmY1"><span style="font-weight: 400">[Spell Manipulation. Progress made toward unlocking x3 unknown spells.]</span></p> <p class="cnM5ODEwZjNmNjk2ZjRjMWQ4OTc1OGY1NDZjOWU2YjVh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM0Y2ZiZGU5ZmZmZjQ0MDA4ZDgyZmNkMDU1YmNkZGY4"><span style="font-weight: 400">That was it? Whatever I had done managed to slay the boss creature of an instance, and I don’t even get to learn how to cast it again in the future? What a load of- never mind. I should be thankful and stay positive.</span></p> <p class="cnM2ZGJkMDhlOWFkNTQ4OGViYWU4MTEzNjI0M2NhYTgz"><span style="font-weight: 400">There were two ways of looking at this. In one of them I had been cheated out of 3 spells by the skill and cosmic laws. On the other, learning spells was supposed to be near impossible without tutoring or spell books. For all I knew I was fortunate to have learned [Entangling Roots] after only manipulating [Growth] once. Beggars couldn’t be choosers and I fully intended to keep begging the universe for magic. I hadn’t looked at my interface in a while so I willed it to my sight for a review.</span></p> <div class="spoiler"> <div class="smalltext" style="margin-bottom: 2px"><strong>Spoiler</strong>: Spoiler<input class="spoilerButton" type="button" value="Show"></div> <div class="spoilerContent"> <div class="spoiler-inner" style="display: none"> <p class="cnMwZjU2YWE4ODljODRmOTBiMDhkMGI3OGJmYzMxNmZi"><br><br></p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p class="cnM2NWE4YTAzY2YwNzQwMjRiNjU1ZTJkNzc1ODQ0YWJi"><span style="font-weight: 400">Name:</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM2NTY3ZjQwMzM4ZTRhYjViNDRlZTZhN2QxNDk5YjA5"><span style="font-weight: 400">Lucas Cob</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNjY2YwN2M2YzY5OTRhM2E5ZTIxZThiNjg1MjY2NTY5"><span style="font-weight: 400">Level</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnMwMjRhYjNiN2E1MzRiMzRhMWJjY2ZhNzI4ZmEyZWZh"><span style="font-weight: 400">1</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnNjNTk0MGRjNjc3NjRkN2U5Zjk2ZjAwYWRhOTMyYjc0"><span style="font-weight: 400">Class:</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM2NmU0YjJkOTBjZDQ5Y2ViZTMxYWE4MGE4ZWYyY2Fl"><span style="font-weight: 400">N/A</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNjYzhiYjZkMDE0YTQ5MzM4NjdhNjFhMWU5YzFhZjRh"><span style="font-weight: 400">Profession:</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnMyNzQ1MDlhNjE0MjRkYzg4MmY4OTZkMzIyZjE4MzE0"><span style="font-weight: 400">N/A</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnM5NjMyYzA5MGMwZjRkNDI4MTlkMDdhNzdhOTUxNjIz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Status</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNiNGJhNDU4Mzc4OTQ0MDk5MWYzY2Y2YTU3NDI3Yzky"><span style="font-weight: 400">Healthy</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnMyM2U0NDE3MGZjNzQxY2FhMmYyMmU2MDQxNGFiMGYz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Stamina</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNjNDY0OWU5NDg0YTRjYzZhZGM4YTUzODIwNmFiYThj"><span style="font-weight: 400">110/110</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnMwYzUzMjU4ZWI5ZDQ3ZmJhNDliNDM1ZmEyY2E2NDFl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Mana</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnMwMTY1OGViODYxODRkOTA5OWI5MDc0N2M5N2FkZmQ1"><span style="font-weight: 400">12/12</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNiMTNhZGExMjRhZDQzZmZhZmNkYWIzNmNlM2RiYTg3"><span style="font-weight: 400">Aether Saturation</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNhZThmMWRlOTc1ZTRjMTFhNGYzMDJiMTY0NWIxNDcx"><span style="font-weight: 400">.03%</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnNjYzY4MjAxYTZkZTRkYzA4NzIzYjQyOGVlYjRlMDk0"><span style="font-weight: 400">Str</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM2OWQ0NWI3OGUyODRhYzU4MmUwY2ZmOTMwZGE2YThl"><span style="font-weight: 400">11</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM4NmU5ZmVlOWUwMjRiODQ4ZTY4ZGI5ODc2ZGQ2MmE1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Per</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM3OWRmNjYxYjQxNzRiZWZiMjUyZmZlYjUyMzA0YTIx"><span style="font-weight: 400">11</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnM2ZDRiOTBhYzJmZTRjMjFhYjBjZjVlMjkyMmNiMjAy"><span style="font-weight: 400">End</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNlYTcxYjk4NDhmOTQ2ZmJiZWZhZjg0NTI0YWQxMTU4"><span style="font-weight: 400">12</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM2Y2I3ZmMyZjk4NzQ4NzRhZWFjNjE3ODZhOTYzYTk4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Cha</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNlODExZWQ1MzA1MjQ5M2FhNDQ0MWY1NjJmYjI3MGI1"><span style="font-weight: 400">8</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnNkNzYzZmE2ODhhODRiYzQ4ZTBjN2MzYzkxNTI3MGFj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Int</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNkMjRjYzRiOTU5YzQ3NzliYzA4ZThlMGM0ODA5MTJl"><span style="font-weight: 400">12</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnMyNzhmM2UxMWZlMzRkZTdhNjk3ZTU2ZjEwYWZiMzQz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Agi</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnMyYWFlOTZmZGY0NjQwMzc4OWFiZThmMDJmZGJmZTk4"><span style="font-weight: 400">11</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="4"> <p class="cnMxMzk5YmM0M2YyMzQxOTk4NjAxMzIyMjA5NjYwOTBh"><span style="font-weight: 400">Skills: Farming (Expand), Reading(Common), Writing(Common, Spell Manipulation, Spear(Basic), Acrobatics(Basic)</span></p> <p class="cnM1ODVlZjE4Mzg2MDRlZjFhMDM4Y2YyZTgxZmNmMTY1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Spells: Growth(Minor), Entangling Roots(Weak)</span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnM3ODUyZWE1ZTNmNTRiMThhNTJjMGRhZjQ5ODc5ODU3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM5MzliNGIzYThkODQ0Zjk4MGQyYTQzOWQyNGJmNzQ2">&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> <p class="cnMzYzMwZmJjZDMxZTRhZTk5N2U0YmJlY2QyMjc4YjJi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmNTA4OWQzNDY3YzQ1ODk5NDM3ODUzNTFkYzNmNjM4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Since I couldn’t see the fractions attached to each stat I couldn’t be sure, but I was pretty sure I was getting close to increasing my Strength and Perception. I also gathered that I was healed, meaning or injury or illness, from my ‘Healthy’ status. Now that I’d checked all the notifications and verified I wasn’t about to lose a limb, I felt comfortable getting up to investigate what these rewards were. Brook had been silent while I was reading, probably because she knew I was checking my own interface as she’d likely done after waking up. I tossed off the blanket I was covered with and made to stand, before scrambling to grab the blanket again.</span></p> <p class="cnNlZWM3M2EwNmY4MjQ2MmU5ZDkzODBjYzU0ZGU4YjZi"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Why am I naked?” The question came out at a much higher pitch than I wanted it to as I franticly tried to cover myself up. </span></p> <p class="cnMzMTU0MWI2NmRlMjRiMzQ4ZjAwM2VmMDkwMjY0MjY3"><span style="font-weight: 400">The mirth evident on her face told me this was exactly why she’d been quiet, just waiting for me to notice. </span></p> <p class="cnNlYjRkNWRjMTAzYzRmNDhiOTIyNWVhMTdlYzJhZjIz"><span style="font-weight: 400">“You aren’t naked, your underwear are still on after all. I needed to strip you to get to your wounds and apply your herbs and bandages, assuming you wanted to make use of the Rest Area’s healing buff. Besides, I didn’t think you would mind after coming onto me like that.” She trailed off and broke eye contact, looking down to the ground between her feet. </span></p> <p class="cnM3YmRjNDQ1Y2RjZjRkZTU4ZWUwNDNkMzM3MjBlMTI5"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I guess you’re right about the healing stuff, but what is that second part supposed to mean?” It took me a second to collect my thoughts before replying. She was obviously still messing with me, but I couldn’t find the angle to this joke.</span></p> <p class="cnMwMmQ5ZDU1ZWIxODRlZjA5ZGNkNzdlY2IxNjk4OGM3"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Well, Luke, when I woke up you were passed out on my chest and drooling. I really didn’t think you were the type to try and take advantage of a girl while she was sleeping, but I’ve been wrong before I guess.” There it is. With a single look I was able to figure out that even she wasn’t taking herself seriously. Her breaking eye contact and looking way was an attempt to disguise her smirk, and it wasn’t a very good one. This line of conversation had gone on long enough.</span></p> <p class="cnNiOWMyNmIwNjBjYzRiMzFiY2ViNzQwZDExOTdmOWNm"><span style="font-weight: 400">“So what is this about a reward?” I watched a couple emotions flicker across her face, first disappointment that I wasn’t playing along and then excitement. </span></p> <p class="cnMyYmE1ODJkMDQ3NDQ1NmNhMDA0MWU4OGNmZWY0ZDY1"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Oh! The box we found, it split in half. And we can open them now! Or at least I think we can, I couldn’t open either of them without you being there too. I guess it’s a function to try and make loot balancing more fair? Either way let's go!” Brook grabbed my arm and dragged me out from under the blanket, against my protests. I felt my blood boil a bit and I definitely reddened a shade or two, but I was also excited to see what we’d gotten so I allowed myself to be dragged. </span></p> <p class="cnMxZGM1MjVlMDM2YjQ3NWNhNmQ3NTliOGU2YWMwYzU5"><span style="font-weight: 400">The box was back in the center of the nest even though I didn’t think that was where I’d left it, and according to Brook she couldn’t move it. Them, she couldn’t move them. The box hadn’t split in half like she said, but there were two of them now, sitting across from each other. Duplication was not the only thing that had changed either, as they now looked more like a classic treasure chest depiction. The chests were a little more ornate and had locks on the face, both with keys in the lock. </span></p> <p class="cnNlODk2MGNkYWUyNzQwNDFiNmZhNDgwY2ZhY2RlM2Mx"><span style="font-weight: 400">Brook had tried to unlock both while I was recovering, but it was to no avail. In order to open the rewards, both keys had to be turned at the same time. Usually there was a singular chest to be opened that contained all the rewards, but because we’d earned ‘bonus rewards’ for having a small party it reconfigured itself to award each of us. </span></p> <p class="cnM0MTY4MjllZTc0ZDRjOTY4ZTcyN2M0NDdlZjhmNGQ3"><span style="font-weight: 400">Our first attempt to open the chests was a bust, the keys did not budge at all, so we swapped sides and were able to open the chests at last. In my chest were two items, but they were two items that were worth more than most things I’d owned. First was a small sheathed knife. I pulled it out and discovered it was a serrated steel dagger with a single edge. It wouldn’t be the best for combat but I could definitely use it for woodworking and snares. It would make a nice addition to my skinning knife, which I had been using for almost every function so far. On top of that, it was made of what looked to be steel rather than salvaged metal, which meant it would be worth money even if I didn’t keep it.</span></p> <p class="cnMzZTRjNTIzNjEzYjQwNjk5MzJkODRmNmVkZTZiNTlh"><span style="font-weight: 400">The other item was the real prize. I re-sheathed the knife and placed it back into the chest before pulling out a long shape. It was sheathed sword, about 4 feet long from hilt to tip, and even came with its own belt. I’d always wanted a proper sword but spears were more practical and more durable when made of the salvaged metal my village had access to. Here however, I was holding a beautiful bronze blade the likes of which I’d never seen. </span></p> <p class="cnM4ZGU2ZTk1MDc2MDQyM2ViOGY3MmY2NDRjMmJmYTYw"><span style="font-weight: 400">I had no formal training in swords but had seen a couple guards practice them before. I decided to try and mimic the motions I remembered but ended up just swinging it around at the air instead. It was a lot of fun and I’d probably have kept messing around for some time if it were not for a giggle capturing my attention. </span></p> <p class="cnNkOWNmMmRjMmU4NTQ1NWViODgxNGY4OTU0NjgwY2E5"><span style="font-weight: 400">Brook had turned around and was looking at me with her mouth covered, trying not to laugh. How rude! Then I looked down and realized what was so funny. I was just a skinny teenager swinging his sword around while practically naked. I set the blade down and ran over to my bag to pull out a spare set of clothes.</span></p> <p class="cnM1NmVlOTliZjY0YjQxNWViMDBlOTFhOWU5NmVjYTRk"><span style="font-weight: 400">After dressing myself, I walked back over and strapped my knew knife to the inside of my calf, opposite the skinning knife. I also put the belt on and strapped the sword to it. Turning around I saw Brook bending over the chest still and caught her just as she was standing up. She turned and gave me a knowing look with one eyebrow raised. I obviously responded by blushing and breaking eye contact, because what else would a grown man do, before looking back after my face had cooled sufficiently.</span></p> <p class="cnNjY2VhMDU3YTc0YTQxM2E4YmQ0NGE5NzE4NWRhZjk1"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Well, since you showed me yours I guess I can show you mine,” she really never stopped with all the innuendo, did she? Brook was wearing a new sleeveless leather top with a sort of sash, running from her right shoulder to her left hip, which held two new throwing knives and slots for several more. She even had a new dagger that was sheathed on her lower back.</span></p> <p class="cnNmZjhiZGYzZmE2NTQ4ZGRiMDQzYWZhMTU5NWJkZGY4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“So what do you think, does it make me look fat?” </span></p> <p class="cnMwMzc4N2JmZjE4YjRiZTVhZTk0OWIyY2FkMThjMzM4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Definitely bulkier but I wouldn’t say fat. It’s nice, looks slimming.” We made a little bit of small talk, and after eating some of our rations and verifying we were both healthy, we decided to set off in the direction we believed to be west. It was time to put this forest behind us. </span></p> </div>

I awoke slowly at first, groggily pushing my way through unconsciousness. Once I remembered why I’d passed out in the first place, I woke up much faster. “Woah, slow down there Lucas. Don’t sit up like that, you took a nasty hit to the head.” Brook stopped me from sitting up with a hand on my shoulder pushing me back down. “Good, you’re still alive. I really didn’t want to try digging a grave without a shovel.” “Don’t be silly. Obviously I would want to be cremated, otherwise the beasties would just dig my corpse up and eat it.” “Right, of course you’d choose to go out smoking and hot.” The only response to my ill-advised attempt at humor was a light punch to the arm. Brook was currently sitting next to me inside the nest, looking more or less uninjured. Considering how hard that thing had hit me that was a small miracle. As was rapidly becoming tradition, I figured now was probably a good time to check the notifications.   [Due to your assistance in distracting {Woods Harpy} by staring deeply into its eyes while someone else killed it, you have been awarded +0.1% Charisma and +/-?.?% Luck]   That one had to be the harpy Brook took out with her throwing knife. At least the notifications were useful for identifying the foes we fought, so long as we won that was. I decided to ignore the snark and just be thankful that I’d gained anything for the encounter at all, however minute. My Charisma could definitely do with being leveled a bit.   [x2 Woods Harpy slain. Opponents’ skill and power level outnumbered your own, but against all odds you’ve managed to prevail. Due to method of victory, .3 Agi and .2 Str have been awarded.]   Fair enough I guess, I didn’t use magic to slay the harpies so I couldn’t expect Intelligence gains. It was pretty short sighted, considering I wanted to become a wizard. I really would need to make a better effort to cast at least one spell per battle in the future. Still, if I had done that I would not have had enough to handle the boss. If that was the case should I not save my mana for emergencies? The plight of an underpowered mage was starting to give me a headache, so I decided to think on it later and moved on.   [Woods Harpy Broodmother {Hybrid} slain! Opponent was immensely more powerful than you, and you battled almost one on one. Once again, you pushed yourself past your limit to defeat something that should have killed you. This strategy will keep working forever, until it doesn’t and you die. For now, enjoy the rewards for a battle well fought I suppose. +1.2 Int, +1.0 End, +.7 Str, +.7 Agi, +.4 Per]   [Congratulations! You have completed an F ranked instance with a party of 2. Due to small party size and relative levels, rewards have been granted accordingly. +.1 to all visible stats. Instanced cabin will function as a Rest Area for 12 hours. All healing effects x4 within premise.]   Well, that explains how Brook was already looking recovered and I no longer felt like a cabin had run me over. This was how the world was able to keep functioning and have people dungeon dive and what not. If everybody was put out of commission after each battle, nobody would ever complete instances and the world would just be covered in dungeons. These still weren’t the notifications I was looking for so I pulled up the last one.   [Spell Manipulation. Progress made toward unlocking x3 unknown spells.]   That was it? Whatever I had done managed to slay the boss creature of an instance, and I don’t even get to learn how to cast it again in the future? What a load of- never mind. I should be thankful and stay positive. There were two ways of looking at this. In one of them I had been cheated out of 3 spells by the skill and cosmic laws. On the other, learning spells was supposed to be near impossible without tutoring or spell books. For all I knew I was fortunate to have learned [Entangling Roots] after only manipulating [Growth] once. Beggars couldn’t be choosers and I fully intended to keep begging the universe for magic. I hadn’t looked at my interface in a while so I willed it to my sight for a review. **Spoiler**: Spoiler | Name: | Lucas Cob | Level | 1 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Class: | N/A | Profession: | N/A | | Status | Healthy | Stamina | 110/110 | | Mana | 12/12 | Aether Saturation | .03% | | Str | 11 | Per | 11 | | End | 12 | Cha | 8 | | Int | 12 | Agi | 11 | | Skills: Farming (Expand), Reading(Common), Writing(Common, Spell Manipulation, Spear(Basic), Acrobatics(Basic) Spells: Growth(Minor), Entangling Roots(Weak) | | | |       Since I couldn’t see the fractions attached to each stat I couldn’t be sure, but I was pretty sure I was getting close to increasing my Strength and Perception. I also gathered that I was healed, meaning or injury or illness, from my ‘Healthy’ status. Now that I’d checked all the notifications and verified I wasn’t about to lose a limb, I felt comfortable getting up to investigate what these rewards were. Brook had been silent while I was reading, probably because she knew I was checking my own interface as she’d likely done after waking up. I tossed off the blanket I was covered with and made to stand, before scrambling to grab the blanket again. “Why am I naked?” The question came out at a much higher pitch than I wanted it to as I franticly tried to cover myself up. The mirth evident on her face told me this was exactly why she’d been quiet, just waiting for me to notice. “You aren’t naked, your underwear are still on after all. I needed to strip you to get to your wounds and apply your herbs and bandages, assuming you wanted to make use of the Rest Area’s healing buff. Besides, I didn’t think you would mind after coming onto me like that.” She trailed off and broke eye contact, looking down to the ground between her feet. “I guess you’re right about the healing stuff, but what is that second part supposed to mean?” It took me a second to collect my thoughts before replying. She was obviously still messing with me, but I couldn’t find the angle to this joke. “Well, Luke, when I woke up you were passed out on my chest and drooling. I really didn’t think you were the type to try and take advantage of a girl while she was sleeping, but I’ve been wrong before I guess.” There it is. With a single look I was able to figure out that even she wasn’t taking herself seriously. Her breaking eye contact and looking way was an attempt to disguise her smirk, and it wasn’t a very good one. This line of conversation had gone on long enough. “So what is this about a reward?” I watched a couple emotions flicker across her face, first disappointment that I wasn’t playing along and then excitement. “Oh! The box we found, it split in half. And we can open them now! Or at least I think we can, I couldn’t open either of them without you being there too. I guess it’s a function to try and make loot balancing more fair? Either way let's go!” Brook grabbed my arm and dragged me out from under the blanket, against my protests. I felt my blood boil a bit and I definitely reddened a shade or two, but I was also excited to see what we’d gotten so I allowed myself to be dragged. The box was back in the center of the nest even though I didn’t think that was where I’d left it, and according to Brook she couldn’t move it. Them, she couldn’t move them. The box hadn’t split in half like she said, but there were two of them now, sitting across from each other. Duplication was not the only thing that had changed either, as they now looked more like a classic treasure chest depiction. The chests were a little more ornate and had locks on the face, both with keys in the lock. Brook had tried to unlock both while I was recovering, but it was to no avail. In order to open the rewards, both keys had to be turned at the same time. Usually there was a singular chest to be opened that contained all the rewards, but because we’d earned ‘bonus rewards’ for having a small party it reconfigured itself to award each of us. Our first attempt to open the chests was a bust, the keys did not budge at all, so we swapped sides and were able to open the chests at last. In my chest were two items, but they were two items that were worth more than most things I’d owned. First was a small sheathed knife. I pulled it out and discovered it was a serrated steel dagger with a single edge. It wouldn’t be the best for combat but I could definitely use it for woodworking and snares. It would make a nice addition to my skinning knife, which I had been using for almost every function so far. On top of that, it was made of what looked to be steel rather than salvaged metal, which meant it would be worth money even if I didn’t keep it. The other item was the real prize. I re-sheathed the knife and placed it back into the chest before pulling out a long shape. It was sheathed sword, about 4 feet long from hilt to tip, and even came with its own belt. I’d always wanted a proper sword but spears were more practical and more durable when made of the salvaged metal my village had access to. Here however, I was holding a beautiful bronze blade the likes of which I’d never seen. I had no formal training in swords but had seen a couple guards practice them before. I decided to try and mimic the motions I remembered but ended up just swinging it around at the air instead. It was a lot of fun and I’d probably have kept messing around for some time if it were not for a giggle capturing my attention. Brook had turned around and was looking at me with her mouth covered, trying not to laugh. How rude! Then I looked down and realized what was so funny. I was just a skinny teenager swinging his sword around while practically naked. I set the blade down and ran over to my bag to pull out a spare set of clothes. After dressing myself, I walked back over and strapped my knew knife to the inside of my calf, opposite the skinning knife. I also put the belt on and strapped the sword to it. Turning around I saw Brook bending over the chest still and caught her just as she was standing up. She turned and gave me a knowing look with one eyebrow raised. I obviously responded by blushing and breaking eye contact, because what else would a grown man do, before looking back after my face had cooled sufficiently. “Well, since you showed me yours I guess I can show you mine,” she really never stopped with all the innuendo, did she? Brook was wearing a new sleeveless leather top with a sort of sash, running from her right shoulder to her left hip, which held two new throwing knives and slots for several more. She even had a new dagger that was sheathed on her lower back. “So what do you think, does it make me look fat?” “Definitely bulkier but I wouldn’t say fat. It’s nice, looks slimming.” We made a little bit of small talk, and after eating some of our rations and verifying we were both healthy, we decided to set off in the direction we believed to be west. It was time to put this forest behind us.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNlNDU4MWEzN2IxZTQwZWM5YTc4OWM4ZjJiMWVjMThh">Svotty tipped backward in his chair. Having already been leaning backward on two legs with his feet up on the desk, the shotgun blast hitting his face and chest sent his body to the floor.</p> <p class="cnM0NmY3YWE1Nzk5YjQyYmI5YmE1MDRiOTA5ODY2MThj">Alyssa took two steps forward, rounding her shotgun on Cid as she moved. “You were going to sell me to a brothel!” she snarled over the ringing in her ears. A pump of her shotgun sent an empty shell flying to the side of the room. He had a knife out. Having been standing just behind her up until now, it was surprising that he hadn’t used it. But then, he was probably too shocked from the noise and seeing his boss die right in front of him. Bacco, on the other hand, had his hands clasped to his ears as he backed up into the corner. “You just had to get greedy. You couldn’t make do with the cloak—”</p> <p class="cnNlODBkNGZlNjM1MjQxMzk4MGY0YmEyNGY3YzcxNjc3">Before she could pull the trigger, the door slammed open. Of course the guard would have heard the noise. To his credit, he didn’t stand around staring in shock. With a knife drawn, he charged at Alyssa.</p> <p class="cnNkMjY1YTQzODU3ODQ4OTZiNWNjNDkxMjhhODFkN2Vm">She didn’t hesitate to aim her shotgun in his direction and fired again, filling the air with the sharp thunder crack and a bright flash of light. These weren’t good people. She hadn’t missed the name of the brothel. Waters Street Waterhole. As in, the same Waters Street gang that the city guard had mentioned. Given that they had planned on forcing her into prostitution, it was doubtful that any of the girls were here willingly. Every single person complicit in this establishment was the scum of scum.</p> <p class="cnM0OTVhNDMwOGQ2NzQ3MWFhYTk4MTk1YjY2MmE0N2E5">Another pump of her shotgun sent another shell flying off into the corner of the room as the guard fell to the ground. Six cartridges left. She had more in her pack, but reloading wouldn’t be feasible if guards kept running in. How many had she passed on the way here? She hadn’t counted. A foolish mistake. She aimed back at Cid, wanting to pull the trigger.</p> <p class="cnM0MjI2N2NkYWM1NjQ0YmM5MjA3YjMxZjQ2MDI2NTJk">But he dropped the knife. “No. Please! You misunderstand!”</p> <p class="cnNhZDI1MWVkMjhlODRmZDNiYmExN2QzZmI0M2E0YWNh">“Oh, right, I suppose that’s your bartering knife,” she said through clenched teeth. The hazy air in here was giving her a headache. Her heart pounded in her temples. “Get on the floor,” she spat. “Face down. Don’t move. And you…” Alyssa flicked her glare to Bacco. “You were going to let him? To think I thought you weren’t so bad.”</p> <p class="cnMwZmU4OTU5ZmExMDQxMTViOWIxOWIwYWM0ODY0MDJh">“I-I told him it was a bad idea.” His knees shook when she pointed the shotgun in his direction. It didn’t take long for them to give out. He went straight to the floor, putting his face to the ground without her even ordering him to do so.</p> <p class="cnM5ZGFlZjBhYzU4NzQzMTA4ZGQ3YzU1ZDEyOTI0Nzk2">A good thing too. Someone else was running up the hall. A few someones. With her two thief <span style="font-style: italic">friends</span> on the ground, she could give the guards her full attention. “Stop!” she shouted, hoping she sounded more authoritative and less panicked. There were three of them coming up now. All three had their knives drawn. Only one of them slowed. The other two kept running.</p> <p class="cnNkYzBkMDc2Y2FkZjRmOTI4ZjE4ODU1ZjY4NjE1MzIw">She fired again. They were further away than the others she had killed, but shotguns worked fine at range despite Hollywood’s claims. It was her aim that was the problem. One of them screamed out, tumbling to the ground, clutching his leg. The other yelped, but didn’t fall. A few of the pellets must have torn through him while most hit the leg of the man who was on the floor.</p> <p class="cnNmNjJiNzhlMTFhYTQyYjNhMjVhMWYxY2FiNzNkYzcy">“Your boss is dead,” she shouted again, pumping her shotgun. Five left. “And I…” Alyssa paused. She had been about to say that she was leaving. If anyone acted against her, they would die. But she had a different idea. Maybe a foolish one, brought on by the smoke-induced headache. Divine inspiration? Not likely. Tenebrael wasn’t around—surprisingly, maybe the bodies weren’t as dead as they looked. However, she needed to focus. Meeting Cid and Bacco had been a disaster. “If you try to attack me, you will die too,” she said as her mind worked overtime to try to absorb the full gravity of the situation.</p> <p class="cnMwNGY5MmFhM2RiYTQxNjdiZWYzMzFiYWM5M2JhMjQ1">What if the police came. Or whatever the local equivalent was. This could be an entirely legal brothel under the laws of this city.</p> <p class="cnMzZmI3MzhhY2QxZjRlODhiYjIxZjhiZjAzN2E0YTA0">Except it wasn’t. The police wouldn’t come. If the gang was notorious enough to warrant warning from the guards, the people here would sooner be arrested than her, even with her having killed someone. Even if they did arrest her, surely explaining that they had been about to sell her would buy her freedom. Or Irulon. Maybe knowing the princess would get her a way out.</p> <p class="cnNmYmZiY2RhNmJjZjQ4NGE4ZDQ0YTcyMzU5ZDAwOGNk">So they wouldn’t come because none of the gang members would call them. And if they did, she would be fine. Taking a shallow breath, and coughing a little on the smoke, she calmed her frantic thoughts.</p> <p class="cnMxYzllN2E5MDhlYTRkMGRiNDUwZDgzZmQyNjA2Njgx">If she were smart, she could turn this into an opportunity. She could save the girls here. Alyssa couldn’t afford to be so altruistic in a world like this, but she would get something in return. Freeing the almost certainly unwilling girls would buy her their gratitude. Gratitude that she could spend on information about the city and anything else that came to mind. Unless she went through the place and killed absolutely everyone who wasn’t a prostitute, this place would almost assuredly be up and running before long. Someone else, like Cid or one of the guards, would take over Svotty’s position.</p> <p class="cnM5ZDhiMDExZTU4YzRlZTA5ZDc2OTE3M2RiNzdmNzkz">And frankly, staring between Svotty’s body and the guard in the doorway, she could already feel her stomach churning a bit. Not as bad as it had the morning after she awoke in this world, but the thought of just executing Cid and Bacco while they had their heads pressed to the floor didn’t sit right with her. No. Unless they continued to attack her…</p> <p class="cnNiYWNiMWRlNzIyZTRiMzhiY2QxMWE0MzFjYmM0ZjBi">Alyssa removed her finger from the trigger. She left the safety off, just in case.</p> <p class="cnM4ZTAyNjI3ZjNlYzRkNjQ5MjM2NGU0NzAzODZjOTE2">If the women working here didn’t escape now, they would probably not have another opportunity.</p> <p class="cnM3NTljNGEzNGZmMTQ5ZTk4MDM0NzI2MmJiN2Q5OGMz">Not only that, but this was a brothel. Brothels existed to make money. She wouldn’t need to get herself a job as a tavern wench if she found a safe filled with coins. There had to be something around. Even just Svotty’s gold rings would sell for something. Except, then she might wind up in another purple cloak situation if and when someone recognized the rings.</p> <p class="cnM4ODI1NWMyMGNmOTQ4NjM4NDNhODNmOWUxNjE1OTAz">If possible, she wanted to leave here without anyone knowing what she had done. Just in case the city guard did launch some sort of investigation into Svotty’s death. No evidence left behind, except for witnesses—none of the spells she had copied could modify memories, unfortunately, if that was something that could even be done. They would have to stay.</p> <p class="cnM1Y2RiYWY0ODdmMDQ3MTY4ZTU3YmUwNjBkMGMyYTI0">Leave rings. Leave anything that might tie her to this place. Leave the cloak as well. Without it, she might not have even gotten into all this trouble. But loose coins, anything that looked like cash. She could take as much as she could carry.</p> <p class="cnM3MTYzMDE4NjZjMDQzNWRhNDgxYzg0MzczZjRjNjI1">The idea cemented itself in her mind. It might be risky, but she could pull it off. “You,” she shouted into the hall. “The uninjured one. Clear this place out. Tell the… <span style="font-style: italic">patrons</span> to go home. Tell the girls to gather in the large room upstairs. If any of the other guards have a problem with this, tell them to head to Svotty’s office. But let them know that they might not survive the encounter. Fail me, deliberately disobey, or run away, and I will kill you. Then I will kill everyone else here. <span style="font-style: italic">Don’t think I can’t</span>. No more playing around,” Alyssa added, more for Cid and Bacco’s sake. Hopefully they, and the guards, bought the bluff. Bacco still had to believe that she was a monster. Even if he didn’t, he at least would be terrified of what she had done and was capable of. She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. A mistake. The smoke almost sent her into a coughing fit. Hacking and wheezing, she knocked the incense burner to the floor and stomped on the glowing embers. “And open some damn windows!”</p> <p class="cnM5ZjhkN2I5OTI3OTQ2YjdhNDhjNTlhNzliMTVjMjY5">The man had already run off. She didn’t know if he would follow her orders, the latest one or the others. He might just escape despite her threat. Of course, she didn’t have a way to track him down if he did. None of the spells she had taken pictures of would do that either.</p> <p class="cnNmNjE3ZGRmMDEwNjRlYmVhYzgyNzJmODZlMDM0Njlj">Alyssa leaned back against the desk, rubbing at her forehead. A twisted knot was forming in her stomach, slowly yet steadily. She felt sick, worse now that she was out of immediate danger. Two people. She had killed them, hadn’t she? Svotty, lying on the floor behind his desk, hadn’t moved. A quick glance tightened the knot in Alyssa’s stomach. Most of the pellets had hit him in the face. It looked like ground beef, though with more blood. The man by the door was much the same, except he had been hit in the chest. His fingers were twitching, but if he was still alive, he wouldn’t be for long.</p> <p class="cnNlMWJiY2EwM2EzNjRlYzI5OTBkN2FmZmQwYWRkMzJi">Out in the hall, Alyssa could hear sharp, pain-filled gasps from at least one of the two men still out there. Aside from magical means, this world likely didn’t have much in the way of medical care. With only her one trip to the Observatorium, she hadn’t researched any medical magics. Unless this gang kept a healer around, the two in the hall, even the one she had only grazed, could easily die from any number of causes. Infection, blood loss, shrapnel complications… parasites. Some of which were more immediate concerns than others. Blood loss, for instance.</p> <p class="cnMyNmY4N2ZhNzU3NTRlN2ZhMTgzN2ZhN2Y5ZmUyMDFh">“Bacco,” Alyssa snapped. The large man made a high pitched noise at being addressed, but she ignored it. “There are two injured men in the hall. Go treat their wounds as best as you can and maybe you’ll come out of this alive.” She waited just a moment. When he didn’t move, she shouted again. “Get up! And get out of here.”</p> <p class="cnNkNjM0NjJmZWJiNDRiYjRhNGEzNmY0MWY5OTM1MTEz">He did, but he didn’t look at her. He kept his head down and his eyes glued to the floor. Which ended up backfiring when he got to the fallen guard in the doorway. Bacco froze still, except for his shaking hands, and just opened and closed his mouth over and over again.</p> <p class="cnM5ZTA3YjZiMjM2MzRhODU4MmM3OGI5ZDMxM2FhYTlj">“Not him,” Alyssa said, wondering how the large man managed to be part of a gang. He was definitely not callous enough. “Further out in the hall.”</p> <p class="cnMyNWJmN2I3ZjU1ZDQ5ZjJiZmU0ZmVmMWM0MzgwODIw">That got him moving. He practically tiptoed over the body. Once he was past, his timid movements turned to a lumbering dash until he reached the other two.</p> <p class="cnM5NjNkYzA0N2I1ZTQyYjRiZGY3MGM3ZjkyMWFkYzM4">“As for you…” Alyssa trailed off. She wasn’t quite sure what to do with Cid. She had calmed down enough that she wasn’t about to shoot him. Not unless he went for his knife, but she somehow doubted that she would be that lucky. But she couldn’t think about it anymore.</p> <p class="cnMyNDY5MDhlNmRjYzRjN2RhYWIzMWRhYWYwMTA2ODE0">A feather floated down from nowhere. Tenebrael had arrived. She hadn’t stopped time, this time. Alyssa could still hear Cid breathing and the occasional pained noises from out in the hall. Given that she couldn’t see Tenebrael, the angel had probably appeared behind her. Alyssa didn’t glance back. She kept her eyes on Cid.</p> <p class="cnM4NWU2NmI0MGI3ODRjNjJiZDhhMTdjZTQ4NmExODI1">“Just get out of my sight. Go make sure that all the patrons are gone and the girls gathered in the main room. If I see you before I’ve calmed down, you’re liable to wind up dead.”</p> <p class="cnNmMzY5ZjE2MGNmNjQ1ZmNiODBiZDg0YWUyZDkxZWQ0">“Shoot him now,” a sweet, harmonious voice whispered into Alyssa’s ear. “He’s terrified, even if he tries to hide it. He’ll be just delectable. If you need a reason to assuage some silly notion of guilt, rape and murder are the least of his crimes.”</p> <p class="cnM0OWEzZTQxYmFiZDQ0OTdiMTRhMWFiZTAzOTQyNmFk">Alyssa didn’t move. She didn’t even breathe. She watched with clenched teeth as Cid picked himself off the floor, making sure to keep his hands far away from his knife. Unlike Bacco, he actually looked Alyssa in the eyes.</p> <p class="cnNkMDMxNjg2ZGVjMzRiMWFhNTdlZjU0ZWI5NDk2NWY3">“Sure thing, boss,” he said, smiling with that foul mouth of his.</p> <p class="cnNlMmNhYzM4ZDUzNjRlZGQ5MTQ2ZGM2Y2NmYTI2YTJm">Her teeth ground together. The shotgun moved of its own accord, aiming the barrel directly at his chest. No, not of its own accord. A pair of arms were wrapped around her from behind like a gentle hug, guiding her hands. But no angelic fingers brushed near the trigger. The decision was left entirely up to Alyssa.</p> <p class="cnNjZWZmYmQxNzRjYjRkNGNiNDI0ZjM1OTNiYTJkMDVk">Cid’s eyes widened. He backed away slow and careful to avoid any sudden movements, almost tripping over the guard’s body in the process. As soon as he made it to the hallway, he turned and sprinted straight past Bacco without stopping.</p> <p class="cnNlMGFiZGZjZjgxNTQwMjM4MTQ5Njg3MWYwZDA0NWJm">The shotgun barrel dipped toward the floor in his wake. Alyssa let out a small sigh. Of relief or exasperation, she wasn’t sure. With that sigh, the strength in her legs gave way. She tried to lean back against the desk for support.</p> <p class="cnNjMjAxOTlmNDIyMzQ4M2JhM2Y2ZDIxZGM1OGE5MTkx">Only to find herself resting against something soft and warm. For a moment, she didn’t move. It was comforting in a way that Alyssa couldn’t describe. An unearthly comfort.</p> <p class="cnNjN2ViNDA1ODMxNzRmZGNhODJhNWZjM2MyNzkyMjJh">“What a waste.”</p> <p class="cnM3MzhiZDMwNzZmZjQwNmI5NTc4ZWNkZWI2NmFkMmQz">The tension came rushing back as Alyssa threw herself away from the heavenly demon, spinning to face her. Which put her back to the door. Despite the situation, Alyssa retained the presence of mind to know what an abysmally bad idea that was. Tenebrael hadn’t stopped time. It took a bit of nudging with her foot, but she got the body out of the way enough to slam the door shut.</p> <p class="cnM4ZTY1YTBlZDM4NzQyOGE4ODRkOTA3YjZiNWI5NjI0">“The fear of death is like a seasoning. Though comparing it to salt or pepper would be a disservice. It is the most exotic seasoning a soul can have. And it’s so rare here in my world. In Nod. My fault, I know. I wanted to be worshiped so I started that whole religion about me. Now no one is afraid—”</p> <p class="cnM1MGRiMjVkYjgzYTQ5NmFiYzJlMzRiZDg4ZjEyZGMx">Alyssa let out a sharp hiss through her teeth. “I. Don’t. Care. If you ever touch me like that again, I swear that I will shoot you in the face. And I will find a way to make it hurt.”</p> <p class="cnM0YmY1YzA4ZWY1ZTQwOWZiYmZmODVlMDU4Yjg1NWI2">A light, musical hum came from Tenebrael’s throat. She smiled a kind smile, fitting of an angel, but the smile didn’t reach her glowing white eyes. “Are you sure you didn’t enjoy it, even a little?” She cocked her head to one side, smiling a little wider when Alyssa didn’t respond. “Well, let’s see what offerings you’ve presented me, my little reaper.”</p> <p class="cnNjNWE1NDk3YWYzMDRkOWQ5NmY1MmE4Y2MxNmNmN2Nk">“Excuse me?”</p> <p class="cnMyZDgyMDFjYjBhODRkMGNiOGQ1MmRmZGY5ZTU5MWI3">Tenebrael ignored Alyssa, turning to the body behind the desk. Her wings stretched out, brushing over the body. The image of the pig, which had been floating above its master’s corpse up until now, vanished as the liquid mist flooded into the room. Tenebrael ate up every drop, more like she had with the pilgrims than either of the thieves that had broken into her house. She didn’t even smile.</p> <p class="cnM0N2ZkODViNWM1NzQ0YTQ4YjcxZmUzMjA4NDdmMWFh">“Nope. Not very good, Alyssa. He hadn’t even realized he was dying before he… well, died. His last thoughts were of a lascivious nature that probably shouldn’t be mentioned in polite company. You’ll have to try harder next time. But I still appreciate the effort. He wasn’t in the books just yet, after all.”</p> <p class="cnNmN2U1YzU0OGYyNjRhMzg4MWI4NmM4ZWVhNGU2Zjk0">Alyssa pressed her lips together. She almost said that there wouldn’t be a next time. But was that true? Even right now, she was in the basement of a gang-operated whorehouse. If the remaining guards got any funny ideas, she might be fighting her way out. Who knew what troubles tomorrow would bring.</p> <p class="cnMxZTVmMmMyZmFiYjQyNWZhMzc4MmI0NTE4NWE2OTdm">“What about this one?” Tenebrael glided over to the other body in the room and repeated her wing motions. As the raccoon hovering above the guard faded and the mist filled the room again, Alyssa couldn’t help but note: Tenebrael had no soul. There were no animals hovering anywhere in the vicinity. Just the angel and her wings. “Ah, that’s a much better one. He didn’t die immediately. His brain was working long enough for him to start panicking. Damaging his spinal cord kept him from moving or reaching out. With his lungs filling with blood, he couldn’t even cry out for help, as he desperately wanted to.” Tenebrael ran her tongue over her black lips. “I approve.”</p> <p class="cnNkNDhhY2MwZWYyNjQyNjk4NTFmZjAwYzlkMmZkNTEx">“I’m not looking for your approval.”</p> <p class="cnMxZmM1Y2Q0ZGIzZDRkODU4Nzk0Y2ZjYjAzMDEyMTAz">“You have it anyway.” She reached out and ran her hand over Alyssa’s head like a loving owner might stroke a cat. “But I’ve got to get back. No rest for the wicked, as they say. If you ever want to chat, just shoot someone!”</p> <p class="cnNiNTk0MDUxOTViMTRmMDdhOGQ3MTNjMDE0OTQ1YmQx">Alyssa clamped her hand over Tenebrael’s still outstretched arm. “Wait.” This was a chance she couldn’t let go. She had tried to ask earlier, but the angel had vanished too quickly. “I need you to do something for me.”</p> <p class="cnMyOWFkYTlkODVhMDRlMTRhNWI0MTBmYTQyODFjNTE1">“Huh? You <span style="font-style: italic">need</span> me to do something for <span style="font-style: italic">you</span>?” She raised an eyebrow before letting out a musical laugh. “I see, I see. First you act all hostile to get me to like you more, then you act all lovey to reaffirm that desire? There’s a word for that, you know. But I’m not putting you back on Earth, so don’t even ask.”</p> <p class="cnMzZWRhM2IwNTkxNzQ2MzQ5MWVkYmZmYTdmOGI2ZWI3">“What? No…” She had no idea what the angel was talking about, but she hadn’t been about to ask for that. She needed a way to defend herself from angels before she even tried to go back. Alyssa pulled her phone from her pocket. “You did something that lets me connect to the internet. Earth’s internet.” An unnecessary clarification, maybe. “But it doesn’t work this far from my home. Can you make it so that it does? And also so that I don’t need to charge it and can use it forever? And maybe make it indestructible. And so that it can’t be lost or stolen. And—”</p> <p class="cnMzN2RlNmQ0NmMyZDQzMWI4ZGVlMjMwNGY2NjQ1MmNi">“While I do appreciate several of the things you have done, screwing up Earth’s books excepted, how long is this list? I do have things to do, souls to take, Iosefaels to talk to, you know… the usual. People are dying all the time. Got to keep up appearances.”</p> <p class="cnMzMDNhOGRmMzUyZDQ2N2ViZmEwNTMzOWE0N2I4YWRj">“Can’t you just stop time?”</p> <p class="cnNkMWYyMjljNjNkODQxMTZhYzFjODBiZDZiNmQ3MTVj">“Well, yes… but I can’t consume souls while time is stopped because they’re stopped too.”</p> <p class="cnNkZTdjOGI5OGY1ZTQ5NjQ4MzRlYjIwNDI5ODEzYjcz">“Just leave them out of the time stop like you did to me earlier.”</p> <p class="cnNjNmU4YjI4NDFlYjRhN2RiODA1YjEwYTRiNGFkNmUz">The corners of Tenebrael’s lips tugged up into a small smile. “Who says that I did anything to you? The only magic that I have cast on you—that worked—was the miracle that brought you to Nod. Really, we shouldn’t even be talking like this unless you start dying. And you aren’t. Curious, curious, my little reaper.”</p> <p class="cnNkMDkyNTNlZmE0ZDRlMjA4Y2MxZGVmOGYwZTIxYmQ4">“Don’t call me that.” Alyssa closed her eyes and rubbed at her forehead. She still had a headache. Even with the incense extinguished, the room had far too much smell to it. Though, flicking her eyes toward the puddle of blood that she hadn’t caused, maybe it was good that the room smelled the way it did and not like anything worse. “Look. Can you do it or not?”</p> <p class="cnNjYTNiZjA2MTgwZjRlMDJhMWMzZGNkMDc1N2M1Y2Yw">Tenebrael plucked the phone from Alyssa’s fingers and looked over it. “The question isn’t whether I can, but whether or not I will. If you’ve found some loophole in my protections and are contacting someone on Earth—”</p> <p class="cnNjNjcyOTE3NGNhYjQ3YmY4MGNhMjIwMTYzYzVmNjgx">“Nothing like that! Taking pictures is invaluable. Looking up modern science and concepts too! You want your prophecy book messed up? Let me introduce some modern technology. Even just how to make fire without magic.”</p> <p class="cnM5MzQ5N2IwMmQ3YTRlYjRhN2FkZDlmZDg0YjczNTE3">“When you put it like that, how can I resist? Very well. I’ll return your phone later on with all sorts of improvements.”</p> <p class="cnM2ZjNlYjkyZDUxMDQ4ODFiODk1ZTdhMmJiODNmZTVh">“Uh.” A chill ran down Alyssa’s spine. “Not to seem ungrateful, but how much later?” She still hadn’t copied those pictures she had taken at the Observatorium. If she wasn’t going to be able to return for a week when Irulon said to return, that was a long time to go without testing out the various magics she had noted down.</p> <p class="cnM3YWU1OWI0YTFkNDRjY2E5ZDFjNTQ2MGZkZGNlMWUw">“Whenever I get around to it. I—” Tenebrael cut herself off with a glance at the door. A moment later, a timid knock tapped against the wood.</p> <p class="cnM2Y2VlOTAwZDEwMDQ4ZGVhMTM2ZjNkZDEwYjdkY2Vl">“Ah—Alyssa?” A far more timid version of Bacco’s voice made it through the wood. Barely. It was so soft she had to strain to hear it properly. “Cid said that there were some complaints, especially with people involved with girls at the time, but that the Waterhole is clear.”</p> <p class="cnM5YzNkYjlhNGM3NDQ0NTZhN2QyYWVkYjQxOTE4ZTAx">“I’ll be out in a moment,” Alyssa said, looking back to Tenebrael.</p> <p class="cnMxZTEzZjFjMTliMjRmMDk4MzgwMTg5MWM0OGFhZjlk">Or where Tenebrael had been standing. There was nothing there now save for a handful of feathers drifting to the floor. No sign of the angel and no sign of her phone.</p> <p class="cnM3ZWEwNDFiN2ZiNTRhNjU5Yjc3ZDZjZDBkMDI5NGY1">“Great. Just great,” she mumbled to herself. But maybe her talk with Tenebrael had done some good. She felt a lot looser. A lot calmer. She probably wasn’t going to immediately shoot the first person she saw. At least, not until they inevitably did something to piss her off. Tenebrael held most of her ire at the moment. The stupid angel just disappeared in the middle of their conversation. And took her phone.</p> <p class="cnNmMDcwNGZmY2NlYzQ4MjY4YzgxOGUwZGVmYjBhY2U5">That it might come back to her with an endless battery was the only bright side. For now, she had to go out and face the music.</p> </div>

Svotty tipped backward in his chair. Having already been leaning backward on two legs with his feet up on the desk, the shotgun blast hitting his face and chest sent his body to the floor. Alyssa took two steps forward, rounding her shotgun on Cid as she moved. “You were going to sell me to a brothel!” she snarled over the ringing in her ears. A pump of her shotgun sent an empty shell flying to the side of the room. He had a knife out. Having been standing just behind her up until now, it was surprising that he hadn’t used it. But then, he was probably too shocked from the noise and seeing his boss die right in front of him. Bacco, on the other hand, had his hands clasped to his ears as he backed up into the corner. “You just had to get greedy. You couldn’t make do with the cloak—” Before she could pull the trigger, the door slammed open. Of course the guard would have heard the noise. To his credit, he didn’t stand around staring in shock. With a knife drawn, he charged at Alyssa. She didn’t hesitate to aim her shotgun in his direction and fired again, filling the air with the sharp thunder crack and a bright flash of light. These weren’t good people. She hadn’t missed the name of the brothel. Waters Street Waterhole. As in, the same Waters Street gang that the city guard had mentioned. Given that they had planned on forcing her into prostitution, it was doubtful that any of the girls were here willingly. Every single person complicit in this establishment was the scum of scum. Another pump of her shotgun sent another shell flying off into the corner of the room as the guard fell to the ground. Six cartridges left. She had more in her pack, but reloading wouldn’t be feasible if guards kept running in. How many had she passed on the way here? She hadn’t counted. A foolish mistake. She aimed back at Cid, wanting to pull the trigger. But he dropped the knife. “No. Please! You misunderstand!” “Oh, right, I suppose that’s your bartering knife,” she said through clenched teeth. The hazy air in here was giving her a headache. Her heart pounded in her temples. “Get on the floor,” she spat. “Face down. Don’t move. And you…” Alyssa flicked her glare to Bacco. “You were going to let him? To think I thought you weren’t so bad.” “I-I told him it was a bad idea.” His knees shook when she pointed the shotgun in his direction. It didn’t take long for them to give out. He went straight to the floor, putting his face to the ground without her even ordering him to do so. A good thing too. Someone else was running up the hall. A few someones. With her two thief friends on the ground, she could give the guards her full attention. “Stop!” she shouted, hoping she sounded more authoritative and less panicked. There were three of them coming up now. All three had their knives drawn. Only one of them slowed. The other two kept running. She fired again. They were further away than the others she had killed, but shotguns worked fine at range despite Hollywood’s claims. It was her aim that was the problem. One of them screamed out, tumbling to the ground, clutching his leg. The other yelped, but didn’t fall. A few of the pellets must have torn through him while most hit the leg of the man who was on the floor. “Your boss is dead,” she shouted again, pumping her shotgun. Five left. “And I…” Alyssa paused. She had been about to say that she was leaving. If anyone acted against her, they would die. But she had a different idea. Maybe a foolish one, brought on by the smoke-induced headache. Divine inspiration? Not likely. Tenebrael wasn’t around—surprisingly, maybe the bodies weren’t as dead as they looked. However, she needed to focus. Meeting Cid and Bacco had been a disaster. “If you try to attack me, you will die too,” she said as her mind worked overtime to try to absorb the full gravity of the situation. What if the police came. Or whatever the local equivalent was. This could be an entirely legal brothel under the laws of this city. Except it wasn’t. The police wouldn’t come. If the gang was notorious enough to warrant warning from the guards, the people here would sooner be arrested than her, even with her having killed someone. Even if they did arrest her, surely explaining that they had been about to sell her would buy her freedom. Or Irulon. Maybe knowing the princess would get her a way out. So they wouldn’t come because none of the gang members would call them. And if they did, she would be fine. Taking a shallow breath, and coughing a little on the smoke, she calmed her frantic thoughts. If she were smart, she could turn this into an opportunity. She could save the girls here. Alyssa couldn’t afford to be so altruistic in a world like this, but she would get something in return. Freeing the almost certainly unwilling girls would buy her their gratitude. Gratitude that she could spend on information about the city and anything else that came to mind. Unless she went through the place and killed absolutely everyone who wasn’t a prostitute, this place would almost assuredly be up and running before long. Someone else, like Cid or one of the guards, would take over Svotty’s position. And frankly, staring between Svotty’s body and the guard in the doorway, she could already feel her stomach churning a bit. Not as bad as it had the morning after she awoke in this world, but the thought of just executing Cid and Bacco while they had their heads pressed to the floor didn’t sit right with her. No. Unless they continued to attack her… Alyssa removed her finger from the trigger. She left the safety off, just in case. If the women working here didn’t escape now, they would probably not have another opportunity. Not only that, but this was a brothel. Brothels existed to make money. She wouldn’t need to get herself a job as a tavern wench if she found a safe filled with coins. There had to be something around. Even just Svotty’s gold rings would sell for something. Except, then she might wind up in another purple cloak situation if and when someone recognized the rings. If possible, she wanted to leave here without anyone knowing what she had done. Just in case the city guard did launch some sort of investigation into Svotty’s death. No evidence left behind, except for witnesses—none of the spells she had copied could modify memories, unfortunately, if that was something that could even be done. They would have to stay. Leave rings. Leave anything that might tie her to this place. Leave the cloak as well. Without it, she might not have even gotten into all this trouble. But loose coins, anything that looked like cash. She could take as much as she could carry. The idea cemented itself in her mind. It might be risky, but she could pull it off. “You,” she shouted into the hall. “The uninjured one. Clear this place out. Tell the… patrons to go home. Tell the girls to gather in the large room upstairs. If any of the other guards have a problem with this, tell them to head to Svotty’s office. But let them know that they might not survive the encounter. Fail me, deliberately disobey, or run away, and I will kill you. Then I will kill everyone else here. Don’t think I can’t. No more playing around,” Alyssa added, more for Cid and Bacco’s sake. Hopefully they, and the guards, bought the bluff. Bacco still had to believe that she was a monster. Even if he didn’t, he at least would be terrified of what she had done and was capable of. She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. A mistake. The smoke almost sent her into a coughing fit. Hacking and wheezing, she knocked the incense burner to the floor and stomped on the glowing embers. “And open some damn windows!” The man had already run off. She didn’t know if he would follow her orders, the latest one or the others. He might just escape despite her threat. Of course, she didn’t have a way to track him down if he did. None of the spells she had taken pictures of would do that either. Alyssa leaned back against the desk, rubbing at her forehead. A twisted knot was forming in her stomach, slowly yet steadily. She felt sick, worse now that she was out of immediate danger. Two people. She had killed them, hadn’t she? Svotty, lying on the floor behind his desk, hadn’t moved. A quick glance tightened the knot in Alyssa’s stomach. Most of the pellets had hit him in the face. It looked like ground beef, though with more blood. The man by the door was much the same, except he had been hit in the chest. His fingers were twitching, but if he was still alive, he wouldn’t be for long. Out in the hall, Alyssa could hear sharp, pain-filled gasps from at least one of the two men still out there. Aside from magical means, this world likely didn’t have much in the way of medical care. With only her one trip to the Observatorium, she hadn’t researched any medical magics. Unless this gang kept a healer around, the two in the hall, even the one she had only grazed, could easily die from any number of causes. Infection, blood loss, shrapnel complications… parasites. Some of which were more immediate concerns than others. Blood loss, for instance. “Bacco,” Alyssa snapped. The large man made a high pitched noise at being addressed, but she ignored it. “There are two injured men in the hall. Go treat their wounds as best as you can and maybe you’ll come out of this alive.” She waited just a moment. When he didn’t move, she shouted again. “Get up! And get out of here.” He did, but he didn’t look at her. He kept his head down and his eyes glued to the floor. Which ended up backfiring when he got to the fallen guard in the doorway. Bacco froze still, except for his shaking hands, and just opened and closed his mouth over and over again. “Not him,” Alyssa said, wondering how the large man managed to be part of a gang. He was definitely not callous enough. “Further out in the hall.” That got him moving. He practically tiptoed over the body. Once he was past, his timid movements turned to a lumbering dash until he reached the other two. “As for you…” Alyssa trailed off. She wasn’t quite sure what to do with Cid. She had calmed down enough that she wasn’t about to shoot him. Not unless he went for his knife, but she somehow doubted that she would be that lucky. But she couldn’t think about it anymore. A feather floated down from nowhere. Tenebrael had arrived. She hadn’t stopped time, this time. Alyssa could still hear Cid breathing and the occasional pained noises from out in the hall. Given that she couldn’t see Tenebrael, the angel had probably appeared behind her. Alyssa didn’t glance back. She kept her eyes on Cid. “Just get out of my sight. Go make sure that all the patrons are gone and the girls gathered in the main room. If I see you before I’ve calmed down, you’re liable to wind up dead.” “Shoot him now,” a sweet, harmonious voice whispered into Alyssa’s ear. “He’s terrified, even if he tries to hide it. He’ll be just delectable. If you need a reason to assuage some silly notion of guilt, rape and murder are the least of his crimes.” Alyssa didn’t move. She didn’t even breathe. She watched with clenched teeth as Cid picked himself off the floor, making sure to keep his hands far away from his knife. Unlike Bacco, he actually looked Alyssa in the eyes. “Sure thing, boss,” he said, smiling with that foul mouth of his. Her teeth ground together. The shotgun moved of its own accord, aiming the barrel directly at his chest. No, not of its own accord. A pair of arms were wrapped around her from behind like a gentle hug, guiding her hands. But no angelic fingers brushed near the trigger. The decision was left entirely up to Alyssa. Cid’s eyes widened. He backed away slow and careful to avoid any sudden movements, almost tripping over the guard’s body in the process. As soon as he made it to the hallway, he turned and sprinted straight past Bacco without stopping. The shotgun barrel dipped toward the floor in his wake. Alyssa let out a small sigh. Of relief or exasperation, she wasn’t sure. With that sigh, the strength in her legs gave way. She tried to lean back against the desk for support. Only to find herself resting against something soft and warm. For a moment, she didn’t move. It was comforting in a way that Alyssa couldn’t describe. An unearthly comfort. “What a waste.” The tension came rushing back as Alyssa threw herself away from the heavenly demon, spinning to face her. Which put her back to the door. Despite the situation, Alyssa retained the presence of mind to know what an abysmally bad idea that was. Tenebrael hadn’t stopped time. It took a bit of nudging with her foot, but she got the body out of the way enough to slam the door shut. “The fear of death is like a seasoning. Though comparing it to salt or pepper would be a disservice. It is the most exotic seasoning a soul can have. And it’s so rare here in my world. In Nod. My fault, I know. I wanted to be worshiped so I started that whole religion about me. Now no one is afraid—” Alyssa let out a sharp hiss through her teeth. “I. Don’t. Care. If you ever touch me like that again, I swear that I will shoot you in the face. And I will find a way to make it hurt.” A light, musical hum came from Tenebrael’s throat. She smiled a kind smile, fitting of an angel, but the smile didn’t reach her glowing white eyes. “Are you sure you didn’t enjoy it, even a little?” She cocked her head to one side, smiling a little wider when Alyssa didn’t respond. “Well, let’s see what offerings you’ve presented me, my little reaper.” “Excuse me?” Tenebrael ignored Alyssa, turning to the body behind the desk. Her wings stretched out, brushing over the body. The image of the pig, which had been floating above its master’s corpse up until now, vanished as the liquid mist flooded into the room. Tenebrael ate up every drop, more like she had with the pilgrims than either of the thieves that had broken into her house. She didn’t even smile. “Nope. Not very good, Alyssa. He hadn’t even realized he was dying before he… well, died. His last thoughts were of a lascivious nature that probably shouldn’t be mentioned in polite company. You’ll have to try harder next time. But I still appreciate the effort. He wasn’t in the books just yet, after all.” Alyssa pressed her lips together. She almost said that there wouldn’t be a next time. But was that true? Even right now, she was in the basement of a gang-operated whorehouse. If the remaining guards got any funny ideas, she might be fighting her way out. Who knew what troubles tomorrow would bring. “What about this one?” Tenebrael glided over to the other body in the room and repeated her wing motions. As the raccoon hovering above the guard faded and the mist filled the room again, Alyssa couldn’t help but note: Tenebrael had no soul. There were no animals hovering anywhere in the vicinity. Just the angel and her wings. “Ah, that’s a much better one. He didn’t die immediately. His brain was working long enough for him to start panicking. Damaging his spinal cord kept him from moving or reaching out. With his lungs filling with blood, he couldn’t even cry out for help, as he desperately wanted to.” Tenebrael ran her tongue over her black lips. “I approve.” “I’m not looking for your approval.” “You have it anyway.” She reached out and ran her hand over Alyssa’s head like a loving owner might stroke a cat. “But I’ve got to get back. No rest for the wicked, as they say. If you ever want to chat, just shoot someone!” Alyssa clamped her hand over Tenebrael’s still outstretched arm. “Wait.” This was a chance she couldn’t let go. She had tried to ask earlier, but the angel had vanished too quickly. “I need you to do something for me.” “Huh? You need me to do something for you?” She raised an eyebrow before letting out a musical laugh. “I see, I see. First you act all hostile to get me to like you more, then you act all lovey to reaffirm that desire? There’s a word for that, you know. But I’m not putting you back on Earth, so don’t even ask.” “What? No…” She had no idea what the angel was talking about, but she hadn’t been about to ask for that. She needed a way to defend herself from angels before she even tried to go back. Alyssa pulled her phone from her pocket. “You did something that lets me connect to the internet. Earth’s internet.” An unnecessary clarification, maybe. “But it doesn’t work this far from my home. Can you make it so that it does? And also so that I don’t need to charge it and can use it forever? And maybe make it indestructible. And so that it can’t be lost or stolen. And—” “While I do appreciate several of the things you have done, screwing up Earth’s books excepted, how long is this list? I do have things to do, souls to take, Iosefaels to talk to, you know… the usual. People are dying all the time. Got to keep up appearances.” “Can’t you just stop time?” “Well, yes… but I can’t consume souls while time is stopped because they’re stopped too.” “Just leave them out of the time stop like you did to me earlier.” The corners of Tenebrael’s lips tugged up into a small smile. “Who says that I did anything to you? The only magic that I have cast on you—that worked—was the miracle that brought you to Nod. Really, we shouldn’t even be talking like this unless you start dying. And you aren’t. Curious, curious, my little reaper.” “Don’t call me that.” Alyssa closed her eyes and rubbed at her forehead. She still had a headache. Even with the incense extinguished, the room had far too much smell to it. Though, flicking her eyes toward the puddle of blood that she hadn’t caused, maybe it was good that the room smelled the way it did and not like anything worse. “Look. Can you do it or not?” Tenebrael plucked the phone from Alyssa’s fingers and looked over it. “The question isn’t whether I can, but whether or not I will. If you’ve found some loophole in my protections and are contacting someone on Earth—” “Nothing like that! Taking pictures is invaluable. Looking up modern science and concepts too! You want your prophecy book messed up? Let me introduce some modern technology. Even just how to make fire without magic.” “When you put it like that, how can I resist? Very well. I’ll return your phone later on with all sorts of improvements.” “Uh.” A chill ran down Alyssa’s spine. “Not to seem ungrateful, but how much later?” She still hadn’t copied those pictures she had taken at the Observatorium. If she wasn’t going to be able to return for a week when Irulon said to return, that was a long time to go without testing out the various magics she had noted down. “Whenever I get around to it. I—” Tenebrael cut herself off with a glance at the door. A moment later, a timid knock tapped against the wood. “Ah—Alyssa?” A far more timid version of Bacco’s voice made it through the wood. Barely. It was so soft she had to strain to hear it properly. “Cid said that there were some complaints, especially with people involved with girls at the time, but that the Waterhole is clear.” “I’ll be out in a moment,” Alyssa said, looking back to Tenebrael. Or where Tenebrael had been standing. There was nothing there now save for a handful of feathers drifting to the floor. No sign of the angel and no sign of her phone. “Great. Just great,” she mumbled to herself. But maybe her talk with Tenebrael had done some good. She felt a lot looser. A lot calmer. She probably wasn’t going to immediately shoot the first person she saw. At least, not until they inevitably did something to piss her off. Tenebrael held most of her ire at the moment. The stupid angel just disappeared in the middle of their conversation. And took her phone. That it might come back to her with an endless battery was the only bright side. For now, she had to go out and face the music.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>You have obtained a fundamental understanding of crafting. 1 of 2 conditions for ?????? unlocked.</strong></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnM4ODA1YTlmZTIwNDQ4ZDY5ZDNjMDlhNTkxNGZmNmZj" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><br><br><br><br><br>“I guess this is one of those hidden features. And given that I had to understand crafting then I guess that means it relates to making items compared to something like making a profound skill.”<br><br><br>After exiting the shop due to the fact Jin remembered he did have Crystal Release which could let him make his own weapons, he couldn't help but smack his own forehead despite the unexpected harvest.<br><br><br>Spending a few more coins on street food, Jin began making his way back while combing his hair over his eyes with his fingers to hide the appearance of his active Sharingan as he trained it to get past the single tomoe stage.<br><br><br>Reading the flow of the crowd as well as whatever expressions they had to try and gain insight into their true thoughts. A sincere look here, a sly gleam there, some with an odd tick whenever he had to lie and the genuine smile when someone had something go their way.<br><br><br>While he observed everything around him, one of his hands carrying food and the other in the form of single handed tiger sign as he drew on his vitality to turn it into profound energy; Turning his profound energy into Yang Release and revitalizing his body in a near perpetual cycle that invigorated his body as a method of subtle training. While it wouldn't hold the same benefits of practicing like Might Gai and Rock Lee's Strong Fist fighting style, it would let his muscles bare a greater burden before being damaged which meant he could do more extreme forms later as well as raising the rank of his new Yang Release from Rank 1 to Rank 2 which would make it easier to use as well as allowing him to keep a larger portion of energy inside his profound veins.<br><br><br>As he made his way back to his room, Jin began to make a mental checklist. 'First things first, since my Crystal release is an evolved form of Earth Release, then Earth Style should cost next to nothing. That means if I wanted to I could even dig up that 50 kilograms of Purple Veined Divine Crystals before the Divine Phoenix empire would detect it. I could even refine the crystals myself. There is also solving Jasmine's poison problem. While I do want to take a look at the Phoenix Spirit, do I even need that bloodline? The Azure Dragon would be ideal though since a strong body would be helpful with Taijutsu training and even bearing the load if I learned the Eight Inner Gates.<br><br><br>Right, so I should first finish filling my profound veins with energy.<br><br><br>Second, open up the Purple Crystal mine and use it to speed up my cultivation.<br><br><br>Third, sell two or three self-made crystals filled with Yang energy since those seem to be useful for people who need healing and there was one that could be bought for at least 600 Purple Profound Coins despite it being unstable.<br><br><br>Fourth, get in contact with Qingyue. Whether he decides to go through with breaking the wedding with Xiao Che. Though, since she is a beauty and focused so much on finding her mother that she even was willing to kill off her emotions, at least I can say anyone she chooses to love would definitely be blessed.'<br><br><br>Since he made his list, Jin was going to keep it. Though getting to know Qingyue who was at the True Profound realm by the time she was 14 would make it difficult to approach, it wouldn't be hard since her heart was still that of a young girl despite her attempts. It was simply too early. Taking a step back, even if she didn't fall for him, simply helping her out with some information wouldn't even be a loss for him.<br><br><br>Nodding to himself, he made sure to remove the Talismans from his old clothes before sitting down on his bed with his prepared food and meditating to better refine his spiritual and mental power that exceeded his physical body. Turning it into a sharpened intent through his eyes as the tomoe inside his sharingan began to spin underneath his lids, a second one slowly forming as his Yin Release broke through from the beginner rank into Rank one, then Rank two and the third where it stayed by the time the second tomoe was almost formed. It only took one more push before he would have made it to the fourth rank and the eye of hypnotism would open which would give him access to planting weak suggestions in targets that he locked eyes with. At his current rate, he would reach three tomoe at the ninth rank and his Mangekyou at the tenth. <br><br><br>Yet, his progress stopped for a simple reason. He simply lacked sleep.</span></p> <p class="cnMwNTRiZGZmYWEyMDQ1YzBhYWViYTMyYWRjZWVlZmVm" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"> </span></p> <p class="cnMxMDI2OTBkYjY4NzRkNGE4NTkyN2Y5ZGZkODM2NmRi" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"><span lang="he-IL"><br><br><br><br><br><br>₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪<br><br><br><br><br><br><br></span></span>Alternating between spiritual meditation and cultivating with small bits of Yang Release to keep his body in prime condition, it took only three days after the first to reach the top of the Elementary Profound Realm. Finally taking a break, he asked Raven how long he had cultivated and learned how much time had passed. 'There are only two days left for this room. I should hurry and open that mine. With my current strength the profound beast in the area won't be a problem and the first gate of the Wind and Lightning Art is fully open as well, boosting my speed, reflexes and reaction speed. There is also the technique that belongs to the first gate, Lightning Strike which is surprisingly simple instant boost of attack speed. Well, I guess that it would be good for throwing off people's rhythm and reversing a bad start.'<br><br><br>Cleaning himself with his profound energy, he began making his way out of his room only to overshoot his steps and slam face-first into the door due to the increase in speed. His first reaction after being caught off guard being to raise his arms and protect his head.<br><br><br>“Shit... guess I'll have to get use to this or keep my eyes active from now on. Meh, the former seems better for now.”<br><br><br>Slowing himself down, he eased himself from the inn while everyone was eating for the morning and dodging the pout from Yan Xue for not showing up for breakfast two days ago with an apologetic wry grin.<br><br></span></p>As he moved through the crowd toward the east gate that lead toward the mountains where the Purple crystals were buried. Even though there were profound beast, they were the weakest in the grand scheme of things and it also gave him a reason to train in his Body Flicker as he grew more proficient in his new speed. He taking off after walking a certain distance from the small city with a burst of speed that left an afterimage in his previous spot while concentrating on understanding the Crystal Release knowledge the system gave him on the basics of it to create a single-edged straight sword, from the moisture in the air, similar to the Sword of Kusanagi that Orochimaru gave Sasuke. Jin giving the blade a few test swings before opening the store and purchasing a basic kenjutsu skill for 10-SP, half his total amount since he planned to make it back by killing and selling the bodies to the system for points.<br><br><br>After the experiences were implanted in his head, he made some minor changes to his crystal sword to increase the blade's sharpness and durability. <br><br><br>Coming across his first profound beast, a large boar at the first stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, Jin launched into an assault. His body flickering into various afterimages as he increased his speed with energy, surrounding the animal to confuse its sight, the first cut aimed at the beast's tendons at the back of it's legs. Though it seemed the boar sensed the danger coming from behind, it kicked backwards in an attempt to land a hit. Even though the kick connected, the Jin that was hit only faded as the image was broken. The various image copies of him striking at the same time while aiming for its vitals while the real version of him made use of the Lightning Strike technique to instantly thrust his blade deep into the boar's eye and pierce its brain which killed it in an instant.<br><br><br>Given that it was his first time killing, even if it was just a boar, he was surprised by how easy it died. The fragility of life not lost to him, this only reinforced the concept. Jin considering his own life and the various powers that could end it without him having a chance to fight back, just like he had done to the boar. <br><br><br>“...I should work harder and aim for more. There are so many sick bastards just on this Profound Sky continent that it's ridiculous. Even the ones that suffer and work hard to get where they are grow arrogant most of the time and try forcing their will on others, not even mentioning those useless flops who ride on their elder's coattails.”<br><br><br>Wiping off the blood from his blade on the beast's fur, he placed a hand on the boar's side and asked Raven, who's avatar appeared resting on his shoulder after the fight was over, how to obtain points from killing profound beast.<br><br><br><br><br><p></p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle" colspan="2"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>Host has already obtained five System Points for the action of killing a Nascent Soul Realm profound beast. If you wish, you can also sell the corpse to the system for a price equal to its point worth unless said body contains valuable materials which would enhance the amount of points obtained from selling them depending on the rarity. To sell to the system, host only has to touch the corpse and think of selling it.<br><br>And before you ask, the amount of points changes depending on the realm of the beast killed.</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: center"> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>Elementary Profound Realm beast</strong></span></td> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>1-SP</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: center"> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>Nascent Soul Profound Realm beast</strong></span></td> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>5-SP.</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: center"> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>True Profound Realm beast</strong></span></td> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>10-SP.</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: center"> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>Spirit Profound Realm beast</strong></span></td> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>100-SP.</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: center"> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>Earth Profound Realm beast</strong></span></td> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>500-SP.</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: center"> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>Sky Profound Realm beast</strong></span></td> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>1,000-SP.</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: center"> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>Emperor Profound Realm beast</strong></span></td> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>10,000-SP</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: center"> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>Tyrant Profound Realm beast</strong></span></td> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>50,000-SP</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr style="text-align: center"> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>Sovereign Profound Realm</strong></span></td> <td style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><strong>100,000-SP</strong></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnNiMTU1OGQyNzJhMzRkODhiOWQwMThmNjZjNTY4NjEw" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"><br><br><br><br><br>Thinking over the prices, he couldn't help but think about the prices he could get for killing things in the Divine Realm. It considering the pattern of increase of a jump every three realms at the Nine Mortal Realms, it was possible that it would jump per level at the Seven Divine Realms.<br><br><br>Shaking the thought, it was much too soon to be considering such a thing. First, he sold off the boar's body to recover his loss at buying the basics of Kenjutsu. Even though he could raise the level by buying the next two installments that were priced at 15 and 20-SP respectively, he could also raise it by experiencing sword fights and killing beast to refine his techniques. And given that he had seen various anime and other media in his previous life, he certainly wasn't lacking in 'innovation' for new sword skills and attacks.<br><br><br>Looking toward the sky, Jin smiled as bright as the sun as he thought about the future. Heading deeper into the eastern mountains.</span></p> <p class="cnNmMWFhNTJmMTM2MTQ2MWZhMTVhYWNlNTBkZWNkYjI4"><span style="font-size: 1.3em"> </span></p> </div>

| **You have obtained a fundamental understanding of crafting. 1 of 2 conditions for ?????? unlocked.** | | --- | “I guess this is one of those hidden features. And given that I had to understand crafting then I guess that means it relates to making items compared to something like making a profound skill.” After exiting the shop due to the fact Jin remembered he did have Crystal Release which could let him make his own weapons, he couldn't help but smack his own forehead despite the unexpected harvest. Spending a few more coins on street food, Jin began making his way back while combing his hair over his eyes with his fingers to hide the appearance of his active Sharingan as he trained it to get past the single tomoe stage. Reading the flow of the crowd as well as whatever expressions they had to try and gain insight into their true thoughts. A sincere look here, a sly gleam there, some with an odd tick whenever he had to lie and the genuine smile when someone had something go their way. While he observed everything around him, one of his hands carrying food and the other in the form of single handed tiger sign as he drew on his vitality to turn it into profound energy; Turning his profound energy into Yang Release and revitalizing his body in a near perpetual cycle that invigorated his body as a method of subtle training. While it wouldn't hold the same benefits of practicing like Might Gai and Rock Lee's Strong Fist fighting style, it would let his muscles bare a greater burden before being damaged which meant he could do more extreme forms later as well as raising the rank of his new Yang Release from Rank 1 to Rank 2 which would make it easier to use as well as allowing him to keep a larger portion of energy inside his profound veins. As he made his way back to his room, Jin began to make a mental checklist. 'First things first, since my Crystal release is an evolved form of Earth Release, then Earth Style should cost next to nothing. That means if I wanted to I could even dig up that 50 kilograms of Purple Veined Divine Crystals before the Divine Phoenix empire would detect it. I could even refine the crystals myself. There is also solving Jasmine's poison problem. While I do want to take a look at the Phoenix Spirit, do I even need that bloodline? The Azure Dragon would be ideal though since a strong body would be helpful with Taijutsu training and even bearing the load if I learned the Eight Inner Gates. Right, so I should first finish filling my profound veins with energy. Second, open up the Purple Crystal mine and use it to speed up my cultivation. Third, sell two or three self-made crystals filled with Yang energy since those seem to be useful for people who need healing and there was one that could be bought for at least 600 Purple Profound Coins despite it being unstable. Fourth, get in contact with Qingyue. Whether he decides to go through with breaking the wedding with Xiao Che. Though, since she is a beauty and focused so much on finding her mother that she even was willing to kill off her emotions, at least I can say anyone she chooses to love would definitely be blessed.' Since he made his list, Jin was going to keep it. Though getting to know Qingyue who was at the True Profound realm by the time she was 14 would make it difficult to approach, it wouldn't be hard since her heart was still that of a young girl despite her attempts. It was simply too early. Taking a step back, even if she didn't fall for him, simply helping her out with some information wouldn't even be a loss for him. Nodding to himself, he made sure to remove the Talismans from his old clothes before sitting down on his bed with his prepared food and meditating to better refine his spiritual and mental power that exceeded his physical body. Turning it into a sharpened intent through his eyes as the tomoe inside his sharingan began to spin underneath his lids, a second one slowly forming as his Yin Release broke through from the beginner rank into Rank one, then Rank two and the third where it stayed by the time the second tomoe was almost formed. It only took one more push before he would have made it to the fourth rank and the eye of hypnotism would open which would give him access to planting weak suggestions in targets that he locked eyes with. At his current rate, he would reach three tomoe at the ninth rank and his Mangekyou at the tenth. Yet, his progress stopped for a simple reason. He simply lacked sleep. ₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪ Alternating between spiritual meditation and cultivating with small bits of Yang Release to keep his body in prime condition, it took only three days after the first to reach the top of the Elementary Profound Realm. Finally taking a break, he asked Raven how long he had cultivated and learned how much time had passed. 'There are only two days left for this room. I should hurry and open that mine. With my current strength the profound beast in the area won't be a problem and the first gate of the Wind and Lightning Art is fully open as well, boosting my speed, reflexes and reaction speed. There is also the technique that belongs to the first gate, Lightning Strike which is surprisingly simple instant boost of attack speed. Well, I guess that it would be good for throwing off people's rhythm and reversing a bad start.' Cleaning himself with his profound energy, he began making his way out of his room only to overshoot his steps and slam face-first into the door due to the increase in speed. His first reaction after being caught off guard being to raise his arms and protect his head. “Shit... guess I'll have to get use to this or keep my eyes active from now on. Meh, the former seems better for now.” Slowing himself down, he eased himself from the inn while everyone was eating for the morning and dodging the pout from Yan Xue for not showing up for breakfast two days ago with an apologetic wry grin. As he moved through the crowd toward the east gate that lead toward the mountains where the Purple crystals were buried. Even though there were profound beast, they were the weakest in the grand scheme of things and it also gave him a reason to train in his Body Flicker as he grew more proficient in his new speed. He taking off after walking a certain distance from the small city with a burst of speed that left an afterimage in his previous spot while concentrating on understanding the Crystal Release knowledge the system gave him on the basics of it to create a single-edged straight sword, from the moisture in the air, similar to the Sword of Kusanagi that Orochimaru gave Sasuke. Jin giving the blade a few test swings before opening the store and purchasing a basic kenjutsu skill for 10-SP, half his total amount since he planned to make it back by killing and selling the bodies to the system for points. After the experiences were implanted in his head, he made some minor changes to his crystal sword to increase the blade's sharpness and durability. Coming across his first profound beast, a large boar at the first stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, Jin launched into an assault. His body flickering into various afterimages as he increased his speed with energy, surrounding the animal to confuse its sight, the first cut aimed at the beast's tendons at the back of it's legs. Though it seemed the boar sensed the danger coming from behind, it kicked backwards in an attempt to land a hit. Even though the kick connected, the Jin that was hit only faded as the image was broken. The various image copies of him striking at the same time while aiming for its vitals while the real version of him made use of the Lightning Strike technique to instantly thrust his blade deep into the boar's eye and pierce its brain which killed it in an instant. Given that it was his first time killing, even if it was just a boar, he was surprised by how easy it died. The fragility of life not lost to him, this only reinforced the concept. Jin considering his own life and the various powers that could end it without him having a chance to fight back, just like he had done to the boar. “...I should work harder and aim for more. There are so many sick bastards just on this Profound Sky continent that it's ridiculous. Even the ones that suffer and work hard to get where they are grow arrogant most of the time and try forcing their will on others, not even mentioning those useless flops who ride on their elder's coattails.” Wiping off the blood from his blade on the beast's fur, he placed a hand on the boar's side and asked Raven, who's avatar appeared resting on his shoulder after the fight was over, how to obtain points from killing profound beast. | **Host has already obtained five System Points for the action of killing a Nascent Soul Realm profound beast. If you wish, you can also sell the corpse to the system for a price equal to its point worth unless said body contains valuable materials which would enhance the amount of points obtained from selling them depending on the rarity. To sell to the system, host only has to touch the corpse and think of selling it.And before you ask, the amount of points changes depending on the realm of the beast killed.** | | | --- | --- | | **Elementary Profound Realm beast** | **1-SP** | | **Nascent Soul Profound Realm beast** | **5-SP.** | | **True Profound Realm beast** | **10-SP.** | | **Spirit Profound Realm beast** | **100-SP.** | | **Earth Profound Realm beast** | **500-SP.** | | **Sky Profound Realm beast** | **1,000-SP.** | | **Emperor Profound Realm beast** | **10,000-SP** | | **Tyrant Profound Realm beast** | **50,000-SP** | | **Sovereign Profound Realm** | **100,000-SP** | Thinking over the prices, he couldn't help but think about the prices he could get for killing things in the Divine Realm. It considering the pattern of increase of a jump every three realms at the Nine Mortal Realms, it was possible that it would jump per level at the Seven Divine Realms. Shaking the thought, it was much too soon to be considering such a thing. First, he sold off the boar's body to recover his loss at buying the basics of Kenjutsu. Even though he could raise the level by buying the next two installments that were priced at 15 and 20-SP respectively, he could also raise it by experiencing sword fights and killing beast to refine his techniques. And given that he had seen various anime and other media in his previous life, he certainly wasn't lacking in 'innovation' for new sword skills and attacks. Looking toward the sky, Jin smiled as bright as the sun as he thought about the future. Heading deeper into the eastern mountains.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNjZjY0YmY3YWJlNTQxYjliYzJiNmEwYWZhNmM1MzZk">  Everyone in the village has gathered in the meeting area. They only heard that Elanor is going to train them. When they were told to gather up, no one dared to disagree. They'd respected her when she entered the village initially. They had figured she was pretty strong to travel through the Unbroken Region. It wasn't uncommon for them to see foundation stage soldiers. Some of the men who defended them on their escape were foundation stage warriors. Even Anna's husband had reached the foundation stage.</p> <p class="cnMwMWUxYWU1MjY2ZjQ4YzlhMWU4MzJiMDFlMThmMjYw">  However, after the recent feats of Elanor and her master, it is clear the woman isn't a foundation stage fighter. What kind of monster battles the heavens like that? It wasn't that they didn't want to help the fun cultivator when she was in her crater. But not one of them dared to see the beauty's mangled corpse. The hole is the size of one of their shacks, for god's sake. It was when she walked out of the crater that she became a monster in their eyes. Their minds can't even comprehend Elanor coming out with only minor injuries.</p> <p class="cnM2N2E4YTIzZjliMDQ5MTRhZTliOTg4YjRhM2Y5Mjdh">  Elanor hops, skips, and flips to the front of the group. "I'm glad you all came. I've been asked to make you all stronger! So that's what I'll do," Elanor says with flair. Gregory steps forward, confusion on his face, and inquires, "Miss, may I ask? who asked you to train us?" Elanor looks at Gregory and shrugs. "It's just some bush," she states. The answer only confuses everyone more. They look at each other with wonder while waiting to hear more details. Yet all they see is Elanor twirling her hair. The fairy doesn't seem to have any interest in elaborating.</p> <p class="cnM0ODNkMTIyNGUzZjQ3N2ZhYWY5NmZmZjg5MThhOTE2">  "I see..." Gregory says reluctantly. "I'm glad you understand," Elanor replies with a satisfied nod. Elanor has an expression that implies she just taught them a great secret. This oblivious cultivator can only make them laugh in frustration.</p> <p class="cnMzZTYxYWZhNTAyOTRkMjdiMWQ3ODJiM2ZlYmQ3Zjgx">  "Alright enough about the stupid bush!" Elanor exclaims. "It's time to learn how to be strong," She states while looking at the crowd. "If you want to be strong like me. You'll follow my instructions!" She yells with confidence. She then pulls up her right sleeve and flexes her muscle. Gasps can be heard as her muscles ripple. Her clothes covered up her muscular figure. From the outside, no one can tell how ripped she is.</p> <p class="cnNhNTI4N2MzYTFlYjRjNjc5MDA3ZTZlYTE0ZmM2MmE2">_________</p> <p class="cnM5NDZhNWFkN2QxNzRiZDU5OTE1ZmJiMmI4NmQzYjA3">  Over at the Sunny Spring sect, the two other disciples are conversing about their fellow disciple. Kendra yawns while tapping on her desk. "When is that idiot coming back?" Kendra asks Rosie. "Miss her?" responds Rosie as she glances up from her work. "I miss having patients," a grumpy Kendra responds. "That's true. You can only get so much from dummies," Rosie agrees while wiping sweat from her brow.</p> <p class="cnMyNTU0NzBhYzJiYzRmYjZhMmM4NTBiMGFiZWMyMWY3">  "But it's noisy when she's around. All her suitors gather around," Rosie says as she leans back in her chair. "They all become patients too. Can't she do anything in moderation?" Kendra complains.</p> <p class="cnNkZGU0ODVkMmNiNzQyNDJhYWYyNjc2ZGNkMzcwMDli">  Rosie smirks at her fellow disciple's torment. "Perhaps she'll hook up with one of those mortals and not come back?" she jokes. Kendra gives Rosie a disgusted look as she responds, "are you trying to kill those poor bastards? They'll die on the first night."</p> <p class="cnNmMjU4ODllZjBkYzQ0ZWZiZTAyMTg2ODkxYTU2YmQ5">  Kendra runs her hands through her golden hair, sighing. "That night we slept together was the worse," laments Kendra. "Oh, I didn't know you guys were so close," Rosie responds, giggling.</p> <p class="cnM0MzA4NTg2OWFhMTQ4NDdiMGFjMTg4MGEyY2IwNDUw">  Kendra clenches her fists so hard her knuckles turn white. "You damn well know what I'm talking about!" She yells angrily before continuing, "when she first came here, her room wasn't ready yet. So she stayed in my room. While we were sleeping, she kicked me so hard that there was an impression of me on the wall!"</p> <p class="cnMzZGI3ZDdiMDA4NjQ3ZGRhMjVmYzM1OGYwY2VhNTc2">  "Yeah, I remember it would have taken months to recover without masters help," the redhead says, laughing hysterically.</p> <p class="cnNlMmExYzhjYzBkNjRmODVhM2ExNWEyYTBmYmE0ZDY3">  Catherine peaks her head into the room. Sighing, she advises, "If you two are so bored, why don't you go visit the village? I'm sure there'll be plenty of patients soon."</p> <p class="cnNjNDQ5ZWMwMzg1YzRkMDViNDlmOTRiYTZhY2JlOWFl">_______</p> <p class="cnNjZDk0NTAzNTE2NjQ0NTFiYWZhMGE3YjQwMTg4ODlm">  "Alright, it's important to build your body up before cultivating. So I'll first be teaching you all a few good exercises and breathing techniques," Elanor tells the villagers.</p> <p class="cnM0NGE0Y2M4ZDM3YTQ0N2NiMGZiZDI0ZTEwN2ZlNjdk">  Elanor proceeds to show some seemingly basic exercises. Her chest is bouncing and heaving as she demonstrates each one. With her beauty constantly distracting everyone, it is a slow learning process. Elanor watches everyone closely, fixing each individual's posture. Every move has to be exact to build a good foundation.</p> <p class="cnM3NGM5ODI4ZWJkODQwNTk5MGU1NThlOTg5MTQ4MjAy">  Franklin gets the hang of the training quickly. He'd already been doing similar training thanks to John. While his strength isn't that of the adults, he's closest to foundation stage.</p> <p class="cnNmNmFhMzY4MTVmNDQyODRhZjRjMzU3ZjNiMjQ2OGI2">  Finally, Elanor reaches the two girls. One is visibly pouty. "Not strong," Donna whines. Wilbur scratches his head embarrassed. Elanor squats and pats the girl on the head. "Ok, if you don't want to be strong, you don't have to," she comforts with a smile. "But you'll be missing out. I'm going to be teaching Laurel how to dance and sing. It's pretty girly, right? I thought you'd want to learn too. But I guess not?" Elanor questions the young girl.</p> <p class="cnMyMWQyMjcwZWQyMjQ2MWM4NWE1NTc3NGRkN2E2MjM4">  The girl's eyes dart around, not sure what to do. Yet her little mind can't understand. She begins to sniff. Then slowly, tears start to stream down her face. "Wah, big sis bully! I want 'sniff' to dance. But no 'sniff' strong!" Elanor feels horrible and bites her lip. This girl is the only one at the right age to start cultivating. But now, she wonders if she went too far.</p> <p class="cnNlZjYwZDIxNThhMTRiYjQ5MjU0ZjYzZTI4ZTE3M2Zk">  Wilbur scoops up his daughter quickly. The poor girl is bawling her eyes out as she digs her face into his fluffy beard. "Come now, princess," he consoles while hugging his baby tightly.</p> <p class="cnM3YWFhMTQ4MWU1OTRlMzY5MDFjZGQxMTgzMGM4MTBj">  "Look, I'm strong, right?" the dad asks his clingy daughter. Donna nods into his chest. "But the mommies over there are stronger than you, right?" he says, shifting the girl in his arms to look at the women practicing with their boys. Donna looks at them quizzically before nodding. "Uhhu," she affirms. "But I'm still stronger than them," he declares. "Yeah," Donna responds enthusiastically. "So, that means you can still get stronger without being strong, right?" Donna scrunches her nose in contemplation. She feels like there is something wrong with this logic. But Donna can't figure out what. "Ok," she finally gives in while nodding vigorously.</p> <p class="cnMzNDQyNTY0Nzk1YTRiNWE5NDJhNzdiNTE4ZDdhYzQ3">  "Teach dance, big sis bully!" Donna says. She reaches out to the beautiful cultivator with stars in her eyes and snot running down her nose. "Of course!" Elanor replies with a thumbs up.</p> </div>

Everyone in the village has gathered in the meeting area. They only heard that Elanor is going to train them. When they were told to gather up, no one dared to disagree. They'd respected her when she entered the village initially. They had figured she was pretty strong to travel through the Unbroken Region. It wasn't uncommon for them to see foundation stage soldiers. Some of the men who defended them on their escape were foundation stage warriors. Even Anna's husband had reached the foundation stage.   However, after the recent feats of Elanor and her master, it is clear the woman isn't a foundation stage fighter. What kind of monster battles the heavens like that? It wasn't that they didn't want to help the fun cultivator when she was in her crater. But not one of them dared to see the beauty's mangled corpse. The hole is the size of one of their shacks, for god's sake. It was when she walked out of the crater that she became a monster in their eyes. Their minds can't even comprehend Elanor coming out with only minor injuries.   Elanor hops, skips, and flips to the front of the group. "I'm glad you all came. I've been asked to make you all stronger! So that's what I'll do," Elanor says with flair. Gregory steps forward, confusion on his face, and inquires, "Miss, may I ask? who asked you to train us?" Elanor looks at Gregory and shrugs. "It's just some bush," she states. The answer only confuses everyone more. They look at each other with wonder while waiting to hear more details. Yet all they see is Elanor twirling her hair. The fairy doesn't seem to have any interest in elaborating.   "I see..." Gregory says reluctantly. "I'm glad you understand," Elanor replies with a satisfied nod. Elanor has an expression that implies she just taught them a great secret. This oblivious cultivator can only make them laugh in frustration.   "Alright enough about the stupid bush!" Elanor exclaims. "It's time to learn how to be strong," She states while looking at the crowd. "If you want to be strong like me. You'll follow my instructions!" She yells with confidence. She then pulls up her right sleeve and flexes her muscle. Gasps can be heard as her muscles ripple. Her clothes covered up her muscular figure. From the outside, no one can tell how ripped she is. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_   Over at the Sunny Spring sect, the two other disciples are conversing about their fellow disciple. Kendra yawns while tapping on her desk. "When is that idiot coming back?" Kendra asks Rosie. "Miss her?" responds Rosie as she glances up from her work. "I miss having patients," a grumpy Kendra responds. "That's true. You can only get so much from dummies," Rosie agrees while wiping sweat from her brow.   "But it's noisy when she's around. All her suitors gather around," Rosie says as she leans back in her chair. "They all become patients too. Can't she do anything in moderation?" Kendra complains.   Rosie smirks at her fellow disciple's torment. "Perhaps she'll hook up with one of those mortals and not come back?" she jokes. Kendra gives Rosie a disgusted look as she responds, "are you trying to kill those poor bastards? They'll die on the first night."   Kendra runs her hands through her golden hair, sighing. "That night we slept together was the worse," laments Kendra. "Oh, I didn't know you guys were so close," Rosie responds, giggling.   Kendra clenches her fists so hard her knuckles turn white. "You damn well know what I'm talking about!" She yells angrily before continuing, "when she first came here, her room wasn't ready yet. So she stayed in my room. While we were sleeping, she kicked me so hard that there was an impression of me on the wall!"   "Yeah, I remember it would have taken months to recover without masters help," the redhead says, laughing hysterically.   Catherine peaks her head into the room. Sighing, she advises, "If you two are so bored, why don't you go visit the village? I'm sure there'll be plenty of patients soon." \_\_\_\_\_\_\_   "Alright, it's important to build your body up before cultivating. So I'll first be teaching you all a few good exercises and breathing techniques," Elanor tells the villagers.   Elanor proceeds to show some seemingly basic exercises. Her chest is bouncing and heaving as she demonstrates each one. With her beauty constantly distracting everyone, it is a slow learning process. Elanor watches everyone closely, fixing each individual's posture. Every move has to be exact to build a good foundation.   Franklin gets the hang of the training quickly. He'd already been doing similar training thanks to John. While his strength isn't that of the adults, he's closest to foundation stage.   Finally, Elanor reaches the two girls. One is visibly pouty. "Not strong," Donna whines. Wilbur scratches his head embarrassed. Elanor squats and pats the girl on the head. "Ok, if you don't want to be strong, you don't have to," she comforts with a smile. "But you'll be missing out. I'm going to be teaching Laurel how to dance and sing. It's pretty girly, right? I thought you'd want to learn too. But I guess not?" Elanor questions the young girl.   The girl's eyes dart around, not sure what to do. Yet her little mind can't understand. She begins to sniff. Then slowly, tears start to stream down her face. "Wah, big sis bully! I want 'sniff' to dance. But no 'sniff' strong!" Elanor feels horrible and bites her lip. This girl is the only one at the right age to start cultivating. But now, she wonders if she went too far.   Wilbur scoops up his daughter quickly. The poor girl is bawling her eyes out as she digs her face into his fluffy beard. "Come now, princess," he consoles while hugging his baby tightly.   "Look, I'm strong, right?" the dad asks his clingy daughter. Donna nods into his chest. "But the mommies over there are stronger than you, right?" he says, shifting the girl in his arms to look at the women practicing with their boys. Donna looks at them quizzically before nodding. "Uhhu," she affirms. "But I'm still stronger than them," he declares. "Yeah," Donna responds enthusiastically. "So, that means you can still get stronger without being strong, right?" Donna scrunches her nose in contemplation. She feels like there is something wrong with this logic. But Donna can't figure out what. "Ok," she finally gives in while nodding vigorously.   "Teach dance, big sis bully!" Donna says. She reaches out to the beautiful cultivator with stars in her eyes and snot running down her nose. "Of course!" Elanor replies with a thumbs up.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNhMDY2MDQ4NGZhZDQwODJiNDlkMGNkNzFjZDM5MWZl" style="text-align: center">In the world of Unexpected Circumstances – Oceanis.</p> <p class="cnM1NjZmOWFkODk5YTRiNTE4NzVlYTRmY2YxZDlhYWE4">The underwater gate was established at the agreed upon time and place. The first person – being – through was the representative of the Oceanis Adventurer’s Guild. Hir – hir for hir was a egg laying hermaphrodite – looked something like a twenty meter long cross between a sea cucumber and a boneless eel with three multi-jointed limbs emerging from just behind hir’s gills, each limb ending in three fingers.</p> <p class="cnNhMDk2NzJhNTMwZjQ3MDc4ZTk1MWQ0NjFiMWQyMzA1">Silverfin blinked in surprise, “welcome to Midgard.”</p> <p class="cnM2MjhmMWY3NjlhMzRiMDNhNWFmYTk3NzBhMTZjNzgy">Hir looked around with interest taking in Silverfin and his scanty entourage, not missing Jezebel and her two chief cohorts lurking in the background.</p> <p class="cnM5MTQxM2QxMWFmNjQxZDdiYTZmZWYxZmM3Y2E1NTk1">The details of the contract between the Oceanis Adventurer’s Guild and Antonio’s dungeon were confirmed, access to the dungeon for the one and access to Oceanis for selected accredited individuals of the other. The representative of the dungeon was introduced and Isabella went through the gate behind Glow at Darkening.</p> <p class="cnMxNzA4NzQwOTU1NDQ2MDY4MDU4MmUyYjJlZGU0NmE0">Isabella was so excited; she was on a new world and working for her mama and papa. The deep ocean felt different but nice, her flanks rippled with light. She used all her senses to examine her surroundings.</p> <p class="cnNkMGQ2MTZkOGI3NzRiNDY4YmU5M2JiOTYzZjEzZWYw">« Um, Glow where and when do you want me to set the portal. »</p> <p class="cnMxMDcyNDgzOGI3YjQzNjk5ZjFlZTdlZGFlOTUxNTI2">“Follow me youngster, we are close,” hir replied.</p> <p class="cnNkMTkwMjk5NGFlZTQ5Njc5NzkwYTRhYTc3OTE4OTk1">Glow at Darkening led their visitor to the local edifice selected to house the dungeon’s portal, it was sited at the end of a row of four nearly identical fortified buildings, fortified as in designed to keep things in.</p> <p class="cnM3NjRjZjg0MDE1MTQ1MGJhNDUzNTVjZjdjYWI0ZTk1">Several representatives of the local guild and the world in general were also present. There seemed to be three races, Glow at Darkening represented the most numerous, then there were some very sharklike beings that seemed to be uncomfortable at this depth and the third were very squidlike but in Isabella’s opinion severely deficient in tentacles, honestly only six, and oversupplied with eyes, three!</p> <p class="cnM4MGUzNDM5ZDdlZDQ3MGQ5NTdhYzUwZWI1NTg1MDMy">Isabella flashed a welcome at the waiting dignitaries and jetted into the building.</p> <p class="cnM2NGQxOGU0ZDYyNzQ5ZTVhNmQ3YWEwMWQzMzM5NWI1">The leader of the deep-sea people observed the exuberant youngster, poor thing only two eyes and what would anyone want with ten tentacles. Rippling Orange Highlights flickered a brief ripple of color in answer to the youngster’s rippling greeting before turning his attention to Glow at Darkening who was representing the mid-sea people.</p> <p class="cnNiY2VlOTMzMDI2MDQxM2NhZmFmNjVjN2VkZTZkMWQz">Isabella rejected the dome as too small, after some discussion the assembled dignitaries asked for the portal to be established at the end of the row in the open and so it was.</p> <p class="cnMzNGVmMGVjOGY4OTQ0Y2U4NGQ4NzM4MmFkMDAzMzJm" style="text-align: center">* * *</p> <p class="cnM3YTc2NjI1OGIxNDQ0YTNhZTcxYWQyOTBkZThlNzEw">Fluorescent Purple Highlights had been sidelined. His superiors had exiled him from his office and post for the day while they made nice with visitors from Midgard so as to gain access to a new dungeon.</p> <p class="cnMxNjVlOGNkYzAyMjRkMDZiMjdmOGU2ZjcwZjY5NmNk">Now he was back at his post of controller of dungeon access. He was horrified; those incompetent idiots had left a huge <em>dungeon portal</em> in the open, completely unprotected. Anything could come through. At any time!</p> <p class="cnM0NDA0Yzc4YmUzYzRmOTJiNTlkOWEzOTdlNDc5NDQw">Purple started firing off orders, then after a second look he sent a most urgent summons to his architect and defence experts to come up with an upgraded and much enlarged containment dome. Within the hour Purple had a small army on hand keeping an eye on the portal while his specialists laboured around the clock to design a suitable defence dome to contain the threat.</p> <p class="cnM5MmFhOTk4MDkwNDQ4YmRhODQ5YjMwMTQyZjQ2ZjI1">During this time three parties of adventurers ventured into the new dungeon, one, the weakest group simply didn’t return, the remaining two parties both lost members but came back laden with unusual treasures. The fact that two Veteran rated parties lost members sent his defence experts back to the drawing board and caused the small army present to grow by a third.</p> <p class="cnNlNzc2MzZjMTMwMDQ2OTA4NjBjNWFjYzFkNDdkZmM2">There was another hiatus when an Elite party lost two members during their delve as the defences were once again upgraded.</p> <p class="cnNiNWI0ZTAwNDQ5NzQwOTA5ZmY0ZTMwOWIyMWU1NDky">After two weeks of frantic efforts the dome was finally being constructed. Purple remained apprehensive until the dome was finally completed three weeks later. In that time the Adventurer’s Guild had flatly banned parties that didn’t contain at least two Veteran rated adventurers from attempting the Luso dungeon. Their best group had also failed to complete the dungeon losing the famous godlike adventurer and mage Silver Mantle the reckless.</p> <p class="cnM2Yzg4M2I2NGE5MzRkNjdiZjhkODgzNjk0YWVhZjI1">So finally after five weeks of frantic efforts Purple finally got back to his office and found a folder with nearly fifty pages of dense text of instructions regarding his latest headache he skimmed it checking that all the highlights matched the instructions regarding all the other gates and portals he was responsible for. It was not surprising that he missed the two little sentences that made this portal different from the others.</p> <p class="cnMyMWM3ZGQ3MmU1MzRmNzZhZWFjMzgyMDE3ZDI3ZGZh">So when two months later Baltazar, the correctly accredited ambassador and representative from Antonio and the Luso dungeon to the Oceanis’ Adventurer’s Guild the defences didn’t see anything more than a dungeon monster that looked like a somewhat deformed deep dweller only four times larger than any deep dweller had any right to be. They reacted with violence.</p> <p class="cnNjMzNhYzE4NGIyYzRkOTM5OGRhMjk1MDcxNzk5Mjhj">Baltazar had been very wary as both Antonio and Jezebel had warned him to keep his guard up and get back alive whatever it took. He had like all Antonio’s magic capable monsters and dungeon born been studying Silver Mantle’s spell books and Antonio had provided him with a couple of enchanted items copied and developed from recent loot.</p> <p class="cnNjNjI0MGU2ZDY5ODQ1OTc5NTUyMWJhNjRhOGU1NWE1">Baltazar transited the portal with shields active and was almost immediately attacked with spells and missiles. His shields fluoresced and he instinctively struck back with his ready spells and triggered his laser as he swung round and expelled ink and jetted back to the portal. He dumped two mines from his storage as he went loosing flesh, tentacles and blood as his defences collapsed under the relentless attack from the crumbling dome.</p> <p class="cnNmYmNkZTYwYzgyMzQ4N2VhMDAxN2VhNGI2YTRlNGQz">Baltazer came through the portal in shreds but still alive. Antonio, though furious first saw to saving his employee and friend. Then he sealed the portal. Antonio then checked once again on Baltazar and called his lawyer. The result of that call was the complete removal of the portal from Oceanis.</p> <p class="cnM2ZWZmZGUwZDIyNTQ3N2I4NWNlNWU4YThhOWNiMjg4">Fluorescent Purple Highlights was horrified, one monster, one! And the strongest defence dome he had ever known was reduced to rubble and the monster had nearly won. If the thing’s defences had lasted just another thirty seconds it would have been free to go where it willed.</p> <p class="cnMyZmJmZjAwZTdjMzRjOGNhZDRlZmQ5YzE0YWUyOThm">His army was assembling when the portal, once again in the open ocean winked out and was no more. Purple was distinctly relieved and sent a report on the day’s occurrences to Glow at Darkening.</p> <p class="cnNhNWE0ZmM0ZWE2ZTQ1NmRiNDVkOTc1ZDJkOTg3NDdh">Glow at Darkening was annoyed, what had he done to deserve such incompetent subordinates but maybe it was just as well that something that powerful was prevented from entering Oceanis. And anyway it was only a dungeon monster. And anyway, they were made to be killed. It would only need a little pressure to be applied to the local Guild office to get the dungeon to open again. It was after all the most powerful and almost the most profitable dungeon he had on his books. No one would care about a contract with a dungeon anyway.</p> <p class="cnM2MDc2YTBkYTBhNTRkZDBiNjdmOTk2MGNhOTk5NTI1">Glow was to find that Antonio did not agree with him.</p> </div>

In the world of Unexpected Circumstances – Oceanis. The underwater gate was established at the agreed upon time and place. The first person – being – through was the representative of the Oceanis Adventurer’s Guild. Hir – hir for hir was a egg laying hermaphrodite – looked something like a twenty meter long cross between a sea cucumber and a boneless eel with three multi-jointed limbs emerging from just behind hir’s gills, each limb ending in three fingers. Silverfin blinked in surprise, “welcome to Midgard.” Hir looked around with interest taking in Silverfin and his scanty entourage, not missing Jezebel and her two chief cohorts lurking in the background. The details of the contract between the Oceanis Adventurer’s Guild and Antonio’s dungeon were confirmed, access to the dungeon for the one and access to Oceanis for selected accredited individuals of the other. The representative of the dungeon was introduced and Isabella went through the gate behind Glow at Darkening. Isabella was so excited; she was on a new world and working for her mama and papa. The deep ocean felt different but nice, her flanks rippled with light. She used all her senses to examine her surroundings. « Um, Glow where and when do you want me to set the portal. » “Follow me youngster, we are close,” hir replied. Glow at Darkening led their visitor to the local edifice selected to house the dungeon’s portal, it was sited at the end of a row of four nearly identical fortified buildings, fortified as in designed to keep things in. Several representatives of the local guild and the world in general were also present. There seemed to be three races, Glow at Darkening represented the most numerous, then there were some very sharklike beings that seemed to be uncomfortable at this depth and the third were very squidlike but in Isabella’s opinion severely deficient in tentacles, honestly only six, and oversupplied with eyes, three! Isabella flashed a welcome at the waiting dignitaries and jetted into the building. The leader of the deep-sea people observed the exuberant youngster, poor thing only two eyes and what would anyone want with ten tentacles. Rippling Orange Highlights flickered a brief ripple of color in answer to the youngster’s rippling greeting before turning his attention to Glow at Darkening who was representing the mid-sea people. Isabella rejected the dome as too small, after some discussion the assembled dignitaries asked for the portal to be established at the end of the row in the open and so it was. * * * Fluorescent Purple Highlights had been sidelined. His superiors had exiled him from his office and post for the day while they made nice with visitors from Midgard so as to gain access to a new dungeon. Now he was back at his post of controller of dungeon access. He was horrified; those incompetent idiots had left a huge *dungeon portal* in the open, completely unprotected. Anything could come through. At any time! Purple started firing off orders, then after a second look he sent a most urgent summons to his architect and defence experts to come up with an upgraded and much enlarged containment dome. Within the hour Purple had a small army on hand keeping an eye on the portal while his specialists laboured around the clock to design a suitable defence dome to contain the threat. During this time three parties of adventurers ventured into the new dungeon, one, the weakest group simply didn’t return, the remaining two parties both lost members but came back laden with unusual treasures. The fact that two Veteran rated parties lost members sent his defence experts back to the drawing board and caused the small army present to grow by a third. There was another hiatus when an Elite party lost two members during their delve as the defences were once again upgraded. After two weeks of frantic efforts the dome was finally being constructed. Purple remained apprehensive until the dome was finally completed three weeks later. In that time the Adventurer’s Guild had flatly banned parties that didn’t contain at least two Veteran rated adventurers from attempting the Luso dungeon. Their best group had also failed to complete the dungeon losing the famous godlike adventurer and mage Silver Mantle the reckless. So finally after five weeks of frantic efforts Purple finally got back to his office and found a folder with nearly fifty pages of dense text of instructions regarding his latest headache he skimmed it checking that all the highlights matched the instructions regarding all the other gates and portals he was responsible for. It was not surprising that he missed the two little sentences that made this portal different from the others. So when two months later Baltazar, the correctly accredited ambassador and representative from Antonio and the Luso dungeon to the Oceanis’ Adventurer’s Guild the defences didn’t see anything more than a dungeon monster that looked like a somewhat deformed deep dweller only four times larger than any deep dweller had any right to be. They reacted with violence. Baltazar had been very wary as both Antonio and Jezebel had warned him to keep his guard up and get back alive whatever it took. He had like all Antonio’s magic capable monsters and dungeon born been studying Silver Mantle’s spell books and Antonio had provided him with a couple of enchanted items copied and developed from recent loot. Baltazar transited the portal with shields active and was almost immediately attacked with spells and missiles. His shields fluoresced and he instinctively struck back with his ready spells and triggered his laser as he swung round and expelled ink and jetted back to the portal. He dumped two mines from his storage as he went loosing flesh, tentacles and blood as his defences collapsed under the relentless attack from the crumbling dome. Baltazer came through the portal in shreds but still alive. Antonio, though furious first saw to saving his employee and friend. Then he sealed the portal. Antonio then checked once again on Baltazar and called his lawyer. The result of that call was the complete removal of the portal from Oceanis. Fluorescent Purple Highlights was horrified, one monster, one! And the strongest defence dome he had ever known was reduced to rubble and the monster had nearly won. If the thing’s defences had lasted just another thirty seconds it would have been free to go where it willed. His army was assembling when the portal, once again in the open ocean winked out and was no more. Purple was distinctly relieved and sent a report on the day’s occurrences to Glow at Darkening. Glow at Darkening was annoyed, what had he done to deserve such incompetent subordinates but maybe it was just as well that something that powerful was prevented from entering Oceanis. And anyway it was only a dungeon monster. And anyway, they were made to be killed. It would only need a little pressure to be applied to the local Guild office to get the dungeon to open again. It was after all the most powerful and almost the most profitable dungeon he had on his books. No one would care about a contract with a dungeon anyway. Glow was to find that Antonio did not agree with him.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNjMmY2M2NlMDIzMzQzMjI5NjQxMjBjYTk2ZTRhNDU5">I immediately ruled out the dwarf, not even hesitating to study the waist-high warrior’s stat sheet. Call me vain, but IRL, I was a pretty good-looking guy. Twenty-five years old with the physique of a lightweight boxer (and the fighting skills to match), I could <em>easily</em> have been a model… <em>if</em> the industry wasn’t overrun by VR puppets.</p> <p class="cnNjMmNkYzY2ZmY5MDRkZmY5YjIyNjAzZTZiMTQxOWIy">Having been born in the wrong century for <em>that</em> particular role, and lacking the expensive intelligence enhancements of the higher classes, I was forced to find work in an area where my ‘physical media’ had not yet become surplus to requirement. I’m not trying to justify the life I led, I know I made some bad choices… but in the poorer zones of our tech-obsessed world, your flesh could typically only earn you money in one of two ways: dealing out pain, or dealing in pleasure. Even the poor bastards who chose to make their money on their backs had to compete with the damn AI, these days, thanks to fully immersive VR. With full sensory simulation now widespread, a physical body was far from obligatory for even <em>that</em> particular act. So, I took the <em>other</em> path. The <em>bloodier</em> path.</p> <p class="cnNjZTg5MWJhZDY1MjQ5N2ViYmY5MTkxOTA0ZjcxOGQ1">Somehow, despite the wear and tear on my ‘meat media’, my looks survived my brutal career choice. And from a gaming standpoint, a lot of folks paid good money to give their avatar a face and body like mine. So that was why there was no way in hell I was having that small perk squished and distorted into a dwarf-shaped container, then hidden behind a frenzied mass of facial hair.</p> <p class="cnNjYzMwODQxZWYwYTQ0MzRiNzc0NGZkODMxZDUxNjA2">“Mai, please remove the dwarf from the selection process,” I confirmed, grimacing as I stared at my bizarre brother from another server.</p> <p class="cnMyZDI4Mjc4YTA2MDQyMzdiNmRiNThkMDM5NzgxZTY2">“You got it, boss,” she replied, with a wink, banishing him from the selection screen.</p> <p class="cnM4YmVhZjRjYzU5ZDQ2MTlhMzdmM2RkOTY4ODVhZjU1">Admittedly, there was one <em>other</em> reason why I had been so quick to dismiss the dwarf. Perhaps I was a tad paranoid, or <em>maybe</em> I’d just watched too many prison dramas from the pre-Atone era of incarceration, but all my instincts were telling me that having a crotch-height avatar in a predominantly male prison was just <em>begging</em> for the wrong sort of attention.</p> <p class="cnMxMjFiM2MyZTQ3NjQ2M2JhMzQ0NGFlYzY5ZmVmNWVh">Satisfied with my (admittedly shallow) decision, I was left with two options. The wizard’s apprentice, and the swordsman. Mai was stood between them, casually draping her arms around both avatars. Then (confirming that the elven AI had absolutely no comprehension of boundaries), she leaned into the swordsman and stuck her tongue in his (my) ear.</p> <p class="cnMyYjBiYjM4MTk3YTQyNDZhYmU3NThhYzIxMzNjNzlk">Ignoring the elf’s odd behavior, I began by focusing my will on the arcane option, willing its stats to unfold before me. </p> <p class="cnM3M2Q3MTAzMWVlNzQ4MjQ5MjEzYWIyNjRkZTVlZDc5"> </p> <p class="cnM5OGFjZTI4OTc3NTQyMGM4MWM4NjU1NGZkNDA1NmRj"><strong>PRIMARY SKILL: WIZARD’S APPRENTICE – LEVEL 1</strong></p> <p class="cnM4Y2ZhMTdkOTRhMzQzNmE4MzM2N2U5ZWVhOGI2YmE4"><strong>PERCENTAGE REMAINING UNTIL NEXT LEVEL IS UNLOCKED – 100%</strong></p> <p class="cnNlOTdkMTg1OGRjMzRmZGNiMmJhZWZkODQ2NDVkMzE0"><strong> </strong></p> <p class="cnNmNjUyYTI4ODI2ZTQ3YWJiNzZhNDZiNmRmMGE3MTg3"><strong>Rep: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnNmMjFmYTkyMThjNDQ2YmFhMWVhYWYxMDg3MTMzYjU0"><strong>HP: 70/70 </strong></p> <p class="cnM2OGI5MmQ2YWViZjRhYTE5NDM1NzMwMGQyNmUwNjdk"><strong>Mana: 1/60 </strong></p> <p class="cnMzMDkwNWQ1NzQ4ZDQ4ZGNiZTliOTAwYzk5NTg0MGQz"><strong>Alliances: None (Independent)</strong></p> <p class="cnMxNzg5ZTVhNTM0OTRiZDhiN2RmMDQ4NWUwMzNiZThk"><strong> </strong></p> <p class="cnM1M2NhYzRhZDM2YzRmNjBhNTZiYjcxZDBmODJlZDhh"><strong>PHYSICAL STATS -</strong></p> <p class="cnNmOWI4NjI5Y2I5ODQwMTFiN2VhNjk1NmE5ZmU5MDlk"><strong> </strong></p> <p class="cnNlMzQ2ZjBlNmM5YTQ0YmE4MjBlNmEyYjRmYTY2ZTRi"><strong>Strength: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnM1ZTZkNWE2OGIwZDRlMWNhMDdkMTE0MGNjZDMyYmFk"><strong>Agility: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnMxNmRiMzk0NDRkYTRhNjE5MmNjZDYzMmMwN2Y0ZWU1"><strong>Speed: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnM1MDc0ZDQ2ZjI0YzRiMWI5Mjg4YWU4Y2Q5OTU1ODdh"><strong>Stamina: 1</strong></p> <p class="cnNmNzFhOTZmMTRiMDQ3NjU5MWVjNzY3ZDIyYzU0MTU0"><strong>Resilience: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnM1MTVjM2U4YTI3ODRjOGNiNDRhMjE1YWRiMGZkYzUz"><strong>Accuracy: 2</strong></p> <p class="cnMzZjk2MWI0YmVkZTQ1ZTliMTZiMjhlMmU5NmE2NTA5"><strong>Defence: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnM4MWJkNDFkMzZhMzRkZGViMTBjODVmOTAxZjJlYzIy"><strong>Armed combat: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnM3ZTY3MjcxNTE3NDRhZTU4ZDE3YWMxOWNlOGYyNmNh"><strong>Unarmed combat: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnNiYzVmMTU2YTNhZDRiMDdiODMyMmE0MTAxOTQ2NTc4"><strong>Carrying capacity: 1</strong></p> <p class="cnM1MmE0ODk4M2I5YjQ4ZTdiZTczNzhhNjZiZDBlZjkx"><strong> </strong></p> <p class="cnMwNjBhNmQ2NGRiZTQ0ZTY5ZDhjNmQ0MzRmMTk0Nzlh">Yikes. The arcane form was a <em>total</em> pushover. But hang on, what was this other menu?</p> <p class="cnM1NjkwM2M0MmE0MDRmMTZiNTU2Mjg5NzRmOTZkMmZh"><strong> </strong></p> <p class="cnNkZDU4YWM5NGZkYjQ4NzQ4MjQ1M2YxNmJlMDVmNDMz"><strong>INTANGIBLE STATS -</strong></p> <p class="cnNhMjBlZjRjMjg1NDQyNjE5OGEyY2ExZGIyN2E2N2Zl"><strong> </strong></p> <p class="cnNjOGY0NTNiOWMxZTRmZDQ5ZTg3M2ViZjlhYmRmMTQ5"><strong>Magical attack: 1</strong></p> <p class="cnM3NDMwYTUyYTk4MjRmYTBiYzNhZTI5ZWFkZmFiMjY2"><strong>Perception: 1</strong></p> <p class="cnNkODExZjc0ZmEwZTQyNjhhMjJhYTQ4ZjI4Zjg1MTZi"><strong>Charisma: 1</strong></p> <p class="cnMxZDY1Mzc2Zjg5OTQwMDk5YTQ0ODJkOTdmZjgyMDk5"><strong>Disguise: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnNjODE4NGY0NjIyNTQ0NmNiMjY5OGQ1MWE0OTEzZjlj"><strong>Luck: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnM4MjJmZjFiYzViZDQzNWJhYWZjNDcyZGIyNjY3NzRk"><strong>Healing: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnNhZGZkNDQwNTMxMTQ2ZDViNjA3Y2ZhN2U0MzY3YTQ1"><strong>Mana generation: 1</strong></p> <p class="cnM3NjBlOTUyYTg4NzQzNTFiNjAyMjg4NzU4MDBhYzVj"><strong>Leadership: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnM2MzAyNjEwNTE5MzQ4YmM4NTRkOWNlYjA3NTJlYmY2"><strong>Homemaking: 1</strong></p> <p class="cnNhNmQzYTM0YjEyNTRiMjI4YmM5ZjgzNThhM2RlYWYy"> </p> <p class="cnM2NDc4NTA5ZjcyODRmNjRhMzJiMjczODFmNzdiNzIx"><strong>OUTSTANDING QUESTS – Select your character (In progress)</strong></p> <p class="cnNiOWViZmQ1NDg0NTRjNzliMTMzYjZlOTQ4N2RkYTQ1"> </p> <p class="cnMzMWRlNzE3MGY5MDQyZDU5ZjhhNmY1YzViMDhmMjI3"><em>Homemaking</em>? I scoffed with a quizzical tone. Well, I suppose it makes sense to have <em>something</em> to fall back on if the wizarding thing doesn’t work out, but <em>seriously</em>? I couldn’t imagine that the ability to darn my own socks or keep my cell tidy would get me <em>that</em> far in whatever lay ahead. And that wasn’t the only oddity. This avatar was troublingly low on physical attributes. Still, charisma was an interesting addition. It couldn’t be the worst thing to possess, arriving in a virtual prison with no allies, like <em>I</em> was about to. But what in the holy hell was mana?</p> <p class="cnM1YjIzMWEyZjIxODQ3NTNhZjQyNWUzZTk5YTQ1ODEz">As I tried to figure things out, the clock continued to count down. I needed something to compare those stats against, so I ignored the amorous elf and focused my will on the swordsman, calling up the empty avatar’s details. </p> <p class="cnNiN2IyYjNmMTc1NTQ0NjRiZWRiYWU1ZDAxZjA0NzNi"> </p> <p class="cnMzNGU5MDA4YzkyZjRjZGFiYmM4ZjU4M2UyYmY0M2Y5"><strong>PRIMARY SKILL: SWORDSMAN – LEVEL 1</strong></p> <p class="cnNjNmJiMWUzZGFiMDRiNzZhMDkxM2QxMjYwZjFlN2Q0"><strong>PERCENTAGE REMAINING UNTIL NEXT LEVEL IS UNLOCKED – 100%</strong></p> <p class="cnMxY2FkM2NhMGU5YjQxMWY5ZDA0NzUwYTE1M2JlZTBm"><strong> </strong></p> <p class="cnMyNWYxMDk2OGZlYTRlOWFiODQ1OGNhNjdiNzQ2MzU4"><strong>Rep: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnM1OGY4MzhhNmM0ODRjMGI4NjBmYTQ1ZDdjYmQ1YWMw"><strong>HP: 80/80 </strong></p> <p class="cnM1NDEyOWFkNmVkYjQzMjg5Y2M1ZjNmNGU2YjY2MjZj"><strong>Mana: 0/40 </strong></p> <p class="cnMxMmRhZDdjM2UzZDQ1Mjk5OTg1ZDNiOWY3NzM3ZjQz"><strong>Alliances: None (Independent)</strong></p> <p class="cnMzMDQyNjI5M2Y0OTQxNGE5NDBmN2Q3MzQ1N2FiMWJk"><strong> </strong></p> <p class="cnNjYTJmMjZhZTZiYzQ0NGI4MWY1YjUyMTU1OThlNWFm"><strong>PHYSICAL STATS -</strong></p> <p class="cnMyZjZiYjFlMzFjZDQ2OGViOTUzZGU0YmVkMDFmYWVj"><strong> </strong></p> <p class="cnNhOWQ3ZTI5N2ViZjQ3ZWJhMTY4ODMxMjZlYjZiNDY1"><strong>Strength: 1</strong></p> <p class="cnNjMzAzNzQ5YzMwZDQzYzA5MTFjNjg5MzgxMWJhZTFm"><strong>Agility: 1</strong></p> <p class="cnMxNjAwY2VjNGJhZjQ2Njc5OGU5MDAwOWMyM2VmYzhh"><strong>Speed: 1</strong></p> <p class="cnMwYzdjOWM1ZmNmNzQxYWVhYzJmZTc3OTAzYWIxYjE1"><strong>Stamina: 1</strong></p> <p class="cnM5ZWI4ZGZiN2YzNTQxMDg4OWRiNmU2ZDU5ZjIwODEy"><strong>Resilience: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnM4ZTkzMGE2MWJmODQ4MTQ4NjA5Y2FjNDg5NTBjN2Ux"><strong>Accuracy: 1</strong></p> <p class="cnMzZmYwZTUyZjUwMzQwNTc5ODgxZjUyNDcwYTU1NWRk"><strong>Defence: 1</strong></p> <p class="cnM5MGQ3MGUyYTBmZjQ2NThhNmY2M2NhY2E1N2NkNzky"><strong>Armed combat: 1</strong></p> <p class="cnM3Zjg3Yzg0ODE5MTQxZTU5MmM0YzQyMzZmYWQ4OGZk"><strong>Unarmed combat: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnMxYWFiM2Y4OTc4YjRjZmViNDBjNDdmNDU2OTgyYjA3"><strong>Carrying capacity: 1</strong></p> <p class="cnMyNGEyOGEyMDg3YjQxNjJhYWY0M2RkMTY5NjBhYjUz"><strong> </strong></p> <p class="cnNkMjUzZTkxOGQ5YzQzZWQ4NTE3ZWQxMjFmYmE3YjBi">Ah, now <em>that </em>I could get my head around. The swordsman’s avatar was <em>much</em> more heavily weighted toward the physical side, just like the elf had suggested. And that was a trait I had a <em>lot</em> more experience in IRL, thanks to the rather dubious career choices that got me thrown into (or was it uploaded into?) this shit-show in the first place. The blade class body was looking a lot more appealing than the arcane option. Of course, there was one more screen to check before I made my final decision…</p> <p class="cnM1YmJkMTczNWMwMDQ1ZmI5MzkyMjc5ZGYzZWZkYzc0"> </p> <p class="cnNlZjU0YzlkYjdkODQxNGFiNjkzMGU0NjRjODk5MTk0"><strong> </strong></p> <p class="cnM4NzJiNzgzNjY3MDQxMWE4OGVlYTU5NjRhZTIyYWZj"><strong>INTANGIBLE STATS -</strong></p> <p class="cnNmMmVjNzhkYzc1ZjQ5ZDc4OWYxMDNmMGI1OTQ1OTY4"><strong> </strong></p> <p class="cnNiMjEzMmJmYTA5NTRjNGY4NzJkNTA5MDNlZjJhN2Nk"><strong>Magical attack: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnNkYWMwNzM0NTQ3MDQ0NTA5M2ViODAxNmZmMmYyZTAz"><strong>Perception: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnM3Njk4NDM1MDJhZTRiOTViMTI1YzA2YTc4YTIxZGJi"><strong>Charisma: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnNjZDBjNzkyMzQ1OTRmOTRiZjEzMjUwZGI2Y2YzNjVj"><strong>Disguise: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnM5NjE4ZTFhMzg4MjRkYzM4Yzk2MzY5OTE0MmYzZjE3"><strong>Luck: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnMxNTkzNGNlYzkyMDQ3NjFhOTMzOGRiNDFkYWE4ZDk0"><strong>Healing: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnMwYzNiYjcyNjJlOTRhYzRhZjkyNDNjYzBiMzZjMTRh"><strong>Mana generation: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnM2MDZjZDM1MmQ4MjQzYWRiMjk4MDgwNTQwOTI2YTdk"><strong>Leadership: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnNhMjRkYmQxMTIxZjRmOTNiZDA1NTY4OGM1OWVlZGNi"><strong>Homemaking: 0</strong></p> <p class="cnMyZTljNDg2NTBmMDRjYzA5ODFkY2MxNTMxZjJlNzgz"> </p> <p class="cnMyM2U0NDA1ZTFmYzQ5NWJhOTZmMjVlODAwNzIzZjA5"><strong>OUTSTANDING QUESTS – Select your character (In progress)</strong></p> <p class="cnNjN2Q5NjVjOGE3MzQwOTViZTU3NGQ4ZWQ3YzM0ODk3"> </p> <p class="cnM2OTI3ODU4N2FiOTRkYmY4ZWYzYWY4YmQ4Y2FhOWIz">Yikes. Not so hot on the non-physical skills, then, something that I pretty much expected. But hey, big deal. What the hell did I know about magic <em>anyway</em>? I knew how to hurt people, and <em>that </em>was a skill I could carry over from my old life.</p> <p class="cnNhNmY2ZDgzZmQ5ZDQ0OWRhM2Y2NjRiZDFiNTVjOTdi">I stared at my potential new body, transfixed. Admittedly, I knew as much about sword fighting as I did about magic, but a sword couldn’t be <em>that </em>difficult to wield compared to a baseball bat, right? This option didn’t have the wizard’s charisma, but surely, I had more than enough natural charisma to get me through. And as for homemaking, well, <em>so what</em> if I can’t make a bed properly?</p> <p class="cnMwYTY1NTkxMjUxNTRlYmM4YmM1MWNkYTY2ZjUzOTNi">My mind made up, I selected the swordsman.</p> <p class="cnM3MDhlMGYxMmM4YTRhOWU4NDZlODcyZjhkMWJjOWI1">“Swordsman avatar selected” giggled the sexy elf, giving me a wink.</p> <p class="cnMxNjhhNTAyYzcwMjRlNmI4YTQ5YTUwMzIzOWQyMDQ4">Without warning, my grip on this odd virtual reality gave way, as if the floor had fallen out from under me. I began to fall, leaving my chosen avatar and its elven seducer behind. They drifted into the distance until suddenly, their code began to unknit and rejoin the data stream.</p> <p class="cnMyNGU2NDk4MTdjZTQ2NGY5NTgwMGMwYWZlNjE1MmVh"><em>No</em>! I attempted to cry. <em>I needed that body.</em> But it was a futile effort. Whatever had facilitated my ability to communicate (the elf, perhaps?) was now gone. I had nothing to cry out <em>with</em>. Scared and desperate, I tried to claw upwards, to retrieve my dissipating form, but I had nothing to claw with, either. I was mind again, and little else. A tiny program drowning in a volatile torrent of data-flow.</p> <p class="cnNlMTRhN2MyOTdlMjQzOWE5YjY3YjNmNjhiMTJhZjJj">As I slowly came to accept my fate, it occurred to me that the data surrounding me was probably that of <em>other</em> prisoners, all being transferred down toward a similar end.</p> <p class="cnM1ZTI5NjYzNzM3ODQ2OTE4OGY2ZjkzNzExMTNmYzhi"><em>But to what end? What in the hell was going on?</em></p> <p class="cnMyMDEyNmFlOGQzMjQ5OWNhNzAzNDgyNmQzODU1NzFl"><strong>-[ Data transfer in progress. ]-</strong></p> <p class="cnM5YjQ4YTBkMDhkODQ5MTRhNDQyMTJiMDEzYWZlZjg2">…replied the system, as if reading my thoughts. Given my digital nature, it probably was.</p> <p class="cnMyZWMwNWNiOTIzNDRmYzJiMDk2MDc5YTI4YjYzMTI3"><strong>-[ Avatar build in progress, please wait. ]-</strong></p> <p class="cnNiOTU2NzFjNDU5OTQ0Y2JiMDBhOWFmZGU1NjRjMTZi">Everything went white.</p> </div>

I immediately ruled out the dwarf, not even hesitating to study the waist-high warrior’s stat sheet. Call me vain, but IRL, I was a pretty good-looking guy. Twenty-five years old with the physique of a lightweight boxer (and the fighting skills to match), I could *easily* have been a model… *if* the industry wasn’t overrun by VR puppets. Having been born in the wrong century for *that* particular role, and lacking the expensive intelligence enhancements of the higher classes, I was forced to find work in an area where my ‘physical media’ had not yet become surplus to requirement. I’m not trying to justify the life I led, I know I made some bad choices… but in the poorer zones of our tech-obsessed world, your flesh could typically only earn you money in one of two ways: dealing out pain, or dealing in pleasure. Even the poor bastards who chose to make their money on their backs had to compete with the damn AI, these days, thanks to fully immersive VR. With full sensory simulation now widespread, a physical body was far from obligatory for even *that* particular act. So, I took the *other* path. The *bloodier* path. Somehow, despite the wear and tear on my ‘meat media’, my looks survived my brutal career choice. And from a gaming standpoint, a lot of folks paid good money to give their avatar a face and body like mine. So that was why there was no way in hell I was having that small perk squished and distorted into a dwarf-shaped container, then hidden behind a frenzied mass of facial hair. “Mai, please remove the dwarf from the selection process,” I confirmed, grimacing as I stared at my bizarre brother from another server. “You got it, boss,” she replied, with a wink, banishing him from the selection screen. Admittedly, there was one *other* reason why I had been so quick to dismiss the dwarf. Perhaps I was a tad paranoid, or *maybe* I’d just watched too many prison dramas from the pre-Atone era of incarceration, but all my instincts were telling me that having a crotch-height avatar in a predominantly male prison was just *begging* for the wrong sort of attention. Satisfied with my (admittedly shallow) decision, I was left with two options. The wizard’s apprentice, and the swordsman. Mai was stood between them, casually draping her arms around both avatars. Then (confirming that the elven AI had absolutely no comprehension of boundaries), she leaned into the swordsman and stuck her tongue in his (my) ear. Ignoring the elf’s odd behavior, I began by focusing my will on the arcane option, willing its stats to unfold before me. **PRIMARY SKILL: WIZARD’S APPRENTICE – LEVEL 1** **PERCENTAGE REMAINING UNTIL NEXT LEVEL IS UNLOCKED – 100%** **Rep: 0** **HP: 70/70** **Mana: 1/60** **Alliances: None (Independent)** **PHYSICAL STATS -** **Strength: 0** **Agility: 0** **Speed: 0** **Stamina: 1** **Resilience: 0** **Accuracy: 2** **Defence: 0** **Armed combat: 0** **Unarmed combat: 0** **Carrying capacity: 1** Yikes. The arcane form was a *total* pushover. But hang on, what was this other menu? **INTANGIBLE STATS -** **Magical attack: 1** **Perception: 1** **Charisma: 1** **Disguise: 0** **Luck: 0** **Healing: 0** **Mana generation: 1** **Leadership: 0** **Homemaking: 1** **OUTSTANDING QUESTS – Select your character (In progress)** *Homemaking*? I scoffed with a quizzical tone. Well, I suppose it makes sense to have *something* to fall back on if the wizarding thing doesn’t work out, but *seriously*? I couldn’t imagine that the ability to darn my own socks or keep my cell tidy would get me *that* far in whatever lay ahead. And that wasn’t the only oddity. This avatar was troublingly low on physical attributes. Still, charisma was an interesting addition. It couldn’t be the worst thing to possess, arriving in a virtual prison with no allies, like *I* was about to. But what in the holy hell was mana? As I tried to figure things out, the clock continued to count down. I needed something to compare those stats against, so I ignored the amorous elf and focused my will on the swordsman, calling up the empty avatar’s details. **PRIMARY SKILL: SWORDSMAN – LEVEL 1** **PERCENTAGE REMAINING UNTIL NEXT LEVEL IS UNLOCKED – 100%** **Rep: 0** **HP: 80/80** **Mana: 0/40** **Alliances: None (Independent)** **PHYSICAL STATS -** **Strength: 1** **Agility: 1** **Speed: 1** **Stamina: 1** **Resilience: 0** **Accuracy: 1** **Defence: 1** **Armed combat: 1** **Unarmed combat: 0** **Carrying capacity: 1** Ah, now *that* I could get my head around. The swordsman’s avatar was *much* more heavily weighted toward the physical side, just like the elf had suggested. And that was a trait I had a *lot* more experience in IRL, thanks to the rather dubious career choices that got me thrown into (or was it uploaded into?) this shit-show in the first place. The blade class body was looking a lot more appealing than the arcane option. Of course, there was one more screen to check before I made my final decision… **INTANGIBLE STATS -** **Magical attack: 0** **Perception: 0** **Charisma: 0** **Disguise: 0** **Luck: 0** **Healing: 0** **Mana generation: 0** **Leadership: 0** **Homemaking: 0** **OUTSTANDING QUESTS – Select your character (In progress)** Yikes. Not so hot on the non-physical skills, then, something that I pretty much expected. But hey, big deal. What the hell did I know about magic *anyway*? I knew how to hurt people, and *that* was a skill I could carry over from my old life. I stared at my potential new body, transfixed. Admittedly, I knew as much about sword fighting as I did about magic, but a sword couldn’t be *that* difficult to wield compared to a baseball bat, right? This option didn’t have the wizard’s charisma, but surely, I had more than enough natural charisma to get me through. And as for homemaking, well, *so what* if I can’t make a bed properly? My mind made up, I selected the swordsman. “Swordsman avatar selected” giggled the sexy elf, giving me a wink. Without warning, my grip on this odd virtual reality gave way, as if the floor had fallen out from under me. I began to fall, leaving my chosen avatar and its elven seducer behind. They drifted into the distance until suddenly, their code began to unknit and rejoin the data stream. *No*! I attempted to cry. *I needed that body.* But it was a futile effort. Whatever had facilitated my ability to communicate (the elf, perhaps?) was now gone. I had nothing to cry out *with*. Scared and desperate, I tried to claw upwards, to retrieve my dissipating form, but I had nothing to claw with, either. I was mind again, and little else. A tiny program drowning in a volatile torrent of data-flow. As I slowly came to accept my fate, it occurred to me that the data surrounding me was probably that of *other* prisoners, all being transferred down toward a similar end. *But to what end? What in the hell was going on?* **-[ Data transfer in progress. ]-** …replied the system, as if reading my thoughts. Given my digital nature, it probably was. **-[ Avatar build in progress, please wait. ]-** Everything went white.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMwYTUxMDEyM2JkNDQyOWE5ZDU5NWRkYzliMTZjYzFj"><strong><em><span style="font-size: 1.1em">POV Change - Damon Jaeger</span></em></strong></p> <p class="cnM0MDA2NjRjYjViNTRmNTE4MzBlNGQ1MjNkZGZlY2I4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Damon looked at Natasha with an annoyed and inquisitive look.</span></p> <p class="cnNhM2EzNTdjNjU0YzQzOWY5NThhZDNkYjNkNmVlOWZh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"You gonna answer me or not, Natasha?" Damon's voice spoke out again but louder and harsher as he flipped his legs off of the bed and stood up.</span></p> <p class="cnNjMmU5MjM4YjRjMTQ5ZmZiMDFjYzJlNTA4NGZkNWFm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Natasha bit her lower lip a little bit as she averted her eyes from Damon's. Damon looked down at Natasha, seeming to want to take action but not doing so because he knew Natasha could probably break him just like Miss Sasaki but his anger nearly made him forget this fact.</span></p> <p class="cnM3NTEzYzM1YWQ1ZjQ4N2U5MWViZmVjYzM1M2JhODRm"><em><span style="font-size: 1.1em">'They purposely did this? So they knew me before I let go...Wait...Did they organize <strong>that</strong> as well...?'</span></em></p> <p class="cnMxYjg1MGE0ZDA4NDQyZWY4NTQzODY0MjY4ZTViMGZi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">By now, Damon's face was cold and had a sharp feel to it so Natasha spoke up.</span></p> <p class="cnMxMTgwYzk0ZTkyMDQ2NTViZGQ2ZDI2M2IwMWY1Mzgy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"We...We've been watching you for a long time, Damon and studying whether you had your families talents..." Natasha spoke in nothing but a whisper but both Mika and Damon heard her clearly with their senses.</span></p> <p class="cnMzMThlNzcxZjNkNDRkNWZhYTBmNDUzM2IwOTcxZGU3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"Talents? What talents?" Damon sharply interrupted her. Natasha sighed deeply and looked into Damon's sharp and angry eyes, grimacing slightly when she saw the lack of friendliness that was once there.</span></p> <p class="cnNkMDc5YWZkMTU3MDRlMmI5YzZkOGViOTg3YWM1YmVj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"Your family, the Jaeger Family have always been talented in Fighting and Killing. They were mainly used as Elite Soldiers to thin out the opposing army's infantry. But as we got closer and closer to modern times, we had less and less need for them so they switched to a different business..."</span></p> <p class="cnMyODUzMGYxMmVlYTQyZGJhMDBjYWVmYjYwOGJjZjgy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Natasha paused for a while before she motioned at what Damon presumed was the school around them before she carried on speaking. "They became assassins and bodyguards. They made their own Clan and earn quite a bit of money doing their jobs. They're completely Human, however. They just rely on their Gifts." Natasha slumped into a chair before continuing.</span></p> <p class="cnM2NWUwMjUyMmE0ZjQyMDI5NjdiNTBmZjE0Y2Y5NDZi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"All of their Gifts revolve around fighting and we, the Supernatural or the Manifested as we refer to ourselves, have been very interested in their Gifts; we wanted to merge their Gifts with our Manifest Technology to make the perfect assassin or soldier. That's not to say that other people in the world don't have Gifts, just that your family has certain ones we need."</span></p> <p class="cnNmMjg5MjEzNTg0MjQ2NmFiYzc2MjJmY2U2YWRjMjlm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Damon turned away from Natasha feeling slightly hurt that Natasha, Nox and his relations were just them pulling him into their Organization. He sat down on the bed he was just lying on, his pained expression very obvious.</span></p> <p class="cnM2N2Q2YTllODUyMjQ2ODlhYjk2ZTQ2ZTcwMjQ3MTY2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"Damon, we're still friends, the Job the organization gave me doesn't change a thing about that--!" Natasha also felt pained when she saw the expression on Damon's face and she tried to explain herself but Damon put his hand up to tell her to stop.</span></p> <p class="cnM4NmQ3OWM4MTMzNzRiMjViZGJiMDg1MTEzNWMwMmYx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"The damage is already done, we'll never go back to how we are now because you guys weren't honest with me. I have a special kind of dislike for liars." Damon looked away and out of the window "You know, you could have just told me the truth and I would have joined anyway. But I have one pretty big question, Miss Natasha..." Damon's voice went from cold to freezing as he looked at Natasha.</span></p> <p class="cnNiNWVlMjJmYzBmYjQ0ZGI4NmM3NjhmZWQwMDg5NzNj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Natasha felt a pang of pain in her chest as she heard how Damon had added on a 'Miss' to how he spoke to her. She knew that their teacher-student-friend kind of relationship was over.</span></p> <p class="cnNkNzIzNjc5MjU1ODQ2ZjM5ZmI2MTJlZTc1NGUyMTM5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">But even more than that, his ice-like expression and the coldly scathing voice told her he was about to ask a very serious question.</span></p> <p class="cnNiYTg2ZmIzOGM4NjQ2N2Q4MWEwY2NmMWNkYmJlYWZm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"Did you organize that to happen to Erika and Ayano so I would cut loose and you could then blackmail me into joining this organization? Answer this question <em><strong>very</strong></em> carefully, Miss Natasha." Damon's icy voice had developed into a low growl of anger the longer he spoke. Natasha widened her eyes at Damon and felt another pang of pain in her heart as she thought about how lowly Damon regarded her now.</span></p> <p class="cnM2NDMyZDU2YzUyOTQ1ZTc5ZmY3NzRhYWZiODliOTdh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"No! I would never have organized those poor girls to be hurt like that! That was pure chance and we decided to act on it and use it to make sure you joined!" Natasha nearly yelled as she spoke to Damon, desperation to prove herself evident in her voice.</span></p> <p class="cnNiNjNhYTgxOTU5ZjRjODBhMjE3MjdmNjQyOTAwZWY0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Damon's eye twitched and his hand that was resting on the metal headboard for the bed suddenly clenched, rending the metal to pieces and causing Natasha and Mika to jump in fright.</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZmJlYTMxMDE2ODQwY2Y5OTIzYjcwMTQ2OGNhM2Nm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"So what you're saying is, you knew it was happening to them and you didn't stop it from happening? You let those filthy bastards do those disgusting acts of molesting my childhood friends and then you pretended to be <em>my friend afterward?!</em> <strong><em>How dare YOU!</em></strong>" Damon stood up and roared at Natasha, his eyes a bright yellow and filled with savage anger.</span></p> <p class="cnNiOTdkYjIwMDdmMDQxOWZhNzViYzJiMDBjNjg2YTM2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Natasha paled at what he said and her head dropped and hung low in guilt and regret furthering Damon's anger.</span></p> <p class="cnM0ODQyZGFkNjRiNjRkNjA4YWMwMjYyNzAxZWE3YWY0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Roaring Damon turned around and swung his leg at the metal framed bed contorting the metal and sending the bed flying across the room cracking the wall it came in contact with.</span></p> <p class="cnMxYWFlNmZkMGU3OTQwOGJhZTM0YWM3MjRhZjk1Yjg3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">At this moment, someone Damon didn't want to see now, or ever, walked into the room. It was Nox. Nox saw Damon kick the heavy metal framed bed across the room before having a confused smile on his face before speaking.</span></p> <p class="cnM5NTJlYzBkOTFiZjRmYzY4OTVkZDgzODQzN2IyZmVj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"What's got you so riled up, buddy?" Nox's voice was carefree but at the same time concerned and worried for Damon and what made him this angry.</span></p> <p class="cnMzZmIyNmU4MjU4ZDQ1ZTg4YzA5MWUyZDc5NGNhNTY4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Hearing Nox's voice, Damon's head shot in his direction, his pupils contracting and pushing themselves into slits radiating immense amounts of hatred and resentment before he issued another roar and charged at him. Damon knew Nox was a Mage so he was physically weaker than Natasha and that meant Damon had a bigger chance at getting at him than he did Natasha. Well, that was if he could get close.</span></p> <p class="cnNmNmE2NDQwMDcxMzQ0NjQ5YTMxMWQ5Y2IxZTU4N2Q1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Nox saw Damon charging at him like a frenzied beast and his eyes widened before he waved his hand sending out an aura of light.</span></p> <p class="cnM2MDM4YjJhMzFjMDRkZWNhNTg2ZDMzMjdlNTdmMWQ4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The aura of light hit Damon and leeched all the power from his body sending him to the floor. Nox looked at Damon with a lost look on his face while Natasha was pinning Damon to the floor and telling him to calm down.</span></p> <p class="cnMwYzMwMzZiOWZhMzQ5ZTg4YzRmYTRlOTgzMjkyNTA2"><em><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"YOU TWO LIED TO ME! YOU LET MY CHILDHOOD FRIENDS GET MOLESTED AND THEN YOU MADE ME THINK YOU WERE MY FRIENDS!<strong> I'LL FUCKING MASSACRE THE BOTH OF YOU!</strong></span></em><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"</span></p> <p class="cnM3OGMyZGU3OTBkODQxODI5OWQzNTk4MmNkMWRiNWUx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Damon's roars continued to sound out for a while as he continued to thrash about and threaten both Natasha and Nox. From when he heard the first roar, Nox knew why Damon was reacting so badly and he couldn't help but avert his eyes in shame and guilt.</span></p> <p class="cnM4MTEyYjYxYWQ4NzQyZTg5YWI1ZDQwMTI1OTYwZjdh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">He knew how much it must hurt and enrage Damon to know he had lived for a month with two people who pretty much let the two most important and precious people in his world get molested. He knew this because despite Damon seeming constantly indifferent to those around him when he finally started to care about someone he showed extreme amounts of emotion and attachment.</span></p> <p class="cnMyODE4ZWZiNTRiYTQzNTU4MWRlMTVkY2ZiNzkwNjQw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">It was like he constantly switching between extreme moments of Apathy and then extreme moments of Emotion. Kind of like a see-saw going back and forth.</span></p> <p class="cnM5MzgwZGZkM2IxYTRkZjFhMzk1MjQxNWYzNTM0ZGY4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Throughout the entire time of holding him down while he thrashed about, every sentence he said caused Natasha to cry a little more. Over the month she trained him, she'd come to see him as a younger brother and wished to constantly dote on him and tease him but now, all the things they were going to do in the future had gone up in a poof of smoke; Gone forever.</span></p> <p class="cnM2NzJlY2UyODYxMDQxODk4ZWY3ZmFmZTk3ZGU2Njcz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">After his thrashing was over, Damon's face had lost its anger and it was just detached; no emotion. Like a doll or a dead body.</span></p> <p class="cnMxZWYxNTY2OTcwYTQzMWU5ZGFjYWVkY2E5YTEwNDRh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Natasha slowly let go of him and stood up before offering him a hand. Damon ignored the hand and stood up before speaking while adjusting his uniform.</span></p> <p class="cnM3ZjRiM2VhOWFhZDQyNWFhOTBiYzA0NDRjY2MwNDgz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"I understand that you did not plan the incident but the fact you let it happen is just as worse. Although I shouldn't, I'll trust that the other bits of information you've given me over the past month." His voice was monotone and emotionless, the emotional distress causing his brain to cut off the emotion until he could get to a place where he didn't deem it a threat and then he could rest and recover his emotional faculties.</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZmU3ZjEyYTNhYTRlMWFhOWRhNTUyMmRlMWM5MDAw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go home. I'll see you later, Mika-sama. Goodbye Mr. Nox, Miss Natasha, I truly hope we never see each other again." With that said, Damon started to walk out of the room.</span></p> <p class="cnM4NzNjOTc0OTNkNzQ1NDY4Yjk3YjEyOTI2OGMzYjc2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"Damon--!" Nox walked up to Damon and put his hand on Damon's arm to stop him from leaving. What he didn't expect was for Damon slap his hand away before speaking.</span></p> <p class="cnMzMWVkMjFiNTI1ZDQ4Mjc5MDdhMGRjOGEzMjQ1MDRi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"Don't ever think you can be friends with me again, Mr. Nox. Honestly, if I were to see you even after an eternity had passed, it'd still be much too soon for me to not feel like ripping you apart." Damon's voice, while detached and without emotion was as sharp as a blade while his eyes bore holes into Nox's own. "You quite frankly disgust and anger me by simply being in the same place as me, so before I throw up from anger, disgust or both, I'm going to leave." He walked toward the entrance again.</span></p> <p class="cnNhODZiZmQyMmEwMTQxMDk4Y2QzNzAxMzRmODcwYTRk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">But before he fully left he stopped and turned around. "Oh yeah, you can take this back." He ripped the lock and chain off of his wrist "I don't need your stupid trinkets anymore." He threw it at Natasha and it collided with her still figure causing her to shake and cry even more. </span></p> <p class="cnNhYmJjMGFkMTAxNjQwMmVhY2E2N2JkYmM3M2FkZTFh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The chain and lock is a sign of sorts, a representation of their friendship, the first thing Natasha ever gave Damon and now the chain was ripped in half and in pieces, just like their friendship.</span></p> <p class="cnNjOGI5NjVhN2VmMTQzNWVhN2E0OTEyYTAzYTkxODQz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Damon continued to walk, leaving a crying Natasha, a guilt-ridden Nox, and a worried Mika.</span></p> <p class="cnNmNWIwZGYwY2EwYTRlOTFhMmM2YmVlNTQ5OWQyNjY5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Damon walked his way through the school and then into his classroom.</span></p> <p class="cnNmMzcwNTA0NmYwZTQ2NjY4NmRmY2RhZDNlNDU4Njc4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Miss Sasaki was surprised to see him and she was going to tease him but when she saw the lack of any kind of emotion on his face, she stopped. When she looked at that emotionless face, she felt oddly...scared.</span></p> <p class="cnM2MzBkNTZhYWQwNjQyMWQ4ZmFhZjBhN2JiMDVmMDJk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Damon walked to his chair, picked up his bag and then walked out of the class amidst the class who were whispering between themselves as they looked at Damon.</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZjRkYjRmY2U4ZjQ3YTc5Y2M1MDYzODA3MjgzNWQz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Miss Sasaki asked where Damon was going but he ignored her and kept walking toward the gate for the school.</span></p> <p class="cnM3MDUwMWZlNDIyMDRmYjhiNDgyZWJiZjAwMzRiOWVj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">On the way back he felt his phone buzz telling him he'd got a text. Picking his phone out of his pocket he smiled slightly when he saw who it was.</span></p> <p class="cnM0NTM4MTIxNDM0ZjRmMGFhZGI1OTg0ZjUxMDZiODBh"><em><strong><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Ayano has sent you a Text!</span></strong></em></p> <p class="cnMyNWMxN2VhYWI0MTQ3ZjFiM2FhZjcwZjZhZTY1MTUw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Damon hurriedly opened the text and saw what she put before smiling.</span></p> <p class="cnM3YjYwZGNmMmM0NTRiNGQ5ZmExMTdkOTkzZGUxZTQ0"><em><strong><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Ayano: Damon, you meanie, you left while I was asleep! You'll have to make it up to me soon!</span></strong></em><br><em><strong><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Well, whatever. How are you doing at your new school? Is everyone treating you alright? Are you eating fine? Actually, are you yourself fine?</span></strong></em></p> <p class="cnNjMDNiNmJmYWMwMTRhNzk5ZWE0YjY3MGFmMTlhOTU2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Looking at the barrage of messages Damon smiled slightly, a trickle of emotions coming back into his body.</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZGQxN2Y3YTlhZjQ5YzM5NDM2NzU1MGZiMTdkNGY1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">From how energetic she seemed, Damon could see his words about her still being pure had helped her get through her seemingly depressive state. He knew she was still probably said but if she needed him, she always knew she could ask. But Damon was glad she was back to being exactly like a little sister to him; cute, energetic and slightly unreasonable.</span></p> <p class="cnM5MTBmNmIzYTIxNzRjMTA5NjNlMmRkY2JjNzc1NGQ4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Damon typed out a messaged before sending it off.</span></p> <p class="cnNiZjBmNzBjNTg4NDRjMDJiNDEzOTgyODFlN2Q2YTRm"><strong><em><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Damon: Well, when I next have a break from school I'll take you out for something to eat, how's that sound?</span></em></strong><br><strong><em><span style="font-size: 1.1em">I'm doing fine at my new school, and everyone's treating me fine. How'd you expect a big guy like me to get bullied, huh? I'm eating just fine, don't worry. And me? I'm as good as I always am, I'm feeling even better with you texting me, however, so thanks for that Ayano.</span></em></strong></p> <p class="cnM5MDJmYmZhZGQ5MDQ5NTc4ZmI4OTMyN2QyNzcwN2Rh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Damon lied about how he was feeling currently because, despite his emotions trickling in and being happy at first, it opened the floodgate for the other emotions. Especially anger, sadness, and guilt. Anger at Nox and Natasha for lying, Sadness about Nox and Natasha lying and guilt for becoming friends with people who allowed Ayano and Erika to get hurt.</span></p> <p class="cnMwZWQzYjk1ZDE1YzRiNzJiNWE5YTljNTdhNzFkYzIz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">But Damon meant most of what he said in the text. The school was fine, everybody was treating him okay and he was eating fine even if what he was eating was technically blood and raw meat. And he was made happier by Ayano texting him.</span></p> <p class="cnMzYmQ0NjVmODQwODRjZWY4MzU3ZjljZDVlY2IxZGQy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Before long, he got another text off of Ayano.</span></p> <p class="cnM2NDkyZjM0ZDI2YTQ4M2I4NGIwMDY2YmQ1MGIwZmFi"><em><strong><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Ayano: Now you've said you'll take me out, you better live up to your promise! I'm glad you're okay, I was worried sick about how you were but to know you're happy makes me happy.</span></strong></em><br><em><strong><span style="font-size: 1.1em">And don't be such an idiot smooth talker and attract too many girls at school, okay?</span></strong></em></p> <p class="cnNkMWExNDg4NWFkMzRiNDJhYTQ2NzhlM2FhNDVmYzBl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Damon laughed at the end of Ayano's text, imagining her blushing face while she reprimanded him. It reminded him of old times.</span></p> <p class="cnM5Mjg2Nzc2YzZmODQyMDk4MGMzMWVlMTNhYzIxYjY4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">They continued to talk for a while longer before Damon said he had to do something for a while and that he'd either text her later or tomorrow.</span></p> <p class="cnNkNzE5ZDQwNDFkZjRhNGRhYmZiNjMzYTRiMjMyNTUx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">After putting his phone in his room, he took his uniform off before changing into some training gear; he had to let out some of his emotions.</span></p> <p class="cnNiY2RhMWI2NGIyNDRkYzBiMGQ2OWNhMWE5MjExNTJh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Walking out of his room in some black and tight fitting training clothes which showed off his flawless muscles, he walked down to the training room in the basement of the house and put on some extremely heavy weighted clothes, much heavier than he usually wore.</span></p> <p class="cnM1Y2IxODkwODQwZjRlMWRhNjBjY2EwNzc5ZTgyZDhm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">He did countless push-ups, sit-ups, squats, pull-ups and ran countless amounts of miles on the track in the massive basement. He kept working out, his healing factor giving him nigh-unlimited stamina and healing all of the damage done to his body.</span></p> <p class="cnMxMWExNDM3YmNmODQwYjA5M2Q2MDNmOTE2ZTg0ZTQ0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Sweat poured out of his body constantly especially his face but if you looked closely you'd see he wasn't sweating on his face, he was crying. The sadness from the betrayal and lies from Nox and Natasha had caught up to him sending him into an emotional hurricane where his only solace was training.</span></p> <p class="cnM2NzYyYTIyMTk0MjQ3NGFiZGNiYzg0YTQ4M2FiZTE1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">This continued for hours before Damon just passed out from fatigue. But it wasn't physical fatigued but rather emotional and mental fatigue and strain.</span></p> </div>

***POV Change - Damon Jaeger*** Damon looked at Natasha with an annoyed and inquisitive look. "You gonna answer me or not, Natasha?" Damon's voice spoke out again but louder and harsher as he flipped his legs off of the bed and stood up. Natasha bit her lower lip a little bit as she averted her eyes from Damon's. Damon looked down at Natasha, seeming to want to take action but not doing so because he knew Natasha could probably break him just like Miss Sasaki but his anger nearly made him forget this fact. *'They purposely did this? So they knew me before I let go...Wait...Did they organize **that** as well...?'* By now, Damon's face was cold and had a sharp feel to it so Natasha spoke up. "We...We've been watching you for a long time, Damon and studying whether you had your families talents..." Natasha spoke in nothing but a whisper but both Mika and Damon heard her clearly with their senses. "Talents? What talents?" Damon sharply interrupted her. Natasha sighed deeply and looked into Damon's sharp and angry eyes, grimacing slightly when she saw the lack of friendliness that was once there. "Your family, the Jaeger Family have always been talented in Fighting and Killing. They were mainly used as Elite Soldiers to thin out the opposing army's infantry. But as we got closer and closer to modern times, we had less and less need for them so they switched to a different business..." Natasha paused for a while before she motioned at what Damon presumed was the school around them before she carried on speaking. "They became assassins and bodyguards. They made their own Clan and earn quite a bit of money doing their jobs. They're completely Human, however. They just rely on their Gifts." Natasha slumped into a chair before continuing. "All of their Gifts revolve around fighting and we, the Supernatural or the Manifested as we refer to ourselves, have been very interested in their Gifts; we wanted to merge their Gifts with our Manifest Technology to make the perfect assassin or soldier. That's not to say that other people in the world don't have Gifts, just that your family has certain ones we need." Damon turned away from Natasha feeling slightly hurt that Natasha, Nox and his relations were just them pulling him into their Organization. He sat down on the bed he was just lying on, his pained expression very obvious. "Damon, we're still friends, the Job the organization gave me doesn't change a thing about that--!" Natasha also felt pained when she saw the expression on Damon's face and she tried to explain herself but Damon put his hand up to tell her to stop. "The damage is already done, we'll never go back to how we are now because you guys weren't honest with me. I have a special kind of dislike for liars." Damon looked away and out of the window "You know, you could have just told me the truth and I would have joined anyway. But I have one pretty big question, Miss Natasha..." Damon's voice went from cold to freezing as he looked at Natasha. Natasha felt a pang of pain in her chest as she heard how Damon had added on a 'Miss' to how he spoke to her. She knew that their teacher-student-friend kind of relationship was over. But even more than that, his ice-like expression and the coldly scathing voice told her he was about to ask a very serious question. "Did you organize that to happen to Erika and Ayano so I would cut loose and you could then blackmail me into joining this organization? Answer this question ***very*** carefully, Miss Natasha." Damon's icy voice had developed into a low growl of anger the longer he spoke. Natasha widened her eyes at Damon and felt another pang of pain in her heart as she thought about how lowly Damon regarded her now. "No! I would never have organized those poor girls to be hurt like that! That was pure chance and we decided to act on it and use it to make sure you joined!" Natasha nearly yelled as she spoke to Damon, desperation to prove herself evident in her voice. Damon's eye twitched and his hand that was resting on the metal headboard for the bed suddenly clenched, rending the metal to pieces and causing Natasha and Mika to jump in fright. "So what you're saying is, you knew it was happening to them and you didn't stop it from happening? You let those filthy bastards do those disgusting acts of molesting my childhood friends and then you pretended to be *my friend afterward?!* ***How dare YOU!***" Damon stood up and roared at Natasha, his eyes a bright yellow and filled with savage anger. Natasha paled at what he said and her head dropped and hung low in guilt and regret furthering Damon's anger. Roaring Damon turned around and swung his leg at the metal framed bed contorting the metal and sending the bed flying across the room cracking the wall it came in contact with. At this moment, someone Damon didn't want to see now, or ever, walked into the room. It was Nox. Nox saw Damon kick the heavy metal framed bed across the room before having a confused smile on his face before speaking. "What's got you so riled up, buddy?" Nox's voice was carefree but at the same time concerned and worried for Damon and what made him this angry. Hearing Nox's voice, Damon's head shot in his direction, his pupils contracting and pushing themselves into slits radiating immense amounts of hatred and resentment before he issued another roar and charged at him. Damon knew Nox was a Mage so he was physically weaker than Natasha and that meant Damon had a bigger chance at getting at him than he did Natasha. Well, that was if he could get close. Nox saw Damon charging at him like a frenzied beast and his eyes widened before he waved his hand sending out an aura of light. The aura of light hit Damon and leeched all the power from his body sending him to the floor. Nox looked at Damon with a lost look on his face while Natasha was pinning Damon to the floor and telling him to calm down. *"YOU TWO LIED TO ME! YOU LET MY CHILDHOOD FRIENDS GET MOLESTED AND THEN YOU MADE ME THINK YOU WERE MY FRIENDS! **I'LL FUCKING MASSACRE THE BOTH OF YOU!***" Damon's roars continued to sound out for a while as he continued to thrash about and threaten both Natasha and Nox. From when he heard the first roar, Nox knew why Damon was reacting so badly and he couldn't help but avert his eyes in shame and guilt. He knew how much it must hurt and enrage Damon to know he had lived for a month with two people who pretty much let the two most important and precious people in his world get molested. He knew this because despite Damon seeming constantly indifferent to those around him when he finally started to care about someone he showed extreme amounts of emotion and attachment. It was like he constantly switching between extreme moments of Apathy and then extreme moments of Emotion. Kind of like a see-saw going back and forth. Throughout the entire time of holding him down while he thrashed about, every sentence he said caused Natasha to cry a little more. Over the month she trained him, she'd come to see him as a younger brother and wished to constantly dote on him and tease him but now, all the things they were going to do in the future had gone up in a poof of smoke; Gone forever. After his thrashing was over, Damon's face had lost its anger and it was just detached; no emotion. Like a doll or a dead body. Natasha slowly let go of him and stood up before offering him a hand. Damon ignored the hand and stood up before speaking while adjusting his uniform. "I understand that you did not plan the incident but the fact you let it happen is just as worse. Although I shouldn't, I'll trust that the other bits of information you've given me over the past month." His voice was monotone and emotionless, the emotional distress causing his brain to cut off the emotion until he could get to a place where he didn't deem it a threat and then he could rest and recover his emotional faculties. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go home. I'll see you later, Mika-sama. Goodbye Mr. Nox, Miss Natasha, I truly hope we never see each other again." With that said, Damon started to walk out of the room. "Damon--!" Nox walked up to Damon and put his hand on Damon's arm to stop him from leaving. What he didn't expect was for Damon slap his hand away before speaking. "Don't ever think you can be friends with me again, Mr. Nox. Honestly, if I were to see you even after an eternity had passed, it'd still be much too soon for me to not feel like ripping you apart." Damon's voice, while detached and without emotion was as sharp as a blade while his eyes bore holes into Nox's own. "You quite frankly disgust and anger me by simply being in the same place as me, so before I throw up from anger, disgust or both, I'm going to leave." He walked toward the entrance again. But before he fully left he stopped and turned around. "Oh yeah, you can take this back." He ripped the lock and chain off of his wrist "I don't need your stupid trinkets anymore." He threw it at Natasha and it collided with her still figure causing her to shake and cry even more. The chain and lock is a sign of sorts, a representation of their friendship, the first thing Natasha ever gave Damon and now the chain was ripped in half and in pieces, just like their friendship. Damon continued to walk, leaving a crying Natasha, a guilt-ridden Nox, and a worried Mika. Damon walked his way through the school and then into his classroom. Miss Sasaki was surprised to see him and she was going to tease him but when she saw the lack of any kind of emotion on his face, she stopped. When she looked at that emotionless face, she felt oddly...scared. Damon walked to his chair, picked up his bag and then walked out of the class amidst the class who were whispering between themselves as they looked at Damon. Miss Sasaki asked where Damon was going but he ignored her and kept walking toward the gate for the school. On the way back he felt his phone buzz telling him he'd got a text. Picking his phone out of his pocket he smiled slightly when he saw who it was. ***Ayano has sent you a Text!*** Damon hurriedly opened the text and saw what she put before smiling. ***Ayano: Damon, you meanie, you left while I was asleep! You'll have to make it up to me soon!*** ***Well, whatever. How are you doing at your new school? Is everyone treating you alright? Are you eating fine? Actually, are you yourself fine?*** Looking at the barrage of messages Damon smiled slightly, a trickle of emotions coming back into his body. From how energetic she seemed, Damon could see his words about her still being pure had helped her get through her seemingly depressive state. He knew she was still probably said but if she needed him, she always knew she could ask. But Damon was glad she was back to being exactly like a little sister to him; cute, energetic and slightly unreasonable. Damon typed out a messaged before sending it off. ***Damon: Well, when I next have a break from school I'll take you out for something to eat, how's that sound?*** ***I'm doing fine at my new school, and everyone's treating me fine. How'd you expect a big guy like me to get bullied, huh? I'm eating just fine, don't worry. And me? I'm as good as I always am, I'm feeling even better with you texting me, however, so thanks for that Ayano.*** Damon lied about how he was feeling currently because, despite his emotions trickling in and being happy at first, it opened the floodgate for the other emotions. Especially anger, sadness, and guilt. Anger at Nox and Natasha for lying, Sadness about Nox and Natasha lying and guilt for becoming friends with people who allowed Ayano and Erika to get hurt. But Damon meant most of what he said in the text. The school was fine, everybody was treating him okay and he was eating fine even if what he was eating was technically blood and raw meat. And he was made happier by Ayano texting him. Before long, he got another text off of Ayano. ***Ayano: Now you've said you'll take me out, you better live up to your promise! I'm glad you're okay, I was worried sick about how you were but to know you're happy makes me happy.*** ***And don't be such an idiot smooth talker and attract too many girls at school, okay?*** Damon laughed at the end of Ayano's text, imagining her blushing face while she reprimanded him. It reminded him of old times. They continued to talk for a while longer before Damon said he had to do something for a while and that he'd either text her later or tomorrow. After putting his phone in his room, he took his uniform off before changing into some training gear; he had to let out some of his emotions. Walking out of his room in some black and tight fitting training clothes which showed off his flawless muscles, he walked down to the training room in the basement of the house and put on some extremely heavy weighted clothes, much heavier than he usually wore. He did countless push-ups, sit-ups, squats, pull-ups and ran countless amounts of miles on the track in the massive basement. He kept working out, his healing factor giving him nigh-unlimited stamina and healing all of the damage done to his body. Sweat poured out of his body constantly especially his face but if you looked closely you'd see he wasn't sweating on his face, he was crying. The sadness from the betrayal and lies from Nox and Natasha had caught up to him sending him into an emotional hurricane where his only solace was training. This continued for hours before Damon just passed out from fatigue. But it wasn't physical fatigued but rather emotional and mental fatigue and strain.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNhN2VjMDk3NDA1NDQ5NmU4NmEyYjU1MTg3ZmMxZmRi">PHASE 77 - LOVE TRIANGLE TROUBLES</p> <p class="cnNmMjcwZDM2ZTA0MjRiZTdiODJmNzE5MTM0ZGU1MjRh"><br>It’s an early Saturday morning, where the skies are clear and the sunlight does not sting. I’m in the backyard with Heushac, and both of us had our Weapon Gems deployed. We’re having a sparring session to see how much we’ve improved.</p> <p class="cnNmNDUwODliZmU1YzQyYzNiZDJiNTgyMWU1OGIzYWZm"><br>We will be switching to the flat edges of our blade, Battousai-style, to prevent any harm from both parties.</p> <p class="cnMwNDFmNmJmNjZmMjRjZjU4Y2JiZDc4OTVjMzY4OTU2"><br>“Here I go!” Heushac made the first move as he recklessly jumping to me with the plan of just beating me up. “&lt;Magma Crunch!&gt;!!!”</p> <p class="cnMxYWFjNDIzMjU1ODQ1OWY4MTQ4ZjYwNTgwOWQxNWEw"><br>I jumped back to effortlessly evade the attack. As soon as his giant sword hit the ground, the earth trembled, and the soil turned into a volcano’s crater, launching burning stones and some lava squirt! With the help of my &lt;Presage&gt;, I effortlessly evaded all those projectiles.</p> <p class="cnMzNWMzMWZlMWJiYzRlNWI4ZTFkYWIzM2ZkZDZiNjY1"><br>But Heushac didn’t stop there! “&lt;Sol Strike&gt;!!!” He swiped his sword sidewards, and a crescent flame gust emerged! That spell was used by Diadem when we first had our battle, so Heushac must have been inspired to learn that very same trick!</p> <p class="cnM4YjI4MWRmNTg1ZjQ1OTU5ZmE4OTViZDY3ZDQzNGVi"><br>Too bad, I know to counter it! “&lt;Wind Blade&gt;, Set!!!” My katana was engulfed with pure white energy, making its blades wider and thicker. And then I made a composed downward slash to dispel the flame shockwave.</p> <p class="cnNkZTVjMjJiODY1ZDQ1ZDFhNGIwNThiN2FkMWM3Mzc0"><br>Heushac was never contented with that, so he released seven consecutive &lt;Sol Strikes&gt;! To parry those flame winds, I used my &lt;Magnum Boost&gt; to cover my whole body with static electricity which gave me a massive speed gain! In the blink of an eye, my katana went through each and every fire projectiles, cutting them like butter!</p> <p class="cnNmZWZjY2YyZjE3MjQ1Mzk5YzdjZjBmNTE3MGNkYTFj"><br>“What the-” Heushac exclaimed after seeing his useless attacks. Now that he's running out of spells, he resorted on making swift hacks and quick slashes.</p> <p class="cnMzZWM0MWU4ZGUwNDRkYWJhMDlhNGIxMjg1NjFiMDZk"><br>With the help of my &lt;Presage&gt;, I predicted each and every attacked. I evaded it with no effort by sliding left and right.</p> <p class="cnM4N2FhNzk0YzFhNzQ5YzFhMWZmOGE5ZTk1NDMwOWQ2"><br>“How can you do that!?” Heushac’s jaw hanged.</p> <p class="cnM2ZmViMDY3ZTBmMjQ2ZjFiYjMwOWUzOTQ0ZGFjYmIz"><br>“Instinct.”</p> <p class="cnNlYTJhZDEzN2Q2NzQ5MDNhZWU1MmQ3YjUwMGRkNjI4"><br>“What kind of instinct is that?”</p> <p class="cnMwNTZmNzU5YmYxNTRkMjA5NWYwOWUwNGZlODBlYWQ2"><br>“Ultra.”</p> <p class="cnNiNzQyYWMwOWUxNjRhNTQ4NTljMTg0NDEzNzczZDc0"><br>I immediately bolted forward with the katana positioned on my waist. I closed my eyes as I cast my spell! “&lt;Moonlight Slash&gt;!!!”</p> <p class="cnMxNzIwYzQ0NDc3NDQ3NGRhYjBjODQwZGM1Nzk3ZGQ5"><br>My opponent was blinded as everything went dark for a split second. Then there was a silver streak, signaling that he has been directly hit in the stomach with my blade! And I just teleported behind Heushac!</p> <p class="cnM4NDU0MGQzM2Q5ZDRjNDc5YzA3Y2JkZjAxZmQ0NzM3"><br>I don’t intend to stop there! “&lt;Aether Switch&gt;!!!” I said as our bodies swapped positions. Now we’re looking face-to-face! With this, I can cast a powerful skill!</p> <p class="cnMyNjZkMGY0MjJkZDRkNDRiNjBhODg3NGYzMzZhY2Yx"><br>“&lt;Moonlight Waltz&gt;!!!”</p> <p class="cnM5NWZiYjcxMGZiYjQxNTRiY2ZmNmM2ZjM5ZmY5MGRi"><br>The same as &lt;Moonlight Slash&gt;, &lt;Moonlight Waltz&gt; blinds the enemy. But &lt;Moonlight Waltz&gt; is an upgraded version in which I can deliver a whopping twelve slashes in a blink of an eye. Though not as impressive as when I used it with the mystical invisible sword (99 strikes), this spell is still the best damage-dealing attack I had in my arsenal.</p> <p class="cnNmM2FjNmNiMDIyODRmOWJiNGVkOTBiOTcwMDI2NGFk"><br>“Ooooah!!!” Heushac fell to the ground as the muscles on his body ached. He dropped his sword which made a loud series of clanging.</p> <p class="cnM2NmVhZTU4MmI0ZTRkY2Q5MDY4MTY4NDJhMzBhZmY2"><br>“EZ GGWP!” I said as I coldly glared at my fallen friend.</p> <p class="cnNhNDIyZDk5OWQ2MjRlYmI4NmRjYjU4NzY4MjE5OTll"><br>“Stop boasting around! It’s unfair because you have a lot more experience. But I’m sure I can beat you if I’m equipped with &lt;Evo Armor&gt;!”</p> <p class="cnM5MDlhMDIyYWM4NjQyYjg5ZTQ4Y2I3M2ExY2I1ZDRj"><br>I lent out my hand to this complaining bastard as I reasoned out. “That’s more unfair because you will be using Key’s power too.”</p> <p class="cnM0MTVmMzNiODNhZjQ2MzU4MGE5YmQwOWIyYjdiYzk3"><br>As I helped Heushac stand, there was someone who was applauding our exhibition fight. It was a blonde short girl who is wearing a casual vacation outfit.</p> <p class="cnMzZTFjMjg2MWFhMjRkOTZhMzk1OTYwOWExNmE4MWIx"></p>“You guys improved a lot! Tres Bien, my dear colleagues.”<p></p> <p class="cnMxN2NmODFmMzJiNjRlZGNhN2RjYzczNzhlMGFjOWYz"><br>It was Amy! Finally, she’s back! Hey, why am I so excited?</p> <p class="cnM0YjNkMjc1MWE3OTQyOGVhMzZlODkyMjI2MzY4MTQ0"><br>Beside her is a tall black man who is carrying two backpacks, two heavy suitcases and dozens of shopping bags. That’s her ex-boyfriend Kristoff, who looks so pitiful from afar. That kitty bitch must have abused him for the whole week. And still, Kristoff is willing to play as the masochist. The things we do for love…</p> <p class="cnMyN2FlZTg1YWU5ZDQ0ZWFhNTA1ZWU2YmY2MmM3ZjU2"><br>“How’s the investigation going, Amy?” I asked.</p> <p class="cnM2ODdmNjFkNjYxYjQ3OTQ4YzRmM2I2MDY3ODg3YzMw"><br>“Is that the first thing you’ll say to your friend who got stressed for the past week?” Amy puffed her cheeks as she held her hips. “I-I could really use some friendly hug, you know!”</p> <p class="cnNmMGYxMzYzZjMwNzQ3Mzc4Njg5YjQ2ZGNlYmI4NTE5"><br>“What?” I tilted my head due to confusion.</p> <p class="cnNiOTJjMDA1ZWEzNTQ5MzZiNGZkM2U3ZWY5YmQwYTZh"><br>But then suddenly she jumped to me and hugged my chest tightly. Now his fuckboy ex-boyfriend is staring at us with a sorrowful look!</p> <p class="cnNhNDk2YTJmNGJkNDRkNWJiMjEyOWY0MmQxNGZmMDhh"><br>“Hey, stop it-” I was about to reply in the same dense manner but then her body was covered in golden light! It remolded herself to be the tall booby and booty goddess of love, Freya! Now she’s burying me on her soft cleavage!</p> <p class="cnMzYmRkMWRhN2QyMTRiMTc5Zjk4M2M1ZGEzOGZmMTkz"><br>“Moff! Mtoffp! Mmmmp!” I can’t speak! I’m suffocating!</p> <p class="cnNiNjIzNWQyMGRiMjQ0MDJhYjY3NDE5YWNhNjc5MWU4"><br>Suddenly, I heard footsteps from the house. Key’s monotonous voice entered our eardrums.</p> <p class="cnM3OThlMmEwMjY3MjQ3MzA5ZmYyZTlmMTgyOWEyNGMz"><br>“Let’s have a breakfast now. Tiara cooked the meal and it looked delicious.”</p> <p class="cnNjODIyNjc1YWZhYTRmNDI5ZWY2MDc0MzEzMjI5Y2Jk"><br>“W-Who are you?” Lord Freya tilted her head due to confusion. Finally, she released me from her grasps. I almost thought that my death will be due to snu-snu!</p> <p class="cnNiYjAxYmQzYWIwNzRhZmViYjhjMDFhMWViNWQ4YjQ0"><br>The white-haired homunculus tilted her head.</p> <p class="cnMwOTkwZWExYjIzYzRmMGU4NGI0YjNhYjNiNDM2Y2I1"><br>“I’m Key.”</p> <p class="cnMxMzU0NjUxNWJiNjRlYWU5YTc5OWQ4MTllODY0MmE0"><br>“W-What!!? It can’t be!...” Lord Freya’s jaws hanged. Now she can’t believe that a thirteen-year-old is a lot taller than her base form. Good for her.</p> <p class="cnM3ZWIwY2Y2MDU2NzRlZWU5NTcxNWZhYTA2MWI2OTYz"><br>&lt;&gt;</p> <p class="cnNiZTFiNGE1ZjRlZjRlYWFiOGYxYzNlZGQxMjgwOGJk"><br>We’re now on the dining table. While Tiara is preparing the utensils, Heushac told the story about Key’s mysterious rapid growth.</p> <p class="cnMxNzc2ZjdmYTI3ZTQwYjg5NTMzNDg4OTkyYmJkNTk3"><br>And now Amy has a solution to solve the mystery.</p> <p class="cnMyZmRlMTQzMGU1MzQxMDFiNDRkM2FjZWYxNmVjOWYx"><br>“There’s only one way to know the answer.” Amy said. “And that is to investigate the place where the Phoenix Incident happened. Apparently, our next quest is to investigate that place because it might still give us a hint about the New Order.”</p> <p class="cnMxMWE2MjIxNDQzYzRjY2U5MDMxZmVmMWM0YmJiYWRl"><br>“Phoenix Incident?” I held my chin to analyze the discussion. “I’ve been hearing that thing a while now.”</p> <p class="cnMyNjVlNjg1NzM0ZjQ2YTliMTU1MzhkNGJjYWM5NGE3"><br>“Phoenix Incident is a large-scale war of Gate Guardians against a Legion of Cursed Guardians ten years ago. Those Cursed Guardians experimented and tapped human life, creating the homunculus and other artificial humans just to create powerful creatures to add to their forces. Key is one of those test tube babies that is a product of their experimentation."</p> <p class="cnM4ODdlYmFkNWNjMzQ1NmI4ZDlhNGI4YTRjZTBjOWFl"><br>“Ooooh,” Heushac said. He’s certainly interested in Key’s origin. And for some reason, his brain cells work like how normal persons do. “So where did this Phoenix Incident happened?”</p> <p class="cnNmYzk1OGIwZDVhYjQxN2FhNTg5ZTdhMWFmYTBkMjNm"><br>“It’s in the abandoned test site in Leng City.” Kristoff answered. “New Order is also told to be active in that place.”</p> <p class="cnMxNWEzN2ZmZTYxYzQ2OGI4NTIwNDQ3YzQ5YTgwMmMy"><br>Leng City is just a few kilometers away from Dradecim. It’s a large, organic and peaceful city between Mirose Grande and Dradecim, and I quite know the place since the bus always goes roughly that city’s town proper. It is the home of beautiful parks and sceneries, though there is a nuclear test site that seemed dangerous.</p> <p class="cnM3NmJkOTM4MWJlNjQyYmRhZTBlNWE3NWY2ZTVhMzFm"><br>“M-Meal’s ready~”</p> <p class="cnNiNTdiYjZiMWRlYTQwNzBiNjY1ZGJiMDU4NGQ3Mzdh"><br>At last, time to eat breakfast. Tiara sat beside me and revealed her dish which is a uniquely soft and yellow egg omelet, hotdogs that were shaped and carved into cute octopuses, fried tempuras, and fried rice with bamboo shoots, beef chunks, and onion chives! This is so extravagant for a breakfast!</p> <p class="cnMyMDcwNjA3OTkzZDQwYzE4MDI5ODFkOWYyNTg4MDhh"><br>“H-Here you go, Rikkun…” Our adorable cook gave a bowl of fried rice to me.</p> <p class="cnM3NmU4NjQ3MWFlMDQ1MmM4YTFiNGM1ZmU2YTNiY2Qz"><br>I made a small bite on each and I can’t criticize her! These are all delicious, and the flavors perfectly blend on my tongue! I’m not a fan of egg dishes, but she made me pick the omelet as my new favorite!</p> <p class="cnMzY2M2ZTQ5Y2UxMTRlMDdiZGE5MzdkNjNkZWUyNTE5"><br>“All your meals are amazing, Tiara!” I praised her with a high jolly voice.</p> <p class="cnNlMmI5Yjg0YzJhMjRkYmY5ZDg0NGQyZjM0NWU5M2I2"><br>“R-R-Really!?” Tiara jumped with joy. She uncontrollably had her face red, but she used her hands to cover her blazing hot cheeks. Then she started to mumble nonsense when she talked to herself.</p> <p class="cnM0ZDM2MDFhNTQ2OTRlNTY4NjFmMDRmNDVmNWVkNTZk"><br>“T-This is the first time I cooked breakfast for Rikkun… I-It feels a lot more like I-I’m a w-w-wife now. I-I just wanted eight children... Ehehehe~”</p> <p class="cnM3OWFjNzY1YzU0ZjRhODE5NjRmOGU0NjExNTg2M2Ix"><br>I’ll just keep eating and ignore that I didn’t hear her delusional monologue. Gotta consume it while it’s still hot…</p> <p class="cnNjZDA2MGZiYTlkMTQ4MTk4MTQyYTI0YzA3MzM4YTk4"><br>Tiara finally continued talking to me as I chewed a tempura on my mouth. She’s still red as ever, and she’s shyly covering her mouth like a princess.</p> <p class="cnM0ZDZjMzc1OTUxZjQ3YWVhNWQ1NWRlMWM0MDQyZDFl"><br>“R-Rikkun… After the meal, d-do you want a bath...or...or...d-do you w-want m-me...me…”</p> <p class="cnM3NTc4NmM4NzZkNjRlNGI4ZmUyNTdjNzYwYjM0ODhl"><br>“Huh?” I mumbled. I didn’t hear her because the crunchy tempura is noisy when getting chewed on.</p> <p class="cnM3YmJmMTFkYThkNDQzMDRhNDY4Zjk0NDhiZTU0MDBi"><br>Suddenly, Amy slammed the wooden dining table. She’s quite furious.</p> <p class="cnMyNTRiMGJjMWI5ZjQ3OWY5OTBiNmFiMGNiMzQxYmQw"><br>“Hey, wait a minute! Why isn’t there any eating utensils at my table!?”</p> <p class="cnMyZjAzNjVhN2VmZDQyNGZiMDEzNjY4MWVhZDM2MDAz"><br>“C-Can you please n-not disturb our moment here, Necchan!” Tiara shouted with her curled eyebrows and flaming eyes. That character change is surprising! This is the first time I ever saw Tiara verbally fought back to a person other than me! “You have two hands, why don’t you get those plates and spoons for yourself!?”</p> <p class="cnM5YzRjZjBlZjQ2ZDRlNWRiYzRjNTJhODExNDYyMjg2"><br>“H-How dare you to talk back to your leader!” Amy stood up! Crap’s about to get real!</p> <p class="cnM0MTQ5ZmM0MzVmNDRlMGJiOWFmZjNiZjU0YTJhOWMx"><br>“You may be my leader, but there is only one person who can order me around! I have secured an unbreakable bond with Rikkun!”</p> <p class="cnNjOGRkNzU1OTBiMDRmZWU5MDAxOGUyMmQyMmE1YWNj"><br>“Ric is not yours! We already kissed, remember?” Amy gave a malicious smile as she held her waist.</p> <p class="cnM2ZjI3YTcyM2UzOTRhNzY5ZWQxM2FhOTNjODIwZjky"><br>“D-D-Don’t think highly yourself! B-B-Because… Because… I have kissed Rikkun tooooooooo!!!”</p> <p class="cnM0ZjUyODcwOWMxYzRjZmVhMjcxZGE3ODgwYzc5ZmM1"><br>Tiara shouted with all her bravery and might.</p> <p class="cnNmMjdmYjM4MDkzNTRiMjI4OGViZGVhNWFjM2Y4M2M3"><br>There was a long silence. Everybody stopped eating for a while because their mouth remained open. And all of them turned to me with their judging eyes.</p> <p class="cnNjM2QxZTdlYTQwNDQ5OTJhZjkxN2JjNzg2ZDNkNzll"><br>I hate love triangles.</p> <p class="cnMyMDY2ZDVhN2JhZTRjZTg5MGFkOTJkYTg3OGRlNzA3"><br>And I regret being born as a beautiful man.</p> <p class="cnMzNGMyNTQ5ZGQ4YzQyOWZhMWU1ZDhjOTZlZWZkZjI2"><br>If only I’m not that handsome, I would never get in this trouble.</p> <p class="cnM4Yzg0YTdhNGUyMjQ2ZWNhNDQ0ODNmZDFiMWI3NjIx">&nbsp;</p> </div>

PHASE 77 - LOVE TRIANGLE TROUBLES It’s an early Saturday morning, where the skies are clear and the sunlight does not sting. I’m in the backyard with Heushac, and both of us had our Weapon Gems deployed. We’re having a sparring session to see how much we’ve improved. We will be switching to the flat edges of our blade, Battousai-style, to prevent any harm from both parties. “Here I go!” Heushac made the first move as he recklessly jumping to me with the plan of just beating me up. “<Magma Crunch!>!!!” I jumped back to effortlessly evade the attack. As soon as his giant sword hit the ground, the earth trembled, and the soil turned into a volcano’s crater, launching burning stones and some lava squirt! With the help of my <Presage>, I effortlessly evaded all those projectiles. But Heushac didn’t stop there! “<Sol Strike>!!!” He swiped his sword sidewards, and a crescent flame gust emerged! That spell was used by Diadem when we first had our battle, so Heushac must have been inspired to learn that very same trick! Too bad, I know to counter it! “<Wind Blade>, Set!!!” My katana was engulfed with pure white energy, making its blades wider and thicker. And then I made a composed downward slash to dispel the flame shockwave. Heushac was never contented with that, so he released seven consecutive <Sol Strikes>! To parry those flame winds, I used my <Magnum Boost> to cover my whole body with static electricity which gave me a massive speed gain! In the blink of an eye, my katana went through each and every fire projectiles, cutting them like butter! “What the-” Heushac exclaimed after seeing his useless attacks. Now that he's running out of spells, he resorted on making swift hacks and quick slashes. With the help of my <Presage>, I predicted each and every attacked. I evaded it with no effort by sliding left and right. “How can you do that!?” Heushac’s jaw hanged. “Instinct.” “What kind of instinct is that?” “Ultra.” I immediately bolted forward with the katana positioned on my waist. I closed my eyes as I cast my spell! “<Moonlight Slash>!!!” My opponent was blinded as everything went dark for a split second. Then there was a silver streak, signaling that he has been directly hit in the stomach with my blade! And I just teleported behind Heushac! I don’t intend to stop there! “<Aether Switch>!!!” I said as our bodies swapped positions. Now we’re looking face-to-face! With this, I can cast a powerful skill! “<Moonlight Waltz>!!!” The same as <Moonlight Slash>, <Moonlight Waltz> blinds the enemy. But <Moonlight Waltz> is an upgraded version in which I can deliver a whopping twelve slashes in a blink of an eye. Though not as impressive as when I used it with the mystical invisible sword (99 strikes), this spell is still the best damage-dealing attack I had in my arsenal. “Ooooah!!!” Heushac fell to the ground as the muscles on his body ached. He dropped his sword which made a loud series of clanging. “EZ GGWP!” I said as I coldly glared at my fallen friend. “Stop boasting around! It’s unfair because you have a lot more experience. But I’m sure I can beat you if I’m equipped with <Evo Armor>!” I lent out my hand to this complaining bastard as I reasoned out. “That’s more unfair because you will be using Key’s power too.” As I helped Heushac stand, there was someone who was applauding our exhibition fight. It was a blonde short girl who is wearing a casual vacation outfit. “You guys improved a lot! Tres Bien, my dear colleagues.” It was Amy! Finally, she’s back! Hey, why am I so excited? Beside her is a tall black man who is carrying two backpacks, two heavy suitcases and dozens of shopping bags. That’s her ex-boyfriend Kristoff, who looks so pitiful from afar. That kitty bitch must have abused him for the whole week. And still, Kristoff is willing to play as the masochist. The things we do for love… “How’s the investigation going, Amy?” I asked. “Is that the first thing you’ll say to your friend who got stressed for the past week?” Amy puffed her cheeks as she held her hips. “I-I could really use some friendly hug, you know!” “What?” I tilted my head due to confusion. But then suddenly she jumped to me and hugged my chest tightly. Now his fuckboy ex-boyfriend is staring at us with a sorrowful look! “Hey, stop it-” I was about to reply in the same dense manner but then her body was covered in golden light! It remolded herself to be the tall booby and booty goddess of love, Freya! Now she’s burying me on her soft cleavage! “Moff! Mtoffp! Mmmmp!” I can’t speak! I’m suffocating! Suddenly, I heard footsteps from the house. Key’s monotonous voice entered our eardrums. “Let’s have a breakfast now. Tiara cooked the meal and it looked delicious.” “W-Who are you?” Lord Freya tilted her head due to confusion. Finally, she released me from her grasps. I almost thought that my death will be due to snu-snu! The white-haired homunculus tilted her head. “I’m Key.” “W-What!!? It can’t be!...” Lord Freya’s jaws hanged. Now she can’t believe that a thirteen-year-old is a lot taller than her base form. Good for her. <> We’re now on the dining table. While Tiara is preparing the utensils, Heushac told the story about Key’s mysterious rapid growth. And now Amy has a solution to solve the mystery. “There’s only one way to know the answer.” Amy said. “And that is to investigate the place where the Phoenix Incident happened. Apparently, our next quest is to investigate that place because it might still give us a hint about the New Order.” “Phoenix Incident?” I held my chin to analyze the discussion. “I’ve been hearing that thing a while now.” “Phoenix Incident is a large-scale war of Gate Guardians against a Legion of Cursed Guardians ten years ago. Those Cursed Guardians experimented and tapped human life, creating the homunculus and other artificial humans just to create powerful creatures to add to their forces. Key is one of those test tube babies that is a product of their experimentation." “Ooooh,” Heushac said. He’s certainly interested in Key’s origin. And for some reason, his brain cells work like how normal persons do. “So where did this Phoenix Incident happened?” “It’s in the abandoned test site in Leng City.” Kristoff answered. “New Order is also told to be active in that place.” Leng City is just a few kilometers away from Dradecim. It’s a large, organic and peaceful city between Mirose Grande and Dradecim, and I quite know the place since the bus always goes roughly that city’s town proper. It is the home of beautiful parks and sceneries, though there is a nuclear test site that seemed dangerous. “M-Meal’s ready~” At last, time to eat breakfast. Tiara sat beside me and revealed her dish which is a uniquely soft and yellow egg omelet, hotdogs that were shaped and carved into cute octopuses, fried tempuras, and fried rice with bamboo shoots, beef chunks, and onion chives! This is so extravagant for a breakfast! “H-Here you go, Rikkun…” Our adorable cook gave a bowl of fried rice to me. I made a small bite on each and I can’t criticize her! These are all delicious, and the flavors perfectly blend on my tongue! I’m not a fan of egg dishes, but she made me pick the omelet as my new favorite! “All your meals are amazing, Tiara!” I praised her with a high jolly voice. “R-R-Really!?” Tiara jumped with joy. She uncontrollably had her face red, but she used her hands to cover her blazing hot cheeks. Then she started to mumble nonsense when she talked to herself. “T-This is the first time I cooked breakfast for Rikkun… I-It feels a lot more like I-I’m a w-w-wife now. I-I just wanted eight children... Ehehehe~” I’ll just keep eating and ignore that I didn’t hear her delusional monologue. Gotta consume it while it’s still hot… Tiara finally continued talking to me as I chewed a tempura on my mouth. She’s still red as ever, and she’s shyly covering her mouth like a princess. “R-Rikkun… After the meal, d-do you want a bath...or...or...d-do you w-want m-me...me…” “Huh?” I mumbled. I didn’t hear her because the crunchy tempura is noisy when getting chewed on. Suddenly, Amy slammed the wooden dining table. She’s quite furious. “Hey, wait a minute! Why isn’t there any eating utensils at my table!?” “C-Can you please n-not disturb our moment here, Necchan!” Tiara shouted with her curled eyebrows and flaming eyes. That character change is surprising! This is the first time I ever saw Tiara verbally fought back to a person other than me! “You have two hands, why don’t you get those plates and spoons for yourself!?” “H-How dare you to talk back to your leader!” Amy stood up! Crap’s about to get real! “You may be my leader, but there is only one person who can order me around! I have secured an unbreakable bond with Rikkun!” “Ric is not yours! We already kissed, remember?” Amy gave a malicious smile as she held her waist. “D-D-Don’t think highly yourself! B-B-Because… Because… I have kissed Rikkun tooooooooo!!!” Tiara shouted with all her bravery and might. There was a long silence. Everybody stopped eating for a while because their mouth remained open. And all of them turned to me with their judging eyes. I hate love triangles. And I regret being born as a beautiful man. If only I’m not that handsome, I would never get in this trouble.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMzZmVmODFiYzE4NTRiMjliODBkM2Y2OWM4NGFjY2Iw"><span style="font-weight: 400">It wasn't too long after we got back to AEGIS and Lia's bloodstained hotel when I got a call from Cosette. Exasperated, she let me know that we had work to do, and with Tem out of the picture, I'd be picking up her share of the effort. Or else.</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZmIxZTg4MGE2MDRiOTBhNWI5MzhmMDAxNWNmODU3"><span style="font-weight: 400">I knew I was on thin ice with her. I'd already blown whatever goodwill I'd accrued in arguing with her about not going out to Chicago, but then hospitalizing Tem on top of that meant she was completely done with me for the time being. I gave in quicker than I wanted to, hanging up with her and stepping back into the office to talk to my sister and friend.</span></p> <p class="cnNmZDZmMTdmZmYyZTRhZDQ5MTExOTFiMDFhOTU4ZTA1"><span style="font-weight: 400">I had still wanted to stay with Tem. Greedily, I wanted to be there for her, instead of for the people and country which needed me. I was going to argue. I was going to complain. I was going to wonder at just how damn unlikely it was that we'd seen two events in D.C. now in the short time I was here.</span></p> <p class="cnNjZTgzZDBkNmI3MzRhNjFhMWNkOWY3YjE4MDBlZmNh"><span style="font-weight: 400">She had sent me an image of the Exhuman event in progress and I shut my mouth. Any reluctance I had was gone. It was time for the XPCA, for the P-Force to go out and save lives.</span></p> <p class="cnM5MmE3OTdhNzc1YTQ3YzhhOTc2NzE5MTVmYTRiMzdi"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Lia, AEGIS, I need to go," I said.</span></p> <p class="cnM3YzAzM2JmZTZiNzQ1MTdhZDQ2Y2JjYjMwNzYyNWFj"><span style="font-weight: 400">The two of them looked at me warily. Lia spoke first. "You look...bad, Athan. What's happened?"</span></p> <p class="cnMxNmQ1MzkzOTIxMjQwYTk4NjNkMjhlNjQyZGFkM2Q4"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Exhuman event. I need to go." From their looks I hadn't told them anything they didn't already guess.</span></p> <p class="cnM4OTdjYzI4MWFjYTQxOTNiZmY5YzNmZTY5NDlkYTIx"><span style="font-weight: 400">"You're not telling us everything," AEGIS said, her eyebrows threatening to angle downwards into her radiant eyes. I held up the image on my holo for them to see and both leaned in to take a look and then fell backwards. "That isn't possible."</span></p> <p class="cnNjMWE5MmQ5MTFkMzRjMTZhMmMxYWM0NGNjZDYzNDQw"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Not from what we know," Lia said. "But there is admittedly a lot we could </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">not</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> know."</span></p> <p class="cnNjMGJmNTRjYjFiOTQ4OWFiMjEzMGFkZDJhYjIyMmNm"><span style="font-weight: 400">"I'm pretty sure if he had any more tricks, he would have used them," AEGIS replied. Her hands seemed to move on their own, tenting and untenting and her fingertips rubbing against each other, before she broke down and grabbed one of her copper hanging twintails to stroke.</span></p> <p class="cnM1MWU4OGYzNWY3MDRlNzg5MWVjYmE5OTg4NWJjZTZi"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Obviously he had at least one more. He's there, and Athan's going to go fight him," Lia said with a frown.</span></p> <p class="cnNkYjM0ZTE2MWIwOTQyZDg4Y2Q1MzBjZTkxYTU4OWY1"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Well, I'm coming with," AEGIS said.</span></p> <p class="cnNiNjEzYzQxMjU5NDRjYTE4NWIzMDYzZTNlMjJjNTBl"><span style="font-weight: 400">"No, AEGIS," I replied. "It's too dangerous."</span></p> <p class="cnM1MjViMjM4MGFjMDQ5YjViZGExOGExZTg1OTZjNTM4"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Are you kidding me? I'm at least a thousand times more durable than you are."</span></p> <p class="cnMyNGQ1Y2M0OWJhNjRlMmNiNzYxOWY1NjNkNjNmMTY5"><span style="font-weight: 400">Lia frowned even more. "No...he's right. I mean, he's wrong, but he's also right. You haven't sorted out your bugs yet, AEGIS. If you crash out in the field, not only will you be a sitting duck, but you might endanger everyone else as well."</span></p> <p class="cnNkNDcwYTEzNGQ4OTQ4YTNiOTVlZDhlMjQyODZmYjVh"><span style="font-weight: 400">"That's bullshit," AEGIS said, looking at the two of us disbelieving. "I've only crashed like, what, twice? What are the odds it'll happen again just then?"</span></p> <p class="cnNhYzU1NTExZjc2MjQ4YjE5OGUwMTZhZjJkNWEyOTQw"><span style="font-weight: 400">"It doesn't matter the odds, things happen at the worst times, always," Lia said. "Always."</span></p> <p class="cnM2N2QxYzU0MjU5YjQ5OGE4NGM2YTNhYjVkYzMxMWVk"><span style="font-weight: 400">"That's a stupid argument," AEGIS replied.</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZDk2NzYyZjYxZjQzMWFhYzA3N2IwNzE4ZGRhNmYx"><span style="font-weight: 400">"The fact is, you're not going," I cut in. "This Exhuman is a killer, and I don't want you getting hurt."</span></p> <p class="cnMxNjNhMTIzYmY0NTRhNjJhNGM1YTQ4ZmFkNjk4MWM2"><span style="font-weight: 400">AEGIS made a noise like 'pfeh!' as she choked on some words, still blinking back disbelief. "This Exhuman is a killer and I don't want </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">you </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">getting hurt!" she echoed back. "And you!" she turned to Lia. "I can't believe you're arguing against me on this. After we just argued against your brother killing himself on a suicide mission--"</span></p> <p class="cnM2OGNlN2JiYzhmMDRjZmNiZjhlYjlmMmEzMGU2YzZm"><span style="font-weight: 400">"This isn't a suicide mission," I interrupted. "The whole P-Force is going...the whole force minus Tem...we've retained the services of any local hunters, which means Karu and at least one other, and the XPCA strike forces are mobilizing."</span></p> <p class="cnNhODY5NmJjNDQ2MDQxYTc5NmVmMjhlZGZiNGJkMzJl"><span style="font-weight: 400">"So let me come with you," AEGIS said. Her voice was confident, but her eyes were pleading. I shook my head.</span></p> <p class="cnNkZmIwNmY0MTkyZTQzZDBiMGUwM2YzZDIxYjY4YTAw"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Your job is to find out what they're doing to you and fix it. That's it. If I can't help you with that, then you're the only one who can, and you need to. Let me do what I can do, and you do what only you can do, okay?"</span></p> <p class="cnM2M2IxMDQwMzY3ZDQyMDA4ZWE5ZmNjZGE5NTRiYzkz"><span style="font-weight: 400">She looked like she was going to continue arguing, but closed her mouth when Lia put a hand on her shoulder. </span></p> <p class="cnMxN2Y3NTk0ZjU2YTRmOGFhZjkwYTM3OGJiNDNkYjg4"><span style="font-weight: 400">"If you die out there, I will kill you," she warned.</span></p> <p class="cnM2ZGVjOGNhYjViMzQ3ZTk5NTZmZTRlNTkxMGQyZWE2"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Thanks. Both of you. Now I need to go."</span></p> <p class="cnM5MDFiOWJiYzY0YjRiOTI5Y2VjNzNkMjM0Y2Y3NGY2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Less than twenty minutes later, I was in the back of a van with the rest of the P-Force, Cosette barking last-minute addendums to the extremely brief briefing we'd been given into the comms in our ears.</span></p> <p class="cnM0YjFkNTBkZTllNzQ2YTE4ZGViZmY0ODIxZDExNzFi"><span style="font-weight: 400">No </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Captain</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> Targa to be seen. I guess her last command hadn't impressed sufficiently.</span></p> <p class="cnM1OGQ0ZmYxNGRjZjQwN2FiNjU2NjM0NTJlN2Y0NWEw"><span style="font-weight: 400">I stared at the picture on my holo Cosette sent me earlier. I still couldn't believe it. Even just holding my holo, I felt my hands growing cold and realized I had to actively battle back the memories.</span></p> <p class="cnNjZjAxNzg2ZjhiOTRmZjdhOTU0ZjViYWNiM2FjZWFk"><span style="font-weight: 400">When I closed my eyes, he was there. Cocky grin. Business casual. Fingers of ice in my veins. </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Dipshit</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">.</span></p> <p class="cnNmOTFiZTE1ODkzMDRkNjJhODBlYjVkODMzYzMyYTFk"><span style="font-weight: 400">Soran, his name was. He'd been eradicated, we all thought. The combined forces of Tower's and Steffie's Exhuman powers...both of them multiplied forces on them in different ways, and their powers together had magnified to, as Cosette had described it 'a completely unjustifiable, uncalled-for, absurd and embarrassing excess of powers use, not in any way condoned by the XPCA'.</span></p> <p class="cnMwNTY2Njk4MGJkMDRiMTM4M2MxZDNiZmJhNjhlODQy"><span style="font-weight: 400">Basically, they'd obliterated an entire city block, and Dipshit...Soran, that is, had been right in the epicenter. Cosette was wrong about excessive force, because now he was somehow back.</span></p> <p class="cnM3NWExOTM0N2ZkYzQ3M2I4NWE1ZDM0MTFkYWNlYTc2"><span style="font-weight: 400">The picture showed him exactly as I remembered, grinning, like he knew the traffic camera was there and was trying to smile for it. No event as of yet, but given his M.O. of hunting other Exhumans to steal their powers, he wasn't one who could be left alone. At best, he grew ever stronger...at worst, we were looking at a double event if his target and he had it out.</span></p> <p class="cnM0ZTllMTA1MzZkZDQ1ZjRhNTI5YWE3YzQzNzMzMWM4"><span style="font-weight: 400">The van rolled to a halt and the doors opened to a narrow street, the rays of evening sun strangled by the valley of tall, deserted buildings. As usual, recon team had beat us here and had evacuated the area with their typical expertise.</span></p> <p class="cnNlZTE4NmRhOTM0YTQ4Y2RhZDMyMWUzNjUxMjBhZTYw"><span style="font-weight: 400">Walking down the empty street as more vans pulled in and more XPCA filed out felt like we were setting up to stroll down main street in the old west. A shootout between old rivals. He wanted to pay us back for his last defeat. I wanted to avenge Mage.</span></p> <p class="cnM2MjFmZDIxMWVlYjRhYjNhM2I1MDZmZWJlNjgyNGQx"><span style="font-weight: 400">So I was impatient as the last few assembled and we moved forward, but remembering AEGIS' and Lia's concern, I was taking no risks here. As much as my blood boiled, as much as I wanted to see this guy go down, a thousand times more, I didn't want to get someone else killed.</span></p> <p class="cnM3MTY1NjI5ODc0ODQwNjliZjlhMTJlNTJiMzg1OTFh"><span style="font-weight: 400">We knew from experience that he was cunning enough to lay a trap, and if Mage hadn't been there with her ridiculous powers, we would have all died. There was no room for that kind of error this time.</span></p> <p class="cnMzMmY2MTE4YWVkOTQwMjRiMzVjMTlmOThmNzE5ZDhm"><span style="font-weight: 400">I heard a distant roar which cut out early and realized Karu was on the roofs above us, flying as little as possible to maintain a semblance of stealth. Out of one of the other vans was a large black man with dreads tied up which brushed the inside of the clear dome helmet of his exosuit. Another hunter. Almost three dozen XPCA, all in exosuits, a handful of whom were shieldbearers, holding the shimmering orange barriers in their hands to protect themselves and the rest of us. Jack, Tower, and Moon had shared the van with me. </span></p> <p class="cnNjNDFjYjBhNjJlNzQ4MWQ4MjczNTI0MTlhZWVhZmJl"><span style="font-weight: 400">No Tem. No Mage. Both because of me.</span></p> <p class="cnM3ZDQwODRlYmNmMzQ4OWE4OTlhYTQ3NDU3M2U0ZWYw"><span style="font-weight: 400">We were ready and split up and moved forward. The rest of the XPCA and hunters were there for support. Their job was to contain and corral, keep him from escaping or escalating the situation. The P-Force would be doing the heavy lifting.</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZWI0NzdkOWE1ODQwMThhZTA4MTAxNTZlN2U2ZDg5"><span style="font-weight: 400">Recon units had eyes on him, and we were following to catch up to them. We were on their comms, for the time being, and listening to their chatter made me realize just how little I understood of the XPCA recon branch, even though we'd worked with them before.</span></p> <p class="cnM5YTcyNTYyNmUzYjQxYmJhYjFjZDc5MGM1NDkwZTVm"><span style="font-weight: 400">I remembered the pair of trackers we'd met up with last time we went after Soran, with their heads covered in sensors of all kinds, walking on stilts like animals. I knew the ones keeping an eye on him this time wouldn't be so obvious, but that was the image which was in my mind. Move and catch up to the herd of oddly-gaited quadruped spider-people.</span></p> <p class="cnM2MGZmNTE0YjE0YjRlMjY5NDVjMWJkODkzMmJmNTBl"><span style="font-weight: 400">And then catch up with him.</span></p> <p class="cnM1NzI1YjMxYTQxMjQ2MDM4OTY2ZTRjOGI4YzQ4Y2Rk"><span style="font-weight: 400">Though we were all on-edge and kept on our toes as we advanced, the time seemed to pass in a blur. I felt simultaneously too hot and too cold, despite the unusual warmth of the day making it actually nice outside. When I thought of him my blood boiled, but when I remembered his face, when my mind wandered just past the moment, I felt frozen inside. </span></p> <p class="cnNhN2Q4NTE3YzczZDQ0MDQ4NTJkNmRkZTBmNDY3Nzgy"><span style="font-weight: 400">Memories flashed by in front of my eyes like they were right there, something I'd only ever experienced before when Saga was putting new memories in my head, or the time she was sleeping and I relived her and others' memories. But these memories were mine, and the fact they came on so unbidden and so strong, it made me anxious.</span></p> <p class="cnNkNjc5NjU2OGJkYTQ1ODg5YTFhYWM2YWY1NWE0NTdi"><span style="font-weight: 400">It'd go away when we beat him, I told myself. I was just nervous about stepping up to Mage's killer. Just a weird bit of brain chemistry.</span></p> <p class="cnMyNTcwZDE2MWFmYTQ2YTA5Y2MwOTg0YzNkMDY3ZDFk"><span style="font-weight: 400">I also tried to ignore the fact that last time I saw visions like this, I accidently vivisected Tem.</span></p> <p class="cnNmYmNjMWNhOTE1NzQ1MDA5NzQ1MDkzZDIyNjVmYmY5"><span style="font-weight: 400">So yeah. My brain wasn't doing so great. Watching Karu's jetpack flare as she jumped between buildings above us, I had a brief flash of insight of a lesson she'd beaten into me. 'I'm fine, just--' means 'I am not fine', and should not be deploying. I wondered her opinion on what it meant if I knew I wasn't okay?</span></p> <p class="cnMwYWNmODFlNDQ2NzRiNmE4ZWQyYTQwYzMzNWI5YTJi"><span style="font-weight: 400">Didn't really matter, though. I'd pushed Cosette too far already and wouldn't be able to worm out of this even if I wanted to. Which I didn't. My head was just spinning a bit too much right now. I'd be fine when I got there. I'd have to be. Nobody else was going to die.</span></p> <p class="cnM0MDkzZmMwYTA4ZDQ3MGY4ZjA1ZWMxNjE4MjI3MDA1"><span style="font-weight: 400">I realized we were alone now. The XPCA and hunters had split off, and it was just the P-Force running down the street. The warm winter air flowed through my lungs as my breathing remained even and slow. We were close.</span></p> <p class="cnM4M2RjMzFhMWYxODQ1MGU5ZjQ3YmMyNDk4ODhiZDEz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Two ordinary-looking men and a woman emerged from the shadows under some pillars beside a large building and the one in front greeted us with a raised hand. We stopped our advance to see what they wanted.</span></p> <p class="cnM1MGVhZTA1OWI2YzQzN2ZiMDIxMDAyYjNiMmIyZjRl"><span style="font-weight: 400">"He knows he's being followed," the recon team told us, starting in the middle of a conversation we'd already half-had over comms. "We couldn't pursue any further without stealth tech."</span></p> <p class="cnMxZWRjNzUzMjE4MDQyMWM5MTViYjJlYmY5OGIxOGI5"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Where is he?" I asked, surprised to hear my voice come out as a growl.</span></p> <p class="cnNjOGQyZTFkMWIzNjRjNjFhYjg5NGI5NDU5Nzc5ODcz"><span style="font-weight: 400">"In there," the recon gestured towards a building under construction half a block away. "He hasn't left yet, not by any conventional means anyway. Intel says the Exhuman's a mutie?"</span></p> <p class="cnNhNzFjODAzYTczZjQxYzZiN2IzZmJkMGM4Nzg3YWMz"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Mutie?" I asked stupidly.</span></p> <p class="cnNlNDcyMjJlZDQxODQ2ZTg5NTA1NDJkYjY0ZTkyNzY0"><span style="font-weight: 400">"His Prather classification...mutable?" I shook my head and the recon glanced back at his peers, as though asking if he was stupid or if I was. </span></p> <p class="cnM0MzY4NTAzZDRhMTQwMDg5YTNjZmIzMGJjOWYzOTQ0"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Sorry, I'm more in the business of fighting them than classifying them," I apologized.</span></p> <p class="cnNhOTNlOGU4ODYwYzQ5YzQ4N2FjMjQ2MjYwZTE2NmQ0"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Yeah, lots of the strike teams are. That's why they have a higher mortality rate than recon," he replied flatly. "Each Exhuman is given a classification to generalize where their powers fall, usually discerned through the blood and sweat of the recon teams, by the way."</span></p> <p class="cnM4YjY2ZDgxNDBkZTQ1ZTI4Y2IyYmYyOWRiOWMzYWY0"><span style="font-weight: 400">I sighed, but he continued. Proud of his job I guess.</span></p> <p class="cnNlNTkyYjliMjRjOTQ1ZTdiNmYyYWRhMzUyMjIwYmRj"><span style="font-weight: 400">He pointed at me. "Electropath. Now if you had a physical component to using your powers instead of just mental, you'd be electrokinetic. If you created self-acting entities, electrogenesist. If your powers defied convention but were still electric, you might be an electrist or a special electropath. And so on."</span></p> <p class="cnMwYWRiMGI1YTk5MTRiM2E5ZmU5YTE1NTQ4MWY0ZWVh"><span style="font-weight: 400">"And he's mutable, because his powers change. Got it."</span></p> <p class="cnNkZDA4ZjVmYzdiZjQzMDQ4YjEyZGM1ZWU1MzVkYTU5"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Special mutable. He earns that </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">special</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> title because his powers come from others."</span></p> <p class="cnMyZjc1MDgwMGQzMjQxOTlhMzQ0MGRhYTA2Y2UwZTVi"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Great talk," I said, as I broke off to head towards the construction, leaving the recon to just shake his head.</span></p> <p class="cnNlMDhlZDQ0MmI0ZjRmMzI5MWNlOTk5YjVhZDk1ZjJk"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Sorry, we have some history with this Exhuman," Jack explained as an apology while we peeled away.</span></p> <p class="cnNlZDc1MmFkY2VmMzQzOTI5ZDM3NjU1NzBkZmUzOTM3"><span style="font-weight: 400">More like this Exhuman was about to </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">become history</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">. This time we wouldn't even leave dust.</span></p> <p class="cnM3ODU1NmJjOGRiNDRhZmE5YTU1NjM0YzBhMjUxYWE0"><span style="font-weight: 400">This building was a lot less finished than the last one we'd fought in. Barely some walls, and scaffolding in place for pouring concrete on the higher floors. As we walked in, I saw a line of XPCA shieldbearers blocking the road ahead, blocking that exit. I briefly wondered if he liked construction sites, or if two of them in a row was just a coincidence. Not that it really mattered, there wouldn't be a third time.</span></p> <p class="cnNiMWFjODA4ODcwNjQ2NDU5NDMyMmJjMWQ4MzRlYzQ4"><span style="font-weight: 400">He wasn't hard to find. He was sitting out in the open in the very middle of the building's shell, surrounded by a patch of snow presumably of his own making, judging by the lack of footprints. When he saw us, he waved and smiled, and my hands felt cold.</span></p> <p class="cnMxMmQyYTg5NWRjZTRmZWVhN2U1NTBlN2YxMTQwNDY1"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Hello, P-Force," he sighed like he was already tired of us. I didn't wait for more. I filled both hands with lightning and hurled them at him.</span></p> <p class="cnMwNjc0Zjg5NDJmMTRlYTZhN2QzOTNhNmI5ZjM4OWVi"><span style="font-weight: 400">But just as I stepped in to fire them off, my foot slipped on a patch of ice I hadn't seen, and the two bulbs fired off askew, both crashing and sparking and arcing on the wall just behind him. Jack was there, knife poised to strike when the bulbs exploded and electrocuted him instead of Dipshit.</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZTYxYjBjZWRmMzQ4ZDU4MTk2ZGI2ZDZmODI1MzZj"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Jack!" I shouted. "Fuck!"</span></p> <p class="cnNkYWU4ZjlkOGQxMDQ1NTJiZTZjYTJiNGEyNTkxMGYz"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Oh, he's fine," Soran said, finally rising and stepping away from where Jack was twitching and smoking on the ground.</span></p> <p class="cnNiNDExYjhiMzI4YzRlZDlhNGI1ZWFkZDZmZjZhZWE4"><span style="font-weight: 400">With a roar, Tower shot straight at him, flying like a missile, the purple spectre of Moon's effigy standing on his back like she was surfing on him. Soran yawned and casually laid down as though to make a snow angel, and Tower sailed over him. As Tower hit the wall and rebounded back in and down, Soran was already rolling to the side, snow crunching under him, and just as Tower ricocheted back into reach, Soran disappeared under the surface of the snow, Moon's grasping hands finding nothing as Tower careened off the ground into the sky.</span></p> <p class="cnMzZDMwZmU5ZTI3YzQ3MzNiOGJjYWQ1ODY4NjMwNmU2"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Wrong way!" Moon shouted at him in his voice.</span></p> <p class="cnM0Y2IwZGU0ZjM0MTQyMGJiZGZhMDNlODhlM2MzMWYy"><span style="font-weight: 400">"I know that! We hit the ground too fast, give me a minute!"</span></p> <p class="cnM1NWQ0MTQ3MTZlYjQwYmNhNDI5NDc4NTU2OTE5Yzhi"><span style="font-weight: 400">They almost crashed into Karu as she engaged, her streaking blue plasma trail showing a sudden right-turn in her path where she avoided crashing into them. </span></p> <p class="cnNlNDVkYjdkYjlmMDRjYzNiMjA2YjlhZDI1YTRhOGVk"><span style="font-weight: 400">"You die, godless scum!" she shrieked, and came to a halt in the air, her pack holding her steady against the backblast of dozens of micro-missiles emerging from every part of her body, small panels opening on her hips, shoulders, legs, and arms, and thousands of smoke trails twisting through the air as they converged down on him.</span></p> <p class="cnM4MmQ1YjdlMzhjNDRhYWU4NjRkOWE0ZGZlNzY3ZjAx"><span style="font-weight: 400">In an instant, there was a towering wall of flame between the two of them, and the missiles, unable to see past it drifted, suddenly unsure of where their target had gone. Flying in straight lines until they could re-acquire, a pair crashed into each other and detonated, creating a large explosion and shockwave which sent the others careening at random, exploding onto other walls or detonating on the ground. Karu herself was rocked by the blast and flew erratically to avoid getting caught in her own explosions in her face.</span></p> <p class="cnMwMTJkOGUwNjQ1YTRlNzg4Mjk2Y2Y1NGYwZmE3OGZi"><span style="font-weight: 400">Her missile loadout was sourced from the XPCA, and it showed. Where the blasts occurred, it wasn't all fire and explosions. Some erupted into a sphere of gas, others into a gel which coated everything in its influence. I saw one erupt into a burst of electricity, which was new to me, I suppose nobody wanted to try shocking me. Similarly, none of hers froze the air into a starburst of ice, even though I had seen grenades of that sort back in our fight against the XPCA. Since Soran had ice powers, that also made sense.</span></p> <p class="cnNmNGZlOTA1ZDIzMDQyODJiYjdmNDZiNTM3ZTNhN2Ji"><span style="font-weight: 400">Soran climbed out of the little pit in the ground he'd rolled into to avoid Tower and brushed snow off his button-down shirt. I was also up, and ran at him, but it felt like under the snow, wherever I put my feet, there was a small patch of ice just waiting for me. I slid and slipped until finally I landed on my tailbone with a painful crack.</span></p> <p class="cnNhZmRiMTAzMGE5MjRlNDk5OGEzZjVjYzNkYTlkYTVj"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Really," he sighed, fiddling with something he was putting in his ears. "You never listen."</span></p> <p class="cnM3YjhjNDg0ODE0YjQzM2FiODgxZTE5OTUwOGQ4YTQx"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Shut up!" I shouted back at him, feeling my face burning from losing to a damn patch of ice of all things. </span></p> <p class="cnM4ZDZiODRkY2NhODQ0N2NiZTNmNmEzNDA4Mzg4MjAy"><span style="font-weight: 400">The other hunter with the dreads appeared from the direction of the other XPCA and let loose with a focused blast of some kind of invisible energy that made my teeth rattle.</span></p> <p class="cnNhMzAzMTZkMjIyNDQzOWU5NWZiYjUwMGNkMjMyOGYx"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Your calibration is off," Soran said to the hunter with a playful tap on his ear. "Don't you know that snow dampens sound?" he gestured at the circle of fresh powder all around him, much of which was now drifting through the air from the blasts of the fight. "But you can't turn it up more, can you? Not without liquefying your friends." </span></p> <p class="cnM1MDNiZGZiNDY2YjQyODZiNTQ4MGVjZjgxNmM0YjMz"><span style="font-weight: 400">On top of the hunter's noises, the air sounded like it tore open, and Karu was there again, flying straight through the illusionary wall of fire. "Your tricks will not save you, serpent!" she shouted.</span></p> <p class="cnNjMGVjNmNkN2NjOTRlNTY5OTc3OWQ3MGQ1OWY4ZGIw"><span style="font-weight: 400">"I've heard that one before."</span></p> <p class="cnNhMjJiY2VmZDU2YzQ5NmFiYTgwNDM4Zjg4ZjJhN2Q0"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Silence, devil! I stand with God!" Her arms snapped forward and two blasts of scattering light erupted from the guns strapped to her. Soran leaned slightly one way and the random scattering of the beams passed right around him, sizzling and refracting off the snow at his feet into harmless light. She fired again and again, but he just moved subtly each time with an intense air of boredom, and none of the scattergun shots ever touched him.</span></p> <p class="cnMzYWZkYzAxMWMzZjQ5NDViNzg0ZjMyZTYxNDNjZjcz"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Enough of this!" She shouted, and switched from her scatterguns to the machine guns on her wrists.</span></p> <p class="cnM3ZjU4OTZmNjAxOTQ5NWNhMjNiNDA0YmQ0NDdlNmE4"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Don't think you want to do that," he said, shaking a finger at her. "Water cooled, aren't they?"</span></p> <p class="cnM3YzdmMjkzODcwNjRhYzFhMjYxZmEzMTM3OGY2ZDZk"><span style="font-weight: 400">She looked at him in surprise, and then with a practiced motion, ripped both of the machine guns off their hardpoints and threw them to the ground. As though waiting for that cue, each of the guns exploded from the inside with shards of ice.</span></p> <p class="cnNkYTczMDM3N2U4YjQ4ZWRiZDRlZGNiZWVhMmI4OGJl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Just like Mage had.</span></p> <p class="cnNmMDliMTE1ZDU4YjRhYWQ4NmVjMTljZmMyYjA0Nzgx"><span style="font-weight: 400">"What do you want?" she shouted.</span></p> <p class="cnM0MDZkNGQ0NjM0MzRkMjY5YmNkODgyMzdmODNkYzE3"><span style="font-weight: 400">"What does it matter?" I asked. "He's here to die, to us."</span></p> <p class="cnM1NTNiYTg2OWJlYjRlZjg5YjU4MDM4ZTY1M2FkZTkw"><span style="font-weight: 400">"He is toying with me," Karu sneered. "He could have used that ice to kill me at any time."</span></p> <p class="cnM1MmM4ZjBkNTNhNTQ1YzViMThlNjc1NDM4NzhkOWRh"><span style="font-weight: 400">"It's true," he said. "I'm actually here to talk."</span></p> <p class="cnMyNGJlMDhjYTBiNDQ4MzM4N2I2OGE3NTRjYjdmMTBm"><span style="font-weight: 400">We all hesitated for a moment, interrupted only by Tower crashing back down into the ground with a grunt. "What'd I miss?" he asked.</span></p> <p class="cnMxZWM0YTY2YTYxNjQ3YWQ4MGU5ZDUwN2M1NmRhOGFm"><span style="font-weight: 400">"The Exhuman wants to talk," the black hunter said.</span></p> <p class="cnMwMDdmYjViNGMyYjQyZDE5YTY0MzcwYzQzYTZmMWQ5"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Well fuck him," Tower replied, and shot towards Soran again.</span></p> <p class="cnNhZTE2MGM0NDFkNTRiMWNiMDdkM2U3NTBkNTI4ZjMw"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Tower, stop," said the hunter. "We're not that XPCA anymore."</span></p> <p class="cnNlZjBiOWI4YTc3MTQ4MmE4MTIwYWRiMTg1ZDhkZTFm"><span style="font-weight: 400">To my surprise, Tower did stop. I was happy to see that from his back, Moon still tried to claw at the Dipshit, but she couldn't reach.</span></p> <p class="cnNkYzRmZmUwNzhjMDQ0YzRhYWZhYTEyYzAyMGY1OTk2"><span style="font-weight: 400">"</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Why</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">?" she shouted at him.</span></p> <p class="cnNkNTQyN2ZhYTk5NTQ5YmY4ODcyNTZiMGJlNzU2M2Q1"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Well, uh, it's true, isn't it?" Tower replied.</span></p> <p class="cnM1MjA2YmIyZTYxMjQ0OTM4ZWM1MGZiNTZlOGI4MmVh"><span style="font-weight: 400">"What's true is that he's a damn murderer!" I shouted. I tried to get up again but my hand slipped on a piece of ice, and I cracked my elbow against the concrete painfully. I held it as I rolled and swore in the snow.</span></p> <p class="cnNhYjlmYWRhMTIwYTQ5Y2I5MTFmNDNiODc1NjcyYzJk"><span style="font-weight: 400">"If I wanted to just kill people and take their powers, you're sitting in a puddle, Chariot," Soran said. "It would be pretty easy to kill you."</span></p> <p class="cnM0M2M1NDQzYWJkYjQ3YWJhZmYxNDk4YjM3ODkwOTg3"><span style="font-weight: 400">"So again, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">what do you want</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">?" Karu asked, still hovering high beyond his reach.</span></p> <p class="cnM4NGNlNmU4MjQwZTQxMDk4MWFjYjY4ZmQzOWVjNTc3"><span style="font-weight: 400">"It's pretty obvious, isn't it?" he asked, looking around at all of us surrounding him. He turned and locked eyes with me and smiled. "I want to surrender."</span></p> </div>

It wasn't too long after we got back to AEGIS and Lia's bloodstained hotel when I got a call from Cosette. Exasperated, she let me know that we had work to do, and with Tem out of the picture, I'd be picking up her share of the effort. Or else. I knew I was on thin ice with her. I'd already blown whatever goodwill I'd accrued in arguing with her about not going out to Chicago, but then hospitalizing Tem on top of that meant she was completely done with me for the time being. I gave in quicker than I wanted to, hanging up with her and stepping back into the office to talk to my sister and friend. I had still wanted to stay with Tem. Greedily, I wanted to be there for her, instead of for the people and country which needed me. I was going to argue. I was going to complain. I was going to wonder at just how damn unlikely it was that we'd seen two events in D.C. now in the short time I was here. She had sent me an image of the Exhuman event in progress and I shut my mouth. Any reluctance I had was gone. It was time for the XPCA, for the P-Force to go out and save lives. "Lia, AEGIS, I need to go," I said. The two of them looked at me warily. Lia spoke first. "You look...bad, Athan. What's happened?" "Exhuman event. I need to go." From their looks I hadn't told them anything they didn't already guess. "You're not telling us everything," AEGIS said, her eyebrows threatening to angle downwards into her radiant eyes. I held up the image on my holo for them to see and both leaned in to take a look and then fell backwards. "That isn't possible." "Not from what we know," Lia said. "But there is admittedly a lot we could *not* know." "I'm pretty sure if he had any more tricks, he would have used them," AEGIS replied. Her hands seemed to move on their own, tenting and untenting and her fingertips rubbing against each other, before she broke down and grabbed one of her copper hanging twintails to stroke. "Obviously he had at least one more. He's there, and Athan's going to go fight him," Lia said with a frown. "Well, I'm coming with," AEGIS said. "No, AEGIS," I replied. "It's too dangerous." "Are you kidding me? I'm at least a thousand times more durable than you are." Lia frowned even more. "No...he's right. I mean, he's wrong, but he's also right. You haven't sorted out your bugs yet, AEGIS. If you crash out in the field, not only will you be a sitting duck, but you might endanger everyone else as well." "That's bullshit," AEGIS said, looking at the two of us disbelieving. "I've only crashed like, what, twice? What are the odds it'll happen again just then?" "It doesn't matter the odds, things happen at the worst times, always," Lia said. "Always." "That's a stupid argument," AEGIS replied. "The fact is, you're not going," I cut in. "This Exhuman is a killer, and I don't want you getting hurt." AEGIS made a noise like 'pfeh!' as she choked on some words, still blinking back disbelief. "This Exhuman is a killer and I don't want *you* getting hurt!" she echoed back. "And you!" she turned to Lia. "I can't believe you're arguing against me on this. After we just argued against your brother killing himself on a suicide mission--" "This isn't a suicide mission," I interrupted. "The whole P-Force is going...the whole force minus Tem...we've retained the services of any local hunters, which means Karu and at least one other, and the XPCA strike forces are mobilizing." "So let me come with you," AEGIS said. Her voice was confident, but her eyes were pleading. I shook my head. "Your job is to find out what they're doing to you and fix it. That's it. If I can't help you with that, then you're the only one who can, and you need to. Let me do what I can do, and you do what only you can do, okay?" She looked like she was going to continue arguing, but closed her mouth when Lia put a hand on her shoulder. "If you die out there, I will kill you," she warned. "Thanks. Both of you. Now I need to go." Less than twenty minutes later, I was in the back of a van with the rest of the P-Force, Cosette barking last-minute addendums to the extremely brief briefing we'd been given into the comms in our ears. No *Captain* Targa to be seen. I guess her last command hadn't impressed sufficiently. I stared at the picture on my holo Cosette sent me earlier. I still couldn't believe it. Even just holding my holo, I felt my hands growing cold and realized I had to actively battle back the memories. When I closed my eyes, he was there. Cocky grin. Business casual. Fingers of ice in my veins. *Dipshit*. Soran, his name was. He'd been eradicated, we all thought. The combined forces of Tower's and Steffie's Exhuman powers...both of them multiplied forces on them in different ways, and their powers together had magnified to, as Cosette had described it 'a completely unjustifiable, uncalled-for, absurd and embarrassing excess of powers use, not in any way condoned by the XPCA'. Basically, they'd obliterated an entire city block, and Dipshit...Soran, that is, had been right in the epicenter. Cosette was wrong about excessive force, because now he was somehow back. The picture showed him exactly as I remembered, grinning, like he knew the traffic camera was there and was trying to smile for it. No event as of yet, but given his M.O. of hunting other Exhumans to steal their powers, he wasn't one who could be left alone. At best, he grew ever stronger...at worst, we were looking at a double event if his target and he had it out. The van rolled to a halt and the doors opened to a narrow street, the rays of evening sun strangled by the valley of tall, deserted buildings. As usual, recon team had beat us here and had evacuated the area with their typical expertise. Walking down the empty street as more vans pulled in and more XPCA filed out felt like we were setting up to stroll down main street in the old west. A shootout between old rivals. He wanted to pay us back for his last defeat. I wanted to avenge Mage. So I was impatient as the last few assembled and we moved forward, but remembering AEGIS' and Lia's concern, I was taking no risks here. As much as my blood boiled, as much as I wanted to see this guy go down, a thousand times more, I didn't want to get someone else killed. We knew from experience that he was cunning enough to lay a trap, and if Mage hadn't been there with her ridiculous powers, we would have all died. There was no room for that kind of error this time. I heard a distant roar which cut out early and realized Karu was on the roofs above us, flying as little as possible to maintain a semblance of stealth. Out of one of the other vans was a large black man with dreads tied up which brushed the inside of the clear dome helmet of his exosuit. Another hunter. Almost three dozen XPCA, all in exosuits, a handful of whom were shieldbearers, holding the shimmering orange barriers in their hands to protect themselves and the rest of us. Jack, Tower, and Moon had shared the van with me. No Tem. No Mage. Both because of me. We were ready and split up and moved forward. The rest of the XPCA and hunters were there for support. Their job was to contain and corral, keep him from escaping or escalating the situation. The P-Force would be doing the heavy lifting. Recon units had eyes on him, and we were following to catch up to them. We were on their comms, for the time being, and listening to their chatter made me realize just how little I understood of the XPCA recon branch, even though we'd worked with them before. I remembered the pair of trackers we'd met up with last time we went after Soran, with their heads covered in sensors of all kinds, walking on stilts like animals. I knew the ones keeping an eye on him this time wouldn't be so obvious, but that was the image which was in my mind. Move and catch up to the herd of oddly-gaited quadruped spider-people. And then catch up with him. Though we were all on-edge and kept on our toes as we advanced, the time seemed to pass in a blur. I felt simultaneously too hot and too cold, despite the unusual warmth of the day making it actually nice outside. When I thought of him my blood boiled, but when I remembered his face, when my mind wandered just past the moment, I felt frozen inside. Memories flashed by in front of my eyes like they were right there, something I'd only ever experienced before when Saga was putting new memories in my head, or the time she was sleeping and I relived her and others' memories. But these memories were mine, and the fact they came on so unbidden and so strong, it made me anxious. It'd go away when we beat him, I told myself. I was just nervous about stepping up to Mage's killer. Just a weird bit of brain chemistry. I also tried to ignore the fact that last time I saw visions like this, I accidently vivisected Tem. So yeah. My brain wasn't doing so great. Watching Karu's jetpack flare as she jumped between buildings above us, I had a brief flash of insight of a lesson she'd beaten into me. 'I'm fine, just--' means 'I am not fine', and should not be deploying. I wondered her opinion on what it meant if I knew I wasn't okay? Didn't really matter, though. I'd pushed Cosette too far already and wouldn't be able to worm out of this even if I wanted to. Which I didn't. My head was just spinning a bit too much right now. I'd be fine when I got there. I'd have to be. Nobody else was going to die. I realized we were alone now. The XPCA and hunters had split off, and it was just the P-Force running down the street. The warm winter air flowed through my lungs as my breathing remained even and slow. We were close. Two ordinary-looking men and a woman emerged from the shadows under some pillars beside a large building and the one in front greeted us with a raised hand. We stopped our advance to see what they wanted. "He knows he's being followed," the recon team told us, starting in the middle of a conversation we'd already half-had over comms. "We couldn't pursue any further without stealth tech." "Where is he?" I asked, surprised to hear my voice come out as a growl. "In there," the recon gestured towards a building under construction half a block away. "He hasn't left yet, not by any conventional means anyway. Intel says the Exhuman's a mutie?" "Mutie?" I asked stupidly. "His Prather classification...mutable?" I shook my head and the recon glanced back at his peers, as though asking if he was stupid or if I was. "Sorry, I'm more in the business of fighting them than classifying them," I apologized. "Yeah, lots of the strike teams are. That's why they have a higher mortality rate than recon," he replied flatly. "Each Exhuman is given a classification to generalize where their powers fall, usually discerned through the blood and sweat of the recon teams, by the way." I sighed, but he continued. Proud of his job I guess. He pointed at me. "Electropath. Now if you had a physical component to using your powers instead of just mental, you'd be electrokinetic. If you created self-acting entities, electrogenesist. If your powers defied convention but were still electric, you might be an electrist or a special electropath. And so on." "And he's mutable, because his powers change. Got it." "Special mutable. He earns that *special* title because his powers come from others." "Great talk," I said, as I broke off to head towards the construction, leaving the recon to just shake his head. "Sorry, we have some history with this Exhuman," Jack explained as an apology while we peeled away. More like this Exhuman was about to *become history*. This time we wouldn't even leave dust. This building was a lot less finished than the last one we'd fought in. Barely some walls, and scaffolding in place for pouring concrete on the higher floors. As we walked in, I saw a line of XPCA shieldbearers blocking the road ahead, blocking that exit. I briefly wondered if he liked construction sites, or if two of them in a row was just a coincidence. Not that it really mattered, there wouldn't be a third time. He wasn't hard to find. He was sitting out in the open in the very middle of the building's shell, surrounded by a patch of snow presumably of his own making, judging by the lack of footprints. When he saw us, he waved and smiled, and my hands felt cold. "Hello, P-Force," he sighed like he was already tired of us. I didn't wait for more. I filled both hands with lightning and hurled them at him. But just as I stepped in to fire them off, my foot slipped on a patch of ice I hadn't seen, and the two bulbs fired off askew, both crashing and sparking and arcing on the wall just behind him. Jack was there, knife poised to strike when the bulbs exploded and electrocuted him instead of Dipshit. "Jack!" I shouted. "Fuck!" "Oh, he's fine," Soran said, finally rising and stepping away from where Jack was twitching and smoking on the ground. With a roar, Tower shot straight at him, flying like a missile, the purple spectre of Moon's effigy standing on his back like she was surfing on him. Soran yawned and casually laid down as though to make a snow angel, and Tower sailed over him. As Tower hit the wall and rebounded back in and down, Soran was already rolling to the side, snow crunching under him, and just as Tower ricocheted back into reach, Soran disappeared under the surface of the snow, Moon's grasping hands finding nothing as Tower careened off the ground into the sky. "Wrong way!" Moon shouted at him in his voice. "I know that! We hit the ground too fast, give me a minute!" They almost crashed into Karu as she engaged, her streaking blue plasma trail showing a sudden right-turn in her path where she avoided crashing into them. "You die, godless scum!" she shrieked, and came to a halt in the air, her pack holding her steady against the backblast of dozens of micro-missiles emerging from every part of her body, small panels opening on her hips, shoulders, legs, and arms, and thousands of smoke trails twisting through the air as they converged down on him. In an instant, there was a towering wall of flame between the two of them, and the missiles, unable to see past it drifted, suddenly unsure of where their target had gone. Flying in straight lines until they could re-acquire, a pair crashed into each other and detonated, creating a large explosion and shockwave which sent the others careening at random, exploding onto other walls or detonating on the ground. Karu herself was rocked by the blast and flew erratically to avoid getting caught in her own explosions in her face. Her missile loadout was sourced from the XPCA, and it showed. Where the blasts occurred, it wasn't all fire and explosions. Some erupted into a sphere of gas, others into a gel which coated everything in its influence. I saw one erupt into a burst of electricity, which was new to me, I suppose nobody wanted to try shocking me. Similarly, none of hers froze the air into a starburst of ice, even though I had seen grenades of that sort back in our fight against the XPCA. Since Soran had ice powers, that also made sense. Soran climbed out of the little pit in the ground he'd rolled into to avoid Tower and brushed snow off his button-down shirt. I was also up, and ran at him, but it felt like under the snow, wherever I put my feet, there was a small patch of ice just waiting for me. I slid and slipped until finally I landed on my tailbone with a painful crack. "Really," he sighed, fiddling with something he was putting in his ears. "You never listen." "Shut up!" I shouted back at him, feeling my face burning from losing to a damn patch of ice of all things. The other hunter with the dreads appeared from the direction of the other XPCA and let loose with a focused blast of some kind of invisible energy that made my teeth rattle. "Your calibration is off," Soran said to the hunter with a playful tap on his ear. "Don't you know that snow dampens sound?" he gestured at the circle of fresh powder all around him, much of which was now drifting through the air from the blasts of the fight. "But you can't turn it up more, can you? Not without liquefying your friends." On top of the hunter's noises, the air sounded like it tore open, and Karu was there again, flying straight through the illusionary wall of fire. "Your tricks will not save you, serpent!" she shouted. "I've heard that one before." "Silence, devil! I stand with God!" Her arms snapped forward and two blasts of scattering light erupted from the guns strapped to her. Soran leaned slightly one way and the random scattering of the beams passed right around him, sizzling and refracting off the snow at his feet into harmless light. She fired again and again, but he just moved subtly each time with an intense air of boredom, and none of the scattergun shots ever touched him. "Enough of this!" She shouted, and switched from her scatterguns to the machine guns on her wrists. "Don't think you want to do that," he said, shaking a finger at her. "Water cooled, aren't they?" She looked at him in surprise, and then with a practiced motion, ripped both of the machine guns off their hardpoints and threw them to the ground. As though waiting for that cue, each of the guns exploded from the inside with shards of ice. Just like Mage had. "What do you want?" she shouted. "What does it matter?" I asked. "He's here to die, to us." "He is toying with me," Karu sneered. "He could have used that ice to kill me at any time." "It's true," he said. "I'm actually here to talk." We all hesitated for a moment, interrupted only by Tower crashing back down into the ground with a grunt. "What'd I miss?" he asked. "The Exhuman wants to talk," the black hunter said. "Well fuck him," Tower replied, and shot towards Soran again. "Tower, stop," said the hunter. "We're not that XPCA anymore." To my surprise, Tower did stop. I was happy to see that from his back, Moon still tried to claw at the Dipshit, but she couldn't reach. "*Why*?" she shouted at him. "Well, uh, it's true, isn't it?" Tower replied. "What's true is that he's a damn murderer!" I shouted. I tried to get up again but my hand slipped on a piece of ice, and I cracked my elbow against the concrete painfully. I held it as I rolled and swore in the snow. "If I wanted to just kill people and take their powers, you're sitting in a puddle, Chariot," Soran said. "It would be pretty easy to kill you." "So again, *what do you want*?" Karu asked, still hovering high beyond his reach. "It's pretty obvious, isn't it?" he asked, looking around at all of us surrounding him. He turned and locked eyes with me and smiled. "I want to surrender."

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNjZGIxNDVjZGQxODQ4MzBiZjdlYmUwODBmYjdjYzc5"><span style="font-weight: 400">I ran my hand against the stone wall as I floated across the narrow hallway. Mauri jogged behind me, trying to keep up with me, but I paid her no heed. After tracing the rough surface with a finger, I placed my hand against my back calmly.</span></p> <p class="cnMwYzc4NTcwODA2NTRjOWY4NTVlYzk3N2QzM2U2NzI1"><span style="font-weight: 400">“How close are we?” I asked as I stopped in my tracks.</span></p> <p class="cnNiN2I5ODYyNjhhYjQ3ODE4ZmRhMWE2YTIwNmQyMTk4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“We’re ah…” Mauri was trying to catch her breathe as she struggled to answer me. “We’re close. It’s straight ahead.”</span></p> <p class="cnMyY2ZhZTdmNDVhMDQyMDg4OTc2ODAzYjlkOTNjNmU2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Unlike most dungeons which could be cracked open to reveal a secret passage straight towards the core room, this dungeon was heavily modified to suit the current owners. However, only dungeon core owners could shape a dungeon as they please, so how were the Order Knights able to change this place?</span></p> <p class="cnM0YjliMDBjYjliNTQxYjE4MjY3NDExOWQ2ZmYwMDU2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Of course, it was either the dungeon owner was working with them or there was someone powerful enough to defy the dungeon’s restrictions.</span></p> <p class="cnNhYThiZGJmOTIzNDQxYjNiZjk1NTFkZDk3ODIxZjM1"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Over there!” A group of four armored men approached. One of them was a battle mage, and the remaining three were normal grunts. They blocked my path and immediately attacked without any warning.</span></p> <p class="cnNmZDM5YzMyNGViZDQ1YWZhZTBmNzI5Zjc3YzE3ZTQx"><span style="font-weight: 400">I placed my hand against the wall, and a hole on the floor immediately swallowed one of the grunts. I lunged forward towards one of the last two grunts and grabbed his neck before throwing him towards the other man.</span></p> <p class="cnNkYmYyZGU5OGRjNTQ4NGI4M2RhYWU2NWYxNDZjYjAz"><span style="font-weight: 400">The mage’s hand was sickly purple, and he shot a beam of purple light from his hand. Despite its speed, it was not fast enough to catch me. I casually threw my sword at the mage like a javelin, spilling blood as his skewered corpse fell on the floor.</span></p> <p class="cnMyYTQ1MjdkMWIwNzRmNWM5MDYyNmM3ZDg0ZGFkYTE3"><span style="font-weight: 400">“It’s annoying how I can’t use magic against these guys. Isn’t this like cheating?” I protested.</span></p> <p class="cnNkMGNlOWVhZGM3MjQzZDZhYWNkYjhmMmE0NTg2YjVl"><span style="font-weight: 400">“At the very least, there’s still no one that would threaten you, Boss,” Mauri tried to assure me.</span></p> <p class="cnNiOGEyODlkMGQzZjQzNmM5YjQ5NjJiYjNjYzA5NGVk"><span style="font-weight: 400">When we reached the end of the hallway, we found a large room filled with floating orbs. Inside the orbs were various kind of undead beings - some were still active, others were simply rotting carcasses.</span></p> <p class="cnM2NjllZWI5NDlmNTRlM2I4N2NkODhjYjUwMmFhOWQ0"><span style="font-weight: 400">I floated towards one of the orbs and found out that there was an empty husk of an armored skeleton holding a staff. The armor and staff had different kinds of jewels of every color, and two metal snake crawled around the staff as if they were real living snakes. Only a dried, hollow face was visible through the hood.</span></p> <p class="cnNkNWRmZjBiMjliNDQ3NzM5NTZkMzA4ZGZhNTg0MDQ1"><span style="font-weight: 400">“This must be a lich, am I right?” Mauri asked as she also joined me in studying the decayed body.</span></p> <p class="cnM4MWFjNzBlNDNiODQ0Y2RiMWRkOWYxZmNiYjkxNmQ4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Indeed,” another voice answered before I could say anything. There was a masked man standing on top of a platform at the end of the room. Behind him was a cracked purple crystal which looked like a portal to space.</span></p> <p class="cnNhZGMyMzJiZGUwYzQ5ODNhNmI2MjQzN2VlMmJhYzMw"><span style="font-weight: 400">The man raised his arms to the air and said, “Long ago, that specimen was a powerful lich. Now, it is naught but a husk. As is all life, even the undead goes through the cycle.”</span></p> <p class="cnMzNTA0ZjBiYjUwMTRiNjk4Zjk5NzMxYzQ3YmI4OTMz"><span style="font-weight: 400">I looked at the skeleton, then back at the masked man. “This guy isn’t a lich. It’s just a normal skeleton knight.”</span></p> <p class="cnM5OWMyNWNjNjBmYTQ3OGY5YjNjMDUxYTEwZjhkZDYw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“What?! Impossible! He could cast spells!” the masked man argued.</span></p> <p class="cnNiYjU3OTA5MzM3MDQ4ZmQ5MTJkMmY4Yzc5MGIyYzE0"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Most people could cast spells,” I scoffed back.</span></p> <p class="cnNjMTkwZDk5NjRhZDQ0YWVhZmE3NjViMjk5YzdjZDMx"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Not basic spells! He was using advanced spells which should be impossible if he was just a mere skeleton knight!”</span></p> <p class="cnNhNGUzY2U2NDEwZTQ2YzY5ZWQ3NDhkNmZhNjcyNWZi"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Pfft. Even a pile of walking rotten food could cast advanced spells,” I mocked. It’s true anyway.</span></p> <p class="cnNjYzY1NTEzMmIyOTRhNzI5MjEwNmY2NjU2MTNlNzYy"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Even still, he was a very tough opponent! It took an entire company to take him down!” the masked man shouted.</span></p> <p class="cnMwZmFhNjIxMGQ3ZTRlYzY5ZmZjZDFhMjUxMTA2MTJi"><span style="font-weight: 400">I shook my hand wearily, too tired to argue with some masked freak with a question taste in robe-fashion.</span></p> <p class="cnNlYTcwMDhiMGM3ZDRmNmY4OTJhY2QwYzUwZjI0NDgz"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Who are you?” I asked.</span></p> <p class="cnNlZDEwNTBhOTlhMjQ0M2I5MTMzMGNmNjU2OWNhYWU3"><span style="font-weight: 400">The masked man collected himself, then placed his hands behind his back. “So you two are the ones intruding upon my base. I am simply known as Overseer Althur, Master of the Order of the Returned Knights.”</span></p> <p class="cnM4NmVkMGJiYWRiNzRjZmE4ZWVhNjkxOTliMDM3OGYw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I’m Boss. This is Mauri,” I introduced, though it seemed that he ignored us in favor of staring at the large cracked crystal.</span></p> <p class="cnM1MzkyOWY2NGQ1ZDRlZTFiODU5ZDAzYTFhNzk5ZmNj"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I assume you are one of those people that has been attacking us recently. The new mysterious group of people. Though, ‘people’ might be stretching it. Afterall, I don’t see the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">undead</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> as people,” Althur said as he turned back at us.</span></p> <p class="cnM5NWU0NWQ1NjQ1NDQyZTE5NDc5NGZjZWQyMjQ2YmQ2"><span style="font-weight: 400">I pointed at the large crystal then asked, “How did you managed to enslave that dungeon core to you? Are you a spirit?”</span></p> <p class="cnM0OTI0MDVmMGJlNDQ0MzhhMTE1ZTNmNTMzYTkxOTlm"><span style="font-weight: 400">Althur laughed then answered, “The gift given to us is very strong. But it is not enough, of course. It also requires talent given by the great Grandmaster of the Order in order to be powerful enough to manipulate a dungeon core.”</span></p> <p class="cnNmMTkyNjk1OGY2YTQzNjg5NWJiMmM2MjAyM2FlMmIw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Grandmaster?”</span></p> <p class="cnMwODYxZmQ1ZWNlMTQ1ZWQ5M2I3NmE4MmE3YTdiMTI0"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Oh yes, undead. Grandmaster has seen the truth of the world. He knows everything about life and death, everything about the cycle, everything about the meaning of all this,” Althur praised with confidence resounding in his voice.</span></p> <p class="cnMzOWJlMjg4NWNlYzRhNTY4ZGQ3MDJlMjE3YzE0OWEx"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Who is the grandmaster?”</span></p> <p class="cnNhNGEwNmNiZDU1ZjQzM2RhNjAxMGY2MmE0ZDVmMTQz"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Grandmaster is Grandmaster. We do not know his real name.”</span></p> <p class="cnNjZGNhOTc4ZWRiYjQyNWY5NDhhN2VmNjVkNzdlMWEy"><span style="font-weight: 400">What a weird fellow. Must be an anti-social.</span></p> <p class="cnM2NjhkN2Y0M2IzMDQ3MmFiNGM4OGViZGZiMDEzODIw"><span style="font-weight: 400">I waved my hand gently and all the orbs slowly floated away to the corners of the room in order to clear the path between Althur and me. “So this grandmaster person has been teaching you all sorts of things?”</span></p> <p class="cnM1MjY5ZTk3MmM4NDRlMTBiNmEwYzczZmJkNTk5YzMy"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Indeed. I feel as if I’m about to reach ascendance soon. It is a shame that Grandmaster is all alone at the top, watching as us fool bicker and fight amongst ourselves. But, I will join him soon in ascendance so that he will no longer be all alone. I can already sense the truth, albeit faintly. I have already seen every past, every future. I am already all-knowing,” Althur boasted.</span></p> <p class="cnMzZjE1Y2UwMTcyNDQzOGRhMThmMTgyMWI3YmE5YmM4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“So you know everything already?” I asked.</span></p> <p class="cnNlYmM4YjE2OGNhMTRiMmRhM2JlZjE1YzZmYzk3ZjU5"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Indeed. Not as much as Grandmaster, but I, too, have already seen everything. I simply have to understand and find the answer to the grand question - ‘Why?’.”</span></p> <p class="cnMyZTE5ZGY5ZGEyNTRhMTM4NGViODMxNDlkM2JlOTQ0"><span style="font-weight: 400">Without saying a word, I swung my hand downward violently, causing the floor under Althur to sink. He was caught off guard as evident of him tripping awkwardly onto the floor.</span></p> <p class="cnM5YzFlY2E1NTRhNDQ4YWM5YWJjNzA5NTViYWRjNTQ2"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I bet you didn’t see that coming, right?” I scoffed.</span></p> <p class="cnMxOTFlYTU0YmZkNTRiYmZiOGJmYWExMTI5YTE5M2Mz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Althur’s body twitched just before he calmly got up. He patted his clothes clean then coughed. “Admittedly, you are very unexpected. It seems I may have overblown the fact that I knew everything.”</span></p> <p class="cnM2M2Y4MjA4YzJkZDQyNmI4ODY2MmI1NmMxMDg1MmNj"><span style="font-weight: 400">“As long as you know.” I shrugged.</span></p> <p class="cnM2ZWMzZWVjYTgyNjRkYTlhZTg4YzJkNDMyMmNiNmU1"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Though I say such things, I do not underestimate my opponents. I want you gone as fast as possible before you do any more tricks. Undead, prepare yourself for my best attacks,” Althur proclaimed as he clapped his hands loudly.</span></p> <p class="cnNmNGM5NzM3Nzg1NDQwNTZhYWIyMGMxOGJkNWZmZGQz"><span style="font-weight: 400">The walls around me slowly crumbled, and the orbs were stuttering in and out of existence. The stone floor slowly changed into a blank, white tiled floor, and the orbs were replaced with statues of winged figures.</span></p> <p class="cnNjNjhhMDY1YTk0NDRlYTNhZjU4MTM2MjJkNjZmOTQ2"><span style="font-weight: 400">It seemed that Althur started off by overriding the world with his memory. Upon reaching enlightenment, people at the top, called Constants, could reshape the world as they please in this ever-changing nightmare of an existence, but at the cost of losing their true meaning in life.</span></p> <p class="cnNlNDc1Nzc4OWEzODQ2MDNhNTUxMWYxNGVlYWI1Yzhk"><span style="font-weight: 400">In the first place, nobody has the answer to life.</span></p> <p class="cnNlNmM0YTUzZTcyMTQ1MDRhYmQ0NjM5NTYwZDJjZWZm"><span style="font-weight: 400">Constants would believe that the entire universe was but a dream for them to play in - a sandbox. But the problem?</span></p> <p class="cnNmNDc3ZmFhNzUyZjQ5Y2NiNzAwOWI2NmMwM2MzYWFk"><span style="font-weight: 400">They’re not alone.</span></p> <p class="cnM5YTQ4NDY1ZTYwOTRiYzNhMjEwMDM3YTVhMjE0YmMz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Who was the real owner of the dream? Who does the world bow to? Like how only one emperor can rule over an empire without the empire collapsing, only one Constant would be allowed to exist.</span></p> <p class="cnMyNjI4M2U1NzEzMjQxMGI5MTgwZTRlOTBlNTFjMTkx"><span style="font-weight: 400">Althur wrongly believed that only his so-called grandmaster sat atop the peak of the world. Was he not told otherwise? Or perhaps his grandmaster wasn’t even aware of it.</span></p> <p class="cnNjZDBmNjA5NjhkMDQwY2NhN2U4NTIzNjg1ZDQyODI3"><span style="font-weight: 400">“When two Constants meet, only one remains. Ever heard of that?” I nonchalantly remarked.</span></p> <p class="cnNhM2ZiYjNiNTVkODQ0MzBiMDUwMDA2NGVlYjIyYjZh"><span style="font-weight: 400">For a second, the statues crumbled before returning to normal as if nothing happened.</span></p> <p class="cnM4MDgwODRlZDdjYTQ3MWI5ZjViMGM2N2U4OTIxMjFm"><span style="font-weight: 400">“How did you know that?” Althur asked.</span></p> <p class="cnM1YjJmNjQ1NjEyMTQxMzI5ODIxZmY3ZWFhNGE5YzM1"><span style="font-weight: 400">I waved a finger at him then shook my head. “You are close to ascendancy, but unfortunately, your way of thinking is what prevents you from achieving ascension. A Constant must be unique, thus shared knowledge would only make you a muddled, inferior version of the original.”</span></p> <p class="cnM3MzNmODRmYTA5NDQyMzhhNzI5Zjg2ZGY4NjZkZWYw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Are you saying that because my knowledge isn’t my own, but of Grandmaster’s, I will never be able to become a Constant?” Althur guessed.</span></p> <p class="cnM0MTM5MzkxODY2OTRiNzU5YTBiODg4ODEyZGE1ZDEx"><span style="font-weight: 400">I didn’t answer him. Instead, I walked up to one of the winged statues then inspected it. The statue was a cloaked woman offering her hand forward, while holding a sword in the other hand. A common depiction of angels… or at least in the Western Continent.</span></p> <p class="cnM2NTQ1YTNlZDA5MDRkNTlhM2IzMDgyYmFiMDBlMGUx"><span style="font-weight: 400">“You seem to be a reasonable fellow, but you are an enemy. If my companions faced you, some of them might become… permanently dead,” I told Althur. “I have no choice but to wipe your existence.”</span></p> <p class="cnNhYjg5N2MzMWI3ODQ4NDY5YzQ5NjExOWU0NGU3MTE2"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I’ve already sparred with Grandmaster. I know how to deal with the likes of you,” Althur replied.</span></p> <p class="cnMyNzFlMmJmZGY1YzRmMjhiODFlOGE2NjBlMmFkZjNl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Althur opened his palm and started reciting a divine chant for an energy bolt. “Flow of energy, devoid of meaning…”</span></p> <p class="cnM5MTJiNTAxYWJjYzQyODA5NDY2ZWUxN2Y3MjRmYTE4"><span style="font-weight: 400">I raised an energy barrier in front of me just before he finished his chant, but he swiped his hand and feinted his energy bolt into a void charge. “...Full of meaning, lacking in energy.”</span></p> <p class="cnMyMTM5NzU2ZmU1YTQ2ZDM4NTU5NzIwYTcxOGNiZTZl"><span style="font-weight: 400">A yellow bolt arced from Althur’s hand and across the room. I crumbled the barrier and immediately created a deflection spell to counter the demonic spell. The black ball was slapped off-course by the deflection spell and rammed directly onto the floor beside me.</span></p> <p class="cnM5NWYyODlhYjFmODQwOTBhZWYyZDZmYWUxMGZiZWM4"><span style="font-weight: 400">I balled my hand into a fist, and flames erupted all over all the white room. The bright, white color of the tiles was replaced with a scorching red-and-yellow garden of fire.</span></p> <p class="cnNjNDcxZjkwYTYwYzRlOTNiZWU4MGY1M2ZlMjBjZjFm"><span style="font-weight: 400">“W-What’s going on, Boss?!” Mauri shouted.</span></p> <p class="cnMyZmZiOTE3MDU3MzQ5Mzg5M2QxMTc4YjI4NmE1MmQ0"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Ah. I had forgotten you existed. You haven’t said anything all this time.” I sighed.</span></p> <p class="cnM1MDI3YTRhMzdlNDQ0YzJhYzE3ZmI4YWIzMTk1YWFj"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I-I just thought that being silent would be better, but now…” Mauri gawked at where we were standing on currently.</span></p> <p class="cnMzMGQzNmY5YWVkODQxN2VhNDYxOWYxY2Y1ODViMzgy"><span style="font-weight: 400">The scenery was changed into a burning forest littered with angel statues. The forest was reminiscent of Satel’s own life - a fairy, a forest, and a lot of unstoppable flames.</span></p> <p class="cnNkMTYzZjYwODRjMjRiY2Q5NzMxYmU4NTg1ZjVkYmNl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Althur teleported close to me, then began freezing the floor while preparing a large ice shard to hurl at me. I swayed my hand to the side, and several trees began uprooting themselves then floated up. I threw the large burning trees at him, and Althur hurled the ice shard at the trees instead.</span></p> <p class="cnM5Nzk0Y2U0ZGUwMjRmNjI5MTJiMTZhZjA1ZGQxNTM1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Figuring that I was an undead, Althur conjured multiple holy spells at once and launched them at me. An unholy barrier formed in front of me and absorbed most of the spells, though some passed through. Of course, I was unharmed since not even the high priests of the Holy City of Aon could hurt me.</span></p> <p class="cnM0YjEzOGVjMTIxNDRhM2U4YzMyM2UyZjU3YzhlNDVm"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I didn’t know you could use necromantic spells.” I turned to Mauri and placed a hand against my chin.</span></p> <p class="cnNkZDJhODY0MjdiMzRiMTM4YzkzNTdhNTlmMDI4M2Zj"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I am, after all, the Spirit of the Road between Life and Death. I specialize mostly in life and death arts,” Mauri explained.</span></p> <p class="cnM0Zjc0ZmQ0YzM5YTRkZTM4NWI3NDAxYjE1ZjhlZjky"><span style="font-weight: 400">I turned my hand towards Althur, but he teleported away and shot another round of holy spells at me. He must had thought that Mauri’s barrier absorbed all of the spells, since he didn’t stop using holy spells. I tried to home my hand at him, but the bastard kept teleporting around like a mosquito.</span></p> <p class="cnM1NzkwNGE2OWUzMDQ5OWQ5ODA0YmQ3YzQ2ZTc0M2Zi"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Enough.” I grew weary of his shenanigans, so I balled my hand into a fist, and forced a massive gravitational pull towards the floor. While Mauri and I was unaffected, Althur crashed onto the floor, unable to teleport anymore.</span></p> <p class="cnM1MjU5Mjk1NDIxMTQ0ZTZhNWZmNjkxNWY2ZDc0Zjdi"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Root.” I balled my hands together, and earthen hands clutched Althur down onto the floor. Since he was still recovering from teleporting, he was unable to dispel the earthen hands before they could cover him.</span></p> <p class="cnM3MzhhMWExODlhODQwYjdiNjU3ZjQ5YTgzNDJiMGNi"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Now, let’s see what’s in your mind,” I proclaimed.</span></p> <p class="cnNmYzcyOTFhYjlmMjRiMmI4NDYwNmE0MGQ2MDZiY2U1"><span style="font-weight: 400">“What? No! You monster!” Althur shouted in defiance.</span></p> <p class="cnM5MTJlNDIwZGU5YjQyYzJhMDVkMDY1YmExNDY2Mzky"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Come on. Don’t treat me like I’m the bad guy here. You attacked first, so this is just self-defense,” I argued.</span></p> <p class="cnNjZmIxNzRlYmVjZjQ3M2ZiODM1NWM2YjRkYTg5N2Fl"><span style="font-weight: 400">I lurked deep into his mind, trying to probe him for information regarding the so-called ‘Grandmaster’. As I intruded upon his secrets, the scenery began to rapidly change.</span></p> <p class="cnNmZDVkMDgxMzE0YzQ3MWM4NTQxOTQxYjE2YTg3YjZj"><span style="font-weight: 400">The floor changed into a large lake, then the sky turned into a stone ceiling. The burning air turned into a hail of freezing wind, and the statues began weeping black ooze.</span></p> <p class="cnM2MGMyMWY3M2ZmMTQ5MjU5NTc2NWI1MzUzNmI0YTdl"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Get off my mind!” Althur screamed as he began breaking through the layers of earthen hands, but Mauri kept wrapping him with vines. He began to desperately fight by rewriting his memory, and in turn, reshaped the world we were in.</span></p> <p class="cnM5MzZiZTgxODZjZTRkYzNhNWQ0MGU2NGRiZDI4YTE3"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Mauri, stick close to me, the invisible bastards are beginning to open more gates to other-…” I turned to where she was standing, but she had disappeared. In her place, there were a few of what Kendra would call ‘faceless clowns’ standing on her spot.</span></p> <p class="cnM4YjNhNDhkNGFhZjRhZDFhY2Y5YjdkYWYxNWE2ZmQ3"><span style="font-weight: 400">They were laughing at me.</span></p> <p class="cnNiMTdjMWMxZTI2YzQyNDdiYWI3ZjBlMDliMzY2YjRi"><span style="font-weight: 400">Praising me.</span></p> <p class="cnMyNzNjYWIzN2MxMzRhODhhZjFjYWI5ZmVlNTkwMzlj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Crying.</span></p> <p class="cnNmY2FhODNiODc4YzRhY2JiNTE5ODA2NjU3MGM0ZjA1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Althur’s defiance was slowly calling more of these invisible bastards as they began gathering in front of me. They began chanting, and the already bright area was starting to become blindening.</span></p> <p class="cnNmMGI2ZDU1N2JhMDQ5ZDFhMGU5NGJjNmEzZmVlNDQ2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ah.</span></p> <p class="cnNjZjQzOTUwN2ExMjQwMjFiZjRiYjQ5MGFkNDFlNDdi"><span style="font-weight: 400">The songs. The orchestra.</span></p> <p class="cnM4NTAwOGNhMWNjZDQxZjA4MWJmM2QwNTJkYzM5NmIz"><span style="font-weight: 400">I raised my hand then began waving my hand in the air gently as I conducted the stream of invisible figures into place.</span></p> <p class="cnMwZjc4NGMyODM5NjRjM2E4NGQzNWQ2OWU1MDZjODVh"><span style="font-weight: 400">“What are you doing to me?!” Althur shouted as his figure started shimmering.</span></p> <p class="cnMyYjUwN2I3YzU4ZDQxYjA4ZmJjNTQxN2I5MWEyYzNj"><span style="font-weight: 400">I stopped dozing off, then snapped myself back to the task at hand. Althur was starting to disappear from reality, and Mauri was gone, too.</span></p> <p class="cnMwNzRlMjE1MTdhNjQ2ZWQ4ZmRhZjllZWM3NTYwYTYx"><span style="font-weight: 400">I searched within my robes and took out the vase I stole from the troll. “I wonder what Mauri will think if her life was equivalent to a vase…”</span></p> <p class="cnNkNDczMzZlNDhiYjRhZDg4NWM4ZGI5M2EyM2E0MzNl"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Pardon me?” a voice rang out from my side.</span></p> <p class="cnNmYzJmMTFmOWJlYjQ2YTJhMjUyYjdjODY3MzRmNmFj"><span style="font-weight: 400">I turned to see Mauri standing where she was supposed to be at, then found out that the vase had disappeared from my clutches. “Nothing. Let’s get this over with. Hold onto me, spirit.”</span></p> <p class="cnM5NDBlODBiMjU4MjRjOTM5ZmRjYjg3MDgwMWVhNjhi"><span style="font-weight: 400">Mauri didn’t protest and obeyed me without a sound. She grabbed my shoulder then held onto it tightly.</span></p> <p class="cnNhOWM4YTljNDI1NTRhZDQ5MWMzYzY4ZDllNTcyMGYw"><span style="font-weight: 400">I began exchanging my memories for Althur’s, which was a sort of uneven trade, especially since I had a thousand years worth of useless memories. The stacks of foreign memory added up, and there, I found a boy silently praying in a chapel.<br></span></p> <p class="cnM4OGJkMjI2NDBmNDQwODJiYWM5ZTQ1NTZlNDZhOTg3"><span style="font-weight: 400">The boy slowly turned into a grown man, then stood up before leaving the chapel. Just outside the chapel was a cemetery, where the man had dug up a hole to bury a wrapped body.</span></p> <p class="cnNiMGRiNDQxZDAzYTRiMjI4ODEwNTM3MTE1ZDRhMjAw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Another one?” an indeterminate voice echoed in the memory and the man nodded.</span></p> <p class="cnM2OWU1OGZkZTUxNjRlZWJhZTZkOWNjNWRkODQ3NjQw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“They’re fascinating, aren’t they? The undead, I mean. Are you sure they shouldn’t really exist in this world?” the man asked.</span></p> <p class="cnM1YjBjNmRmZDc5NTRjMTZhMzI5ZDM5NjA1NDVlZjZm"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Remember the cycle. Life, then death. There was no in-betweens. If I could somehow get rid of the in-between…”</span></p> <p class="cnNlZTEwYmFlY2NmYzQ4ZTliNGNkMDI4MDk3ZjQxNWQx"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I understand.”</span></p> <p class="cnMwNzc5MzczOGU2ZDQwZjlhYWJlNGNjM2QxYTg2MzI2"><span style="font-weight: 400">When I ‘woke’ up, I found myself standing at the dungeon core room once again. The orbs containing undead husks were sitting on the corners of the room, and the floor was once again dull gray stone. Althur was nowhere to be found, but the purple cracked crystal was still floating on the raise platform of the room.</span></p> <p class="cnM2OWE5MDE1OWU3MzRmZjQ5MTJlMjJjMTcxY2ViNDQx"><span style="font-weight: 400">“He’s gone, huh?” I pondered loudly.</span></p> <p class="cnNiNjQ2MDc2YWEwZTRjYWFiZGY3MGE1OGRlNWQ4ZWIw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Who’s gone?” Mauri asked.</span></p> <p class="cnM0M2Q3ODUzM2UyNTQ2MWNhYWMwMzg2OTcwOGY3MWZj"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Him…”</span></p> <p class="cnM0MTY5YzdiODAwNDRkMTViNTc0NjQ3OWYzZDA2NTY0"><span style="font-weight: 400">“There was no one here, though? It’s just us and these… weird balls of glass,” Mauri retorted.</span></p> <p class="cnM3MjlhNmVkYWYyMjRkZWZhZTM1NDVjN2UwN2I1Mzkw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Nevermind.”</span></p> </div>

I ran my hand against the stone wall as I floated across the narrow hallway. Mauri jogged behind me, trying to keep up with me, but I paid her no heed. After tracing the rough surface with a finger, I placed my hand against my back calmly. “How close are we?” I asked as I stopped in my tracks. “We’re ah…” Mauri was trying to catch her breathe as she struggled to answer me. “We’re close. It’s straight ahead.” Unlike most dungeons which could be cracked open to reveal a secret passage straight towards the core room, this dungeon was heavily modified to suit the current owners. However, only dungeon core owners could shape a dungeon as they please, so how were the Order Knights able to change this place? Of course, it was either the dungeon owner was working with them or there was someone powerful enough to defy the dungeon’s restrictions. “Over there!” A group of four armored men approached. One of them was a battle mage, and the remaining three were normal grunts. They blocked my path and immediately attacked without any warning. I placed my hand against the wall, and a hole on the floor immediately swallowed one of the grunts. I lunged forward towards one of the last two grunts and grabbed his neck before throwing him towards the other man. The mage’s hand was sickly purple, and he shot a beam of purple light from his hand. Despite its speed, it was not fast enough to catch me. I casually threw my sword at the mage like a javelin, spilling blood as his skewered corpse fell on the floor. “It’s annoying how I can’t use magic against these guys. Isn’t this like cheating?” I protested. “At the very least, there’s still no one that would threaten you, Boss,” Mauri tried to assure me. When we reached the end of the hallway, we found a large room filled with floating orbs. Inside the orbs were various kind of undead beings - some were still active, others were simply rotting carcasses. I floated towards one of the orbs and found out that there was an empty husk of an armored skeleton holding a staff. The armor and staff had different kinds of jewels of every color, and two metal snake crawled around the staff as if they were real living snakes. Only a dried, hollow face was visible through the hood. “This must be a lich, am I right?” Mauri asked as she also joined me in studying the decayed body. “Indeed,” another voice answered before I could say anything. There was a masked man standing on top of a platform at the end of the room. Behind him was a cracked purple crystal which looked like a portal to space. The man raised his arms to the air and said, “Long ago, that specimen was a powerful lich. Now, it is naught but a husk. As is all life, even the undead goes through the cycle.” I looked at the skeleton, then back at the masked man. “This guy isn’t a lich. It’s just a normal skeleton knight.” “What?! Impossible! He could cast spells!” the masked man argued. “Most people could cast spells,” I scoffed back. “Not basic spells! He was using advanced spells which should be impossible if he was just a mere skeleton knight!” “Pfft. Even a pile of walking rotten food could cast advanced spells,” I mocked. It’s true anyway. “Even still, he was a very tough opponent! It took an entire company to take him down!” the masked man shouted. I shook my hand wearily, too tired to argue with some masked freak with a question taste in robe-fashion. “Who are you?” I asked. The masked man collected himself, then placed his hands behind his back. “So you two are the ones intruding upon my base. I am simply known as Overseer Althur, Master of the Order of the Returned Knights.” “I’m Boss. This is Mauri,” I introduced, though it seemed that he ignored us in favor of staring at the large cracked crystal. “I assume you are one of those people that has been attacking us recently. The new mysterious group of people. Though, ‘people’ might be stretching it. Afterall, I don’t see the *undead* as people,” Althur said as he turned back at us. I pointed at the large crystal then asked, “How did you managed to enslave that dungeon core to you? Are you a spirit?” Althur laughed then answered, “The gift given to us is very strong. But it is not enough, of course. It also requires talent given by the great Grandmaster of the Order in order to be powerful enough to manipulate a dungeon core.” “Grandmaster?” “Oh yes, undead. Grandmaster has seen the truth of the world. He knows everything about life and death, everything about the cycle, everything about the meaning of all this,” Althur praised with confidence resounding in his voice. “Who is the grandmaster?” “Grandmaster is Grandmaster. We do not know his real name.” What a weird fellow. Must be an anti-social. I waved my hand gently and all the orbs slowly floated away to the corners of the room in order to clear the path between Althur and me. “So this grandmaster person has been teaching you all sorts of things?” “Indeed. I feel as if I’m about to reach ascendance soon. It is a shame that Grandmaster is all alone at the top, watching as us fool bicker and fight amongst ourselves. But, I will join him soon in ascendance so that he will no longer be all alone. I can already sense the truth, albeit faintly. I have already seen every past, every future. I am already all-knowing,” Althur boasted. “So you know everything already?” I asked. “Indeed. Not as much as Grandmaster, but I, too, have already seen everything. I simply have to understand and find the answer to the grand question - ‘Why?’.” Without saying a word, I swung my hand downward violently, causing the floor under Althur to sink. He was caught off guard as evident of him tripping awkwardly onto the floor. “I bet you didn’t see that coming, right?” I scoffed. Althur’s body twitched just before he calmly got up. He patted his clothes clean then coughed. “Admittedly, you are very unexpected. It seems I may have overblown the fact that I knew everything.” “As long as you know.” I shrugged. “Though I say such things, I do not underestimate my opponents. I want you gone as fast as possible before you do any more tricks. Undead, prepare yourself for my best attacks,” Althur proclaimed as he clapped his hands loudly. The walls around me slowly crumbled, and the orbs were stuttering in and out of existence. The stone floor slowly changed into a blank, white tiled floor, and the orbs were replaced with statues of winged figures. It seemed that Althur started off by overriding the world with his memory. Upon reaching enlightenment, people at the top, called Constants, could reshape the world as they please in this ever-changing nightmare of an existence, but at the cost of losing their true meaning in life. In the first place, nobody has the answer to life. Constants would believe that the entire universe was but a dream for them to play in - a sandbox. But the problem? They’re not alone. Who was the real owner of the dream? Who does the world bow to? Like how only one emperor can rule over an empire without the empire collapsing, only one Constant would be allowed to exist. Althur wrongly believed that only his so-called grandmaster sat atop the peak of the world. Was he not told otherwise? Or perhaps his grandmaster wasn’t even aware of it. “When two Constants meet, only one remains. Ever heard of that?” I nonchalantly remarked. For a second, the statues crumbled before returning to normal as if nothing happened. “How did you know that?” Althur asked. I waved a finger at him then shook my head. “You are close to ascendancy, but unfortunately, your way of thinking is what prevents you from achieving ascension. A Constant must be unique, thus shared knowledge would only make you a muddled, inferior version of the original.” “Are you saying that because my knowledge isn’t my own, but of Grandmaster’s, I will never be able to become a Constant?” Althur guessed. I didn’t answer him. Instead, I walked up to one of the winged statues then inspected it. The statue was a cloaked woman offering her hand forward, while holding a sword in the other hand. A common depiction of angels… or at least in the Western Continent. “You seem to be a reasonable fellow, but you are an enemy. If my companions faced you, some of them might become… permanently dead,” I told Althur. “I have no choice but to wipe your existence.” “I’ve already sparred with Grandmaster. I know how to deal with the likes of you,” Althur replied. Althur opened his palm and started reciting a divine chant for an energy bolt. “Flow of energy, devoid of meaning…” I raised an energy barrier in front of me just before he finished his chant, but he swiped his hand and feinted his energy bolt into a void charge. “...Full of meaning, lacking in energy.” A yellow bolt arced from Althur’s hand and across the room. I crumbled the barrier and immediately created a deflection spell to counter the demonic spell. The black ball was slapped off-course by the deflection spell and rammed directly onto the floor beside me. I balled my hand into a fist, and flames erupted all over all the white room. The bright, white color of the tiles was replaced with a scorching red-and-yellow garden of fire. “W-What’s going on, Boss?!” Mauri shouted. “Ah. I had forgotten you existed. You haven’t said anything all this time.” I sighed. “I-I just thought that being silent would be better, but now…” Mauri gawked at where we were standing on currently. The scenery was changed into a burning forest littered with angel statues. The forest was reminiscent of Satel’s own life - a fairy, a forest, and a lot of unstoppable flames. Althur teleported close to me, then began freezing the floor while preparing a large ice shard to hurl at me. I swayed my hand to the side, and several trees began uprooting themselves then floated up. I threw the large burning trees at him, and Althur hurled the ice shard at the trees instead. Figuring that I was an undead, Althur conjured multiple holy spells at once and launched them at me. An unholy barrier formed in front of me and absorbed most of the spells, though some passed through. Of course, I was unharmed since not even the high priests of the Holy City of Aon could hurt me. “I didn’t know you could use necromantic spells.” I turned to Mauri and placed a hand against my chin. “I am, after all, the Spirit of the Road between Life and Death. I specialize mostly in life and death arts,” Mauri explained. I turned my hand towards Althur, but he teleported away and shot another round of holy spells at me. He must had thought that Mauri’s barrier absorbed all of the spells, since he didn’t stop using holy spells. I tried to home my hand at him, but the bastard kept teleporting around like a mosquito. “Enough.” I grew weary of his shenanigans, so I balled my hand into a fist, and forced a massive gravitational pull towards the floor. While Mauri and I was unaffected, Althur crashed onto the floor, unable to teleport anymore. “Root.” I balled my hands together, and earthen hands clutched Althur down onto the floor. Since he was still recovering from teleporting, he was unable to dispel the earthen hands before they could cover him. “Now, let’s see what’s in your mind,” I proclaimed. “What? No! You monster!” Althur shouted in defiance. “Come on. Don’t treat me like I’m the bad guy here. You attacked first, so this is just self-defense,” I argued. I lurked deep into his mind, trying to probe him for information regarding the so-called ‘Grandmaster’. As I intruded upon his secrets, the scenery began to rapidly change. The floor changed into a large lake, then the sky turned into a stone ceiling. The burning air turned into a hail of freezing wind, and the statues began weeping black ooze. “Get off my mind!” Althur screamed as he began breaking through the layers of earthen hands, but Mauri kept wrapping him with vines. He began to desperately fight by rewriting his memory, and in turn, reshaped the world we were in. “Mauri, stick close to me, the invisible bastards are beginning to open more gates to other-…” I turned to where she was standing, but she had disappeared. In her place, there were a few of what Kendra would call ‘faceless clowns’ standing on her spot. They were laughing at me. Praising me. Crying. Althur’s defiance was slowly calling more of these invisible bastards as they began gathering in front of me. They began chanting, and the already bright area was starting to become blindening. Ah. The songs. The orchestra. I raised my hand then began waving my hand in the air gently as I conducted the stream of invisible figures into place. “What are you doing to me?!” Althur shouted as his figure started shimmering. I stopped dozing off, then snapped myself back to the task at hand. Althur was starting to disappear from reality, and Mauri was gone, too. I searched within my robes and took out the vase I stole from the troll. “I wonder what Mauri will think if her life was equivalent to a vase…” “Pardon me?” a voice rang out from my side. I turned to see Mauri standing where she was supposed to be at, then found out that the vase had disappeared from my clutches. “Nothing. Let’s get this over with. Hold onto me, spirit.” Mauri didn’t protest and obeyed me without a sound. She grabbed my shoulder then held onto it tightly. I began exchanging my memories for Althur’s, which was a sort of uneven trade, especially since I had a thousand years worth of useless memories. The stacks of foreign memory added up, and there, I found a boy silently praying in a chapel. The boy slowly turned into a grown man, then stood up before leaving the chapel. Just outside the chapel was a cemetery, where the man had dug up a hole to bury a wrapped body. “Another one?” an indeterminate voice echoed in the memory and the man nodded. “They’re fascinating, aren’t they? The undead, I mean. Are you sure they shouldn’t really exist in this world?” the man asked. “Remember the cycle. Life, then death. There was no in-betweens. If I could somehow get rid of the in-between…” “I understand.” When I ‘woke’ up, I found myself standing at the dungeon core room once again. The orbs containing undead husks were sitting on the corners of the room, and the floor was once again dull gray stone. Althur was nowhere to be found, but the purple cracked crystal was still floating on the raise platform of the room. “He’s gone, huh?” I pondered loudly. “Who’s gone?” Mauri asked. “Him…” “There was no one here, though? It’s just us and these… weird balls of glass,” Mauri retorted. “Nevermind.”

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMyNzFhZjA3MjBmMDQ2YjZhNTcxMWRmNzM0MzkyOTFl"><img src="https://rosettaarchive.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/isai_cockpit_by_turinuz-dbwxttl.png?w=1024" alt="" width="1024" height="515"></p> <p class="cnMxMWFlZjY4NjllNjQ3MThhYmFjM2NiYjczZDQwMzg3">__________________________________</p> <p class="cnNlYjI1ODc4MmFkNjQ5MmNhNzYxYzgyYjAyZTQ1NDFk">The void is dark and silent, like the dark vacuum of space. However, it holds many objects within its depths. Huge shipment containers. Large metal cases. Even small briefcases. All of them suspended in place.</p> <p class="cnNmOWNiMzk1NjlmZjRkZTZhNWNlYWEyNmE3ZGJiY2Rh">-Vrrrrrr-</p> <p class="cnM0OTc1Y2NhYWE4ZTQ5ZjZhZDBlMDEyY2IxMjkxZGI5">One of the large objects is a large armored vehicle. The entire vehicle is covered in the thick gray armor.The black runes that lined its surface shimmer and twitch in one place. Across the whole vehicle, there are no windows nor anything resembling a door. Residing in the cockpit is a young woman. Clementine Greeves, the sole pilot of the armored vehicle. Her small stature makes her easily mistaken for a teenager. She sports a shoulder length bob hair style and wears a typical flight suit, complete with a full face visor helmet which she has laid down on her lap.</p> <p class="cnMwZjUyODA2ZmMzNjQ4ODNiYzcxNGMxYjNmMDNhNmI0">Clementine: *Okay...*</p> <p class="cnM4ZjQwOTZiOGM2MjRmYmNhOTE1YzNjYjZmZDI5Mjll">Her hands are busy typing on the console with an elaborate array of controls. Three large screens are fixed in front, displaying a live feed of the void outside. Clementine browses through the data on the screen in front of her.</p> <p class="cnMwMDE1ZTBmYjZiMzRhNDJhYTFhMzk2OWMwMzk4MDdj">Clementine: *Everything should be ready. Everything should be ready.*</p> <p class="cnMyYzU5OWFiYTM2YzQ3NGJhNDRiNGU4NDA2ZjQ5ZGNl">She closes the data windows and lies back on her seat. She closes her eyes and recites her mission objectives in her head.</p> <p class="cnMzYTkwYTY2OTc3NDQxYzRhMjhlMGYyMmFmMzU1OGE1">Clementine: "In and out. Quick. Destroy and leave. Quick. Quick. Quic-"</p> <p class="cnMxMTkwNWFkNjk4YTQ5YTI4NjBlOGI1OTI0Y2ZlNzIz">Something bright shines into her closed eyes. Clementine opens her eyes in surprise and sees that the screen before her has switched to a screen saver. It shows a brilliant picture of a view in space overlooking a blue ocean planet.</p> <p class="cnM1ODcxY2FiOWYyODQyYWY5OGU2OWM0Nzc1NGRiNTcx">Clementine: *Right.*</p> <p class="cnNiYjZlN2FhNWJiMjRhZDBhNDNlZjhmZTI2ZGIyNTMw">She had recently set the screen saver to turn on after a short time of inactivity. She knows that having that setting on is very foolish especially on the surveillance feed of a war machine. Yet, she is confident that she had set it so it does not appear during times of importance. Plus, she feels that the soothing screen saver was what she needed back then. However, the screen saver did little to abate her anxiety this time.</p> <p class="cnNiOTYzNThiNjViNjRhOGNiYzcyMTUwYzRhYjY3OTZk">Clementine: *Kh..."</p> <p class="cnM3YzJmNTQxY2E5OTRjMGRiZWFmOWE2NzZlMDI1YjA4">Clementine snorts in indifference. She still feels that twisted feeling at the pit of her stomach. And that awful feeling of something gnawing at her heart. They have been acting up again. Stirred up by her burden of carrying out a major mission for the organization. Clementine sits upright on her seat. There is another way to curb her uneasiness in this situation. She clasps her hand together and closes her eyes in prayer.</p> <p class="cnNjM2MzZDY2OWY0NTQ2ZTVhNWEzMDc3MmFmNDFmZTc1">Clementine: *G-od...*</p> <p class="cnMxZTcwMTkxNTYxODQ1YWU4ZDI3MGNmNWI2OTM1MTlj">She stumbled on her words. The sense of guilt creeps up on her as she struggles to address her prayer.</p> <p class="cnNhMDY4YjZjNTM2NjRkZTg5MTRmYzFhZjkwNGRlMDRi">Clementine: *My humble lord... I appear before you bearing sins. I have failed your expectations. Please forgive me.*</p> <p class="cnNlMTdjNTJjNDU2ZDRkMjhhN2VmMmNlYTVhMWZkNTRj">Her grip tightens.</p> <p class="cnMwMjk1NGJlMjc2MTQ5YzI5YzljZmYyNGEzZGZmMTBj">Clementine: *Another one of my kin has fallen to the temptations of demons...*</p> <p class="cnM5NzdjOWMwZjNlZDQ1NTVhNzM2MTkxMWM3ZTA3MGMw">Her thoughts deviate towards another organization agent, Indiana Strauss. He has successfully created his own magic. And the concept behind it is...</p> <p class="cnNiZDUzZjllNGQ1ZTQyMDQ4MDM3YWRiYzE1NDZhN2Q4">[Evil. Abominable. Abhorrent. Magic akin to the Devil's.]</p> <p class="cnM3ZjIyZWUwNDhkNzRjNGM5ZDA1ZGI3MjBhOWQyNjhi">That was the first thing Clementine thought when he described its nature. The other agents had different opinions. Some thought that it is useful. Others find it lacking. Gibson himself approved of it.</p> <p class="cnM0ODNkYmE3ZDMxZDQ3MzdiMGM3Mzc2Mjc2YjhjMDVm">Clementine: *… It’s my fault. My sin. I have done what I shouldn't have. I have steered him towards a steep path and left him on his own accord.*</p> <p class="cnM5ODg1YWM4NTYwNzQ0MDViNWE5YjU5NDhiZmYwYzBl">She recollects her memory of their conversation. Indiana was having trouble deciding what his magic should be. She chimed in with some pointers on tailoring a magic that best fit him and left him to his devices.</p> <p class="cnM2MTUwYzVlMDI4YzQ2MTY5MTMwYzE4MDA3YTlmZGJi">Clementine: *Had I stayed with him and advised him more. Perhaps he would have chosen a different path?*</p> <p class="cnNlMTExMzRlZmFjZTRhNTJiNzY4NTEyZTJmNDVhNWY2">She shakes those thoughts from her mind. They proved no use at this time. She must see to the present and advance forward.</p> <p class="cnNkY2RiZTA1ZTIxODQ2ZDBiNDdiOWVlNWE3YTQ2OWM3">Clementine: "I beseech upon you. Watch over the lost soul. May he never stray from the narrow path he set himself upon.”</p> <p class="cnNjZDFiNDMwZDNiMzRhYTk5ZWM0MDkzMDI0ODMxMGI3">She releases her hands and lies back on her seat. Reveling at the serene beauty of the screen saver, she heaves a long sigh.</p> <p class="cnM3ZWUyOTk1NDg4NDQ3ZTBiMzA4MmFmZDg3NmRiZDYx">Clementine: *Good.*</p> <p class="cnM2MmYzMzZlZmE3NDRkY2RiM2Q3MDdkYjg1M2I4ZTQz">Her anxiety has been sorted out. While she no longer held strongly to religion, the small ritual from her zealous childhood has always brought her calm and security.</p> <p class="cnNkYWMyMWJmZDFjYjRhYWVhYzFhOWJmYjM3YWNiZmJi">-Poon-</p> <p class="cnM0MjZkYWRkNjQ1NDRiYWI5OTZmMjcxYWFmOWE0NjJm">The screen saver fades away and a window appeared on the screen. It is a call from Nathan Terrozzo.</p> <p class="cnM4MjdiMTdmZTBkMTQzZDBiNzQwZDU0MzFiYzZiMzc2">Nathan: "Greeves? Miss Greeves?"</p> <p class="cnMxZGQxYjYxNzIyZDRiMjRiNzdiMjg1YjRiMmM2MjU4">Clementine: "Ah- Yes?! Am I deploying?"</p> <p class="cnM5OTE4MjViNDc4MTQ2OWM4ODdmM2NlZWFmYzJkOGJm">Nathan: "Not yet. Have you read through the most recent surveillance data?"</p> <p class="cnNjMTZkZjA3OWQ3MTQwYzBhODlkMGNhZTY2ZjY2OGYz">Clementine: "Yes. Has the situation changed since then?"</p> <p class="cnNmZmMxODM2MDA0YjRmZDJiMjA5ODQ2N2ZhN2NhMDQ1">Nathan: "Yes. The grand spell that has been protecting Rosetta just disappeared. Fortunately, his location has not changed. He is currently in battle with the Chinese agents."</p> <p class="cnM3NGE0MTlmOWQ0YzQ1YWI5ZDY1ZTM3MTM3OWM5MjRm">Then it suddenly dawns on her. In a short time, she will confront and fight with Rosetta.</p> <p class="cnNlMzRmOTc5MTQ5MzQyZmI4NWI4NTBiYzNiMzEwOGRl">Nathan: "We are given an 'all clear' to enter the fray. Deployment on my mark. Get ready."</p> <p class="cnM1NGVkN2E2ZGJhYTQ5NzJhMTljN2YyZTFiMmEwNWZi">Clementine: "Uh-Okay."</p> <p class="cnMxMDJhZjdiMmVmMjRlOWU4YzI2Mjc0YjcxYzE4MjI5">Nathan cuts off the call. The cock pit is silent. Clementine bends forward and brushes her hand across the control panel.</p> <p class="cnNiMmFlMjU5OTRjMTQ3MjE4YzI2ZjViMTNkMmU2N2Rh">Clementine: *Rosetta.*</p> <p class="cnM2NTc0YmFjNzM4ZjQzNDJhYzA3ZTYxZmMyMGUyMGVk">The magician Rosetta. The sole target of the organization and the being where all magic originate from. Clementine grips the joystick as hard as she can. Her anxiety that has dissipated before returns once more.</p> <p class="cnM4MTNjMjAzNmFmNTQ0MzJiNzhhZmM0ZjA2ZjgwNzFk">__________________________________</p> <p class="cnMzOTc2NjVkMTcyYzRlN2Y5YmM5Y2NmNGI5MjExNzA3">-Clink Clink-</p> <p class="cnMzNmMzMzliNmU1MjQ0NDM5YTBmNDFjOGZjZjNmMzZj">Nathan tugs on the cable lifeline securing him to the plane's cargo hold. He checks the airflow of his breathing apparatus. He then reaches behind to check on his emergency parachute. It is his second lifeline should anything goes wrong. Finally, he turns to check the massive probe.</p> <p class="cnNkZWQyYjg0MTc1ZTQ1ODU5ZjU0NjQ1YjVkYzcyZjJj">Nathan: [Such a huge machine. Don't break off and hit me as you fall out.]</p> <p class="cnNhYWEyMGI3NTViNzQyMDg5YmI0NWNmMGZkYTM3ZGI3">He gives it a nudge with his boot before walking off to the cargo door. He grabs a nearby hanging console and opens the cargo door.</p> <p class="cnM0OTgwZjgyNmY2NDRlMGJiMzM4MDY5NDIzMjIyNzBj">-Beep Beep Beep PSHAAAA-</p> <p class="cnMzNTQ4ZmQzNjUxZTQ0NDZiYWRjZjdiYWQyMGJkNTA4">The alarm blares as the plane's cargo doors slowly open to the turbulent air outside. He tosses the console aside and checks the tension of his lifeline. He slowly walks to the edge of the lowered door. The city is below him. A plume of smoke is seen rising from the building Rosetta resides in. Nathan turns on his communicator.</p> <p class="cnMxNTg1NmY2ZGNhZjRlZjNiOTllNTA5NjEyNTBkMWI4">Nathan: "Greeves! Do you hear me?"</p> <p class="cnNiNTQ3OGQxYzY5ZDRhM2M4MjgyMDczN2ZhNmNhZjBk">Clementine: "Loud and clear."</p> <p class="cnNkYzBhM2I5NzRhNDQyMzc5MDRlNzJjYzI2MjdlNTM2">Nathan: "Okay! I will activate my spell! The target is in the building with smoke coming out from it! I will maintain surveillance over the area. Everything else is in your hands. Good luck!"</p> <p class="cnMxZDg4ODc0ZjZmMTQ3YWViNDgzZDBjOTk0MDNlMDcy">Nathan puts his hands over his chest. A rune circle appears over it and he digs into it with his fingers.</p> <p class="cnNiMzI1NjU5MWE5NzQwNjM5NGVlNzFhMDU1YmZjMjNi">Nathan: “Hmph!”</p> <p class="cnNiZTlkMzlmMzljZDRhNTViNWJlMTUxNDJjMjk4YTdj">He pulls on the rune circle. The circle expands and a black hole opens in its center. It keeps expanding until it covers his entire chest.</p> <p class="cnNkZmQ1YTM5ZDc3NDQyMjliZDVmY2MyMzE4N2QyODc3">Nathan: "YOU ARE CLEAR!! GO GO GO!!"</p> <p class="cnM5ZDZhZTg2MWM5YTQ1NmZhYTQwNjVjZDZmYWE0NDM3">-VRRRRRRR-</p> <p class="cnNkM2Q0NjQyNjNhZTQxNDhhMTllNTYyZWQ0ODkwMDdh">Then, from within, a small grey vehicle emerge from the hole. It explodes in size, becoming the size of a tank. Flying out of the plane’s cargo hold, it falls to the city below.</p> <p class="cnM4NzBlYjZhNjQ4MzQ1NjFhNjhiYjFmNDUxMGZmOTFl">-VRRRAAAA-</p> <p class="cnNhNWM1YmM3OGFhOTQwNjE5MzI2YjE2NjEwOTNlMzEw">Jets on the side of the machine fires and turns its direction towards the smoking building. It circles the building, looking for an opening.</p> <p class="cnM1Y2IzNWMwNTVkODQ2NWM5ZDc4MmNlMmMzMzE1MDYz">Clementine: [There.]</p> <p class="cnNkNDliNzU2ZTk0OTQwM2FiNTAyZWE4NDY1YmU0ZTlm">On the building’s side, a gaping hole is open, punched open by one of the Chinese agents. She pulls a lever and toggle the pedal.</p> <p class="cnM3Y2JlNDI5OTQ4ZDQ1NDZhOTFkZjIwZmFjYmJhMzdk">-Fthoo Thoo Thoo Thoo-</p> <p class="cnM1YWJjNDU4NDEwNDRlYTdiOGZjNGJhNWQyZDQxODRk">The jets direct themselves downwards, releasing short thrusts to slow down the machine’s descent. Large metal limbs extend from the machine’s front and grabs on to the building’s side.</p> <p class="cnNiODcwMWVmOWNiMzQ1MjdiMjczYTE1MmI5ZWVmYTRh">-KRAASH-</p> <p class="cnM3ODMwZTBmNGVjZDQzOWQ4NmI2ODdjMTY0MmU5OWYy">The concrete crumbles, unable to support the machine’s weight at it slides down the building. The machine crashes into the gaping hole on the side of the building. Upon entering the building, Clementine’s heart jumps. Expecting an ambush, she wastes no time turning on the flood lights.</p> <p class="cnNkZjU5N2M1YjJiNTRjMTQ5N2I5NzI3MjBkZTk0NjQx">-Dmmmm-</p> <p class="cnNlMDMxOTk0OGM3MzRjZGZhOWJlOGQ4Y2IzZTU2NTYw">The floor turns white from the blinding light. Clementine scans the surroundings, inching closer to the screen.</p> <p class="cnMwZWE4ZDkyYmFkYzQxZDk5N2E0ZWMzZjEyNmExY2I4">Clementine: *Haa!*</p> <p class="cnNkNWI3NDYzMmNkYzRiMjA4ODdkYjM5ZWYxMWMwZThi">She lets out a gasp. There he is, a fair distance away. A pitch black body so black that it looks two dimensional. Tall body. Long limbs. A charred skull of a ram. A twisting black mass staring her down. Such a terrifying appearance. To the little pious child within, he is a being with enough power to stand close to God. And with that despicable appearance, she finds no doubt that he is the Devil himself.</p> <p class="cnNjMmIyODcwZGViMzQyZjFhMjJkYTU4ZGQyZTkyMDcw">Clementine: "Kh!"</p> <p class="cnMyZDE0MmQ2YjRjYTRhNjFiMzljNGE4NTgxYmRiNTU4">She steels herself and grips her console tightly. Her objective is clear as day. Take down the lone monster before her. Her face frown into a focused state as the targeting system locks on to the magician.</p> <p class="cnMwNDUzNzQ1OWExOTQ3NjBhNTk4YTRmNzVmZTg4ZmQ1">-Tt Thm-</p> <p class="cnNhNTEwNDdhNmY0ZDQzZGJhYmM1ZmM4MGY3MDliMWVi">The feed of the cockpit screen jolts as two pairs of missiles streak across the air towards the black twisted being she labeled the Devil.</p> <p class="cnM4MGQ0ZDY2MmI3ZjRjNmJhMmRiYjk5MWI1OGQyZDhi">__________________________________</p> </div>

 \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ The void is dark and silent, like the dark vacuum of space. However, it holds many objects within its depths. Huge shipment containers. Large metal cases. Even small briefcases. All of them suspended in place. -Vrrrrrr- One of the large objects is a large armored vehicle. The entire vehicle is covered in the thick gray armor.The black runes that lined its surface shimmer and twitch in one place. Across the whole vehicle, there are no windows nor anything resembling a door. Residing in the cockpit is a young woman. Clementine Greeves, the sole pilot of the armored vehicle. Her small stature makes her easily mistaken for a teenager. She sports a shoulder length bob hair style and wears a typical flight suit, complete with a full face visor helmet which she has laid down on her lap. Clementine: *Okay...* Her hands are busy typing on the console with an elaborate array of controls. Three large screens are fixed in front, displaying a live feed of the void outside. Clementine browses through the data on the screen in front of her. Clementine: *Everything should be ready. Everything should be ready.* She closes the data windows and lies back on her seat. She closes her eyes and recites her mission objectives in her head. Clementine: "In and out. Quick. Destroy and leave. Quick. Quick. Quic-" Something bright shines into her closed eyes. Clementine opens her eyes in surprise and sees that the screen before her has switched to a screen saver. It shows a brilliant picture of a view in space overlooking a blue ocean planet. Clementine: *Right.* She had recently set the screen saver to turn on after a short time of inactivity. She knows that having that setting on is very foolish especially on the surveillance feed of a war machine. Yet, she is confident that she had set it so it does not appear during times of importance. Plus, she feels that the soothing screen saver was what she needed back then. However, the screen saver did little to abate her anxiety this time. Clementine: *Kh..." Clementine snorts in indifference. She still feels that twisted feeling at the pit of her stomach. And that awful feeling of something gnawing at her heart. They have been acting up again. Stirred up by her burden of carrying out a major mission for the organization. Clementine sits upright on her seat. There is another way to curb her uneasiness in this situation. She clasps her hand together and closes her eyes in prayer. Clementine: *G-od...* She stumbled on her words. The sense of guilt creeps up on her as she struggles to address her prayer. Clementine: *My humble lord... I appear before you bearing sins. I have failed your expectations. Please forgive me.* Her grip tightens. Clementine: *Another one of my kin has fallen to the temptations of demons...* Her thoughts deviate towards another organization agent, Indiana Strauss. He has successfully created his own magic. And the concept behind it is... [Evil. Abominable. Abhorrent. Magic akin to the Devil's.] That was the first thing Clementine thought when he described its nature. The other agents had different opinions. Some thought that it is useful. Others find it lacking. Gibson himself approved of it. Clementine: *… It’s my fault. My sin. I have done what I shouldn't have. I have steered him towards a steep path and left him on his own accord.* She recollects her memory of their conversation. Indiana was having trouble deciding what his magic should be. She chimed in with some pointers on tailoring a magic that best fit him and left him to his devices. Clementine: *Had I stayed with him and advised him more. Perhaps he would have chosen a different path?* She shakes those thoughts from her mind. They proved no use at this time. She must see to the present and advance forward. Clementine: "I beseech upon you. Watch over the lost soul. May he never stray from the narrow path he set himself upon.” She releases her hands and lies back on her seat. Reveling at the serene beauty of the screen saver, she heaves a long sigh. Clementine: *Good.* Her anxiety has been sorted out. While she no longer held strongly to religion, the small ritual from her zealous childhood has always brought her calm and security. -Poon- The screen saver fades away and a window appeared on the screen. It is a call from Nathan Terrozzo. Nathan: "Greeves? Miss Greeves?" Clementine: "Ah- Yes?! Am I deploying?" Nathan: "Not yet. Have you read through the most recent surveillance data?" Clementine: "Yes. Has the situation changed since then?" Nathan: "Yes. The grand spell that has been protecting Rosetta just disappeared. Fortunately, his location has not changed. He is currently in battle with the Chinese agents." Then it suddenly dawns on her. In a short time, she will confront and fight with Rosetta. Nathan: "We are given an 'all clear' to enter the fray. Deployment on my mark. Get ready." Clementine: "Uh-Okay." Nathan cuts off the call. The cock pit is silent. Clementine bends forward and brushes her hand across the control panel. Clementine: *Rosetta.* The magician Rosetta. The sole target of the organization and the being where all magic originate from. Clementine grips the joystick as hard as she can. Her anxiety that has dissipated before returns once more. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ -Clink Clink- Nathan tugs on the cable lifeline securing him to the plane's cargo hold. He checks the airflow of his breathing apparatus. He then reaches behind to check on his emergency parachute. It is his second lifeline should anything goes wrong. Finally, he turns to check the massive probe. Nathan: [Such a huge machine. Don't break off and hit me as you fall out.] He gives it a nudge with his boot before walking off to the cargo door. He grabs a nearby hanging console and opens the cargo door. -Beep Beep Beep PSHAAAA- The alarm blares as the plane's cargo doors slowly open to the turbulent air outside. He tosses the console aside and checks the tension of his lifeline. He slowly walks to the edge of the lowered door. The city is below him. A plume of smoke is seen rising from the building Rosetta resides in. Nathan turns on his communicator. Nathan: "Greeves! Do you hear me?" Clementine: "Loud and clear." Nathan: "Okay! I will activate my spell! The target is in the building with smoke coming out from it! I will maintain surveillance over the area. Everything else is in your hands. Good luck!" Nathan puts his hands over his chest. A rune circle appears over it and he digs into it with his fingers. Nathan: “Hmph!” He pulls on the rune circle. The circle expands and a black hole opens in its center. It keeps expanding until it covers his entire chest. Nathan: "YOU ARE CLEAR!! GO GO GO!!" -VRRRRRRR- Then, from within, a small grey vehicle emerge from the hole. It explodes in size, becoming the size of a tank. Flying out of the plane’s cargo hold, it falls to the city below. -VRRRAAAA- Jets on the side of the machine fires and turns its direction towards the smoking building. It circles the building, looking for an opening. Clementine: [There.] On the building’s side, a gaping hole is open, punched open by one of the Chinese agents. She pulls a lever and toggle the pedal. -Fthoo Thoo Thoo Thoo- The jets direct themselves downwards, releasing short thrusts to slow down the machine’s descent. Large metal limbs extend from the machine’s front and grabs on to the building’s side. -KRAASH- The concrete crumbles, unable to support the machine’s weight at it slides down the building. The machine crashes into the gaping hole on the side of the building. Upon entering the building, Clementine’s heart jumps. Expecting an ambush, she wastes no time turning on the flood lights. -Dmmmm- The floor turns white from the blinding light. Clementine scans the surroundings, inching closer to the screen. Clementine: *Haa!* She lets out a gasp. There he is, a fair distance away. A pitch black body so black that it looks two dimensional. Tall body. Long limbs. A charred skull of a ram. A twisting black mass staring her down. Such a terrifying appearance. To the little pious child within, he is a being with enough power to stand close to God. And with that despicable appearance, she finds no doubt that he is the Devil himself. Clementine: "Kh!" She steels herself and grips her console tightly. Her objective is clear as day. Take down the lone monster before her. Her face frown into a focused state as the targeting system locks on to the magician. -Tt Thm- The feed of the cockpit screen jolts as two pairs of missiles streak across the air towards the black twisted being she labeled the Devil. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNkNmY0ZTk4MjYzNTQ0MmE5ZTQwMzczODA4YzRlMjI0">Two dragons, one gold, one sky-blue, flew through the air, passing over some clouds. On the sky-blue dragon’s head, an elf was sitting with her legs and arms crossed, her hair remaining perfectly still even though nothing was shielding her from the wind. The sky was tinted with a pink hue, and as the dragons flew further north, the pink became darker, redder. The golden dragon wrinkled his snout. “I don’t like the smell of this, honey. How about we turn back and go home?”</p> <p class="cnNiZWVhNDI2NTNjYzRkM2RhZTYwMzFlMDZiYzQ1Mjc5">“If you don’t like it, then that just shows how right Grimmy was,” Sera said. “And we can’t allow such dangerous things to encroach upon our nest.”</p> <p class="cnM5MjJjNmUzMjNhODRkYWFhYjcxNjUzNDQ5NjdhMjUx">Vernon cleared his throat. “Uh, it’s your mother’s nest. Not ours. I’d just like to point that out. If anyone should be taking care of this, it’s her.”</p> <p class="cnNiYWJiMmFhYTQ2YTQ4MTdiMWRmYzRiOThjYmZkNGE1">“That’s right,” Lindyss said. “I don’t see any reason why I should be here at all.”</p> <p class="cnM2OTYxNWU4MzEzMzQ4ODU5ZTEwOTFhZDg0ODBlYjBm">Sera rolled her eyes up and glared at the cursed elf. “Just the other day I was wondering who taught my son how to cast fire spells. If my memory isn’t failing me, then it was some woman who had taken him away from the elves when I sent him there….”</p> <p class="cnMzMGI2NzQ2M2RhNjQwOGRhOTM2NTQ2NzYwN2JlNmRh">Lindyss swallowed. “Were you going to thank her for teaching him by any chance?”</p> <p class="cnNjYzM5NzdiN2Y3ZDQ5NjZiMzc3M2FiZjFiNTk3Y2E5">Sera hummed. “That’s right,” she said, her voice more like a growl. “I was going to thank her for throwing fireballs at my son to help him learn. Sometimes, two-footed creatures can get very cold. I’m sure they’d be nice and warm inside my stomach.” Her eyes glinted, curving upwards as she smiled. “That’d be an appropriate way to thank her, don’t you think?”</p> <p class="cnM2MWFlMjg3Zjk0ZTRlN2FiN2Y4Y2EzODE5YmI5ZTEz">Lindyss coughed, her face pale. “I think … she’d much rather you didn’t.”</p> <p class="cnMwYzI3ZmYxNDIxMjRhNDY5OTBmOTliYTY0NmU1N2Fh">“Oh?” Sera raised an eyebrow. “So, she’d much rather be outside, not complaining about a task she’s been assigned is what you’re saying?”</p> <p class="cnMzMmIyM2Y0N2MxYTQ2MDg4YjU0MmMwYmI4N2FmN2Qw">“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Lindyss said, bobbing her head up and down. “You can put your aura away now. It might attract that thing’s attention, whatever it is.”</p> <p class="cnM1NmQ4MzFiNTgwYTQ3ZGFiNWFhODE4YzJlZWY4YzVh">“And there’s supposed to be three of these things?” Vernon asked in a tired voice. “Why couldn’t there just be one? After this, I’m going to have to take a nap. I’ve already done way too much work this century with raising Vur and all.”</p> <p class="cnM3MmU0NWVhZGMxZjRiMDE5ODQwYWE1NzU2NTAxYjRh">Lindyss turned her head towards Vernon. “Do you treat centuries like a normal person treats a week?”</p> <p class="cnNjZmMyNTA0NjEwNTQxZTRiMzdkZTIzMTRhNTdlYjcz">Vernon exhaled flames out of his nostrils. “Are you saying I’m not normal? I treat centuries like how I treat centuries.”</p> <p class="cnM0NDI0YjQzMWNjYTQyZjM4YmNjYmMyYTgxYzg0MzJm">A tiny voice whispered into Lindyss’ ear, “I think you should just keep your mouth shut.”</p> <p class="cnM2ZmM3MTI1YTU5YzQ0NmNhOTlkMWYxYjA3ZGQ5MTRj">Lindyss shifted the tiny fairy up towards the center of her head. “I think that’s the best idea you’ve ever had.”</p> <p class="cnNjY2E2MWM5NTIwYTRiN2NiNzgyODQ2NTcxYjZlYjJi" style="text-align: center">***</p> <p class="cnM1YmEzNzZhNjRhMDQ0YTA5MTgxZDQwNTJlMGY1Y2Y3">Vur, Tafel, Mary, Alice, and Mr. Skelly sat around a campfire. They were surrounded by woods, the only light coming from their fire. The moon and stars were covered by a thick layer of clouds. Smoke drifted into the air, carrying the aroma of a roast boar. Mary’s stomach growled, and she swallowed her saliva, her eyes locked onto the spit-roasted boar rotating over the fire. Her eyes flitted towards Tafel and Vur. “Is it ready?”</p> <p class="cnNjOWNiMWMzYjhhNDQ1ZTk5YThlZWYwM2I1YTkzNmY0">“I’m the cook!” Alice said. “It’s ready when I say it’s ready.”</p> <p class="cnNjMmQ2N2RhM2FhZDQxYWFhMjFjMTcwZmRkYWMwOTZj">Mary pouted and turned towards Tafel. She whispered in a voice that everybody could hear, “Why is she the cook? Her cooking is horrible.”</p> <p class="cnMwNjc5MjJhYTViMDQxODNhODM5NjM5YTU2MmFhZDkx">Tafel let out a small groan and turned her head away. The spit-roasting boar flew into the air, punted by Alice towards Mary. Vur stretched out an arm and grabbed it. Then he tore off a leg and bit into it. Reddish juices leaked out of the pink meat, and he nodded after swallowing. “It’s done,” he said, handing the boar to Tafel while giving a thumbs-up to Alice with an arm that sprouted out of his armpit. “Perfect.”</p> <p class="cnMyYjhjMzY3YWZmMjRhY2E4YmExZGZiYmU0ODVjMmM3">“It’s raw,” Mary muttered, staring at the boar in Tafel’s arms.</p> <p class="cnMxMzQxZWFlYzc3MzRkZmQ4OWFkNThhZmVhOGMyYzFi">“It’s not raw,” Tafel said. “It’s seared. It’s supposed to be like that.”</p> <p class="cnNlMjNjYzdmM2Y4NjQ3N2ZiYjQ5NzRhNWViODA5YmVh">Mary pursed her lips and met Tafel’s eyes. “I’m not dumb. That genie might’ve called me dumb, but I’m really not. I know what’s raw and what isn’t raw, and this is very much a raw piece of meat.” She turned towards Alice. “You don’t know how to cook.”</p> <p class="cnMxYTAzMzM3NDg2YjQ3YjVhOWNiZjczOGI1YjA4NjQy">Alice narrowed her eyes at Mary. “Do you want to know what I think about your opinion?” She reached into her bag and pulled out the genie that was still covered in a layer of jam inside the jar. Then she shook the jar up and down. The genie hurled insults and let out a strong of curses while gesturing strongly with a certain digit on his hand. Alice nodded and put the jar away. “That’s what I think about your opinion.”</p> <p class="cnNjZWMyNzg4MGRmZDQ5NDFhMTg0Y2Y1ZDU2ZmIwNWIw">Mary bit her lower lip. “I’m going to find my own food to eat,” she said, climbing to her feet. “And I’m going to cook it by myself, and when you see how good it is, I’m not going to share. Hmph.”</p> <p class="cnM4NzIyZmYzZTQxNDRjMTU5MmUwNTI1MGE2ZTAzNWJk">“Bye,” Alice said.</p> <p class="cnNkMmNlNGMyOWYxMTQ0YzFhYTY0OTc1MmViY2IzNWQx">Mr. Skelly nodded. “So long.”</p> <p class="cnM1ZGUxOTE2MDQyMzRiODFiN2Y3YTRiYTVlMjhhYTMw">Vur grunted and waved at Mary with a spare hand.</p> <p class="cnM1N2VjZWIwMzU0OTRhYmFiYjgyMmY1MDk0MDY3ZDAy">Mary tilted her chin up, her lips quivering. Then she sniffled and stomped away, disappearing in an instant before Tafel could stop her. Tafel lowered the hand that she had raised, sighing at the trail of broken trees Mary had left behind in her wake. “You guys…,” Tafel said, sweeping her gaze over the trio, who were busy eating. She threw a rock at Mr. Skelly. “Why are you eating my portion? You’re dead!” She paused. “Wait. No. Guys, that wasn’t very nice.”</p> <p class="cnM3MDk5MDk4ODQ3OTQ1YjdiOWU2ODRiMTY0YWUzNmI2">“She was rude first,” Alice said. “After I worked so hard to prep and cook that boar too.”</p> <p class="cnMxNDI0ZDkwYmExZDRhYjVhM2MyOWQwODkyZWMwYmE3">“You didn’t even remove its guts,” Tafel said, rolling her eyes. “Your prepping consisted of sprinkling salt on it and stabbing a wooden stake through it to hoist it over the fire. And I was the one who made the fire.”</p> <p class="cnM1MmRmOWQzOWM0YTQ0MWViNjQ1NDJmOGI4NDkwMmZh">“Well, you’re the mage,” Alice said. “It’s your job to create the fire.” She stuck her tongue out and gagged. “Hmm. Tastes a bit raw. I think it needs some pepper.” She placed the piece of boar onto a wooden plate and reached into her bag to take out a satchel. A few sprinkles of pepper onto the boar later, Alice stored the satchel away and took another bite. “Much better.”</p> <p class="cnMwMzA1MmE0ZDVkNjQ4NDFhYzcxMDk1NWJkYWU1ZTU1">Tafel sighed. “I’m going to chase after Mary. I’ll leave a small portal behind, so if anything happens, just shout into it.”</p> </div>

Two dragons, one gold, one sky-blue, flew through the air, passing over some clouds. On the sky-blue dragon’s head, an elf was sitting with her legs and arms crossed, her hair remaining perfectly still even though nothing was shielding her from the wind. The sky was tinted with a pink hue, and as the dragons flew further north, the pink became darker, redder. The golden dragon wrinkled his snout. “I don’t like the smell of this, honey. How about we turn back and go home?” “If you don’t like it, then that just shows how right Grimmy was,” Sera said. “And we can’t allow such dangerous things to encroach upon our nest.” Vernon cleared his throat. “Uh, it’s your mother’s nest. Not ours. I’d just like to point that out. If anyone should be taking care of this, it’s her.” “That’s right,” Lindyss said. “I don’t see any reason why I should be here at all.” Sera rolled her eyes up and glared at the cursed elf. “Just the other day I was wondering who taught my son how to cast fire spells. If my memory isn’t failing me, then it was some woman who had taken him away from the elves when I sent him there….” Lindyss swallowed. “Were you going to thank her for teaching him by any chance?” Sera hummed. “That’s right,” she said, her voice more like a growl. “I was going to thank her for throwing fireballs at my son to help him learn. Sometimes, two-footed creatures can get very cold. I’m sure they’d be nice and warm inside my stomach.” Her eyes glinted, curving upwards as she smiled. “That’d be an appropriate way to thank her, don’t you think?” Lindyss coughed, her face pale. “I think … she’d much rather you didn’t.” “Oh?” Sera raised an eyebrow. “So, she’d much rather be outside, not complaining about a task she’s been assigned is what you’re saying?” “That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Lindyss said, bobbing her head up and down. “You can put your aura away now. It might attract that thing’s attention, whatever it is.” “And there’s supposed to be three of these things?” Vernon asked in a tired voice. “Why couldn’t there just be one? After this, I’m going to have to take a nap. I’ve already done way too much work this century with raising Vur and all.” Lindyss turned her head towards Vernon. “Do you treat centuries like a normal person treats a week?” Vernon exhaled flames out of his nostrils. “Are you saying I’m not normal? I treat centuries like how I treat centuries.” A tiny voice whispered into Lindyss’ ear, “I think you should just keep your mouth shut.” Lindyss shifted the tiny fairy up towards the center of her head. “I think that’s the best idea you’ve ever had.” *** Vur, Tafel, Mary, Alice, and Mr. Skelly sat around a campfire. They were surrounded by woods, the only light coming from their fire. The moon and stars were covered by a thick layer of clouds. Smoke drifted into the air, carrying the aroma of a roast boar. Mary’s stomach growled, and she swallowed her saliva, her eyes locked onto the spit-roasted boar rotating over the fire. Her eyes flitted towards Tafel and Vur. “Is it ready?” “I’m the cook!” Alice said. “It’s ready when I say it’s ready.” Mary pouted and turned towards Tafel. She whispered in a voice that everybody could hear, “Why is she the cook? Her cooking is horrible.” Tafel let out a small groan and turned her head away. The spit-roasting boar flew into the air, punted by Alice towards Mary. Vur stretched out an arm and grabbed it. Then he tore off a leg and bit into it. Reddish juices leaked out of the pink meat, and he nodded after swallowing. “It’s done,” he said, handing the boar to Tafel while giving a thumbs-up to Alice with an arm that sprouted out of his armpit. “Perfect.” “It’s raw,” Mary muttered, staring at the boar in Tafel’s arms. “It’s not raw,” Tafel said. “It’s seared. It’s supposed to be like that.” Mary pursed her lips and met Tafel’s eyes. “I’m not dumb. That genie might’ve called me dumb, but I’m really not. I know what’s raw and what isn’t raw, and this is very much a raw piece of meat.” She turned towards Alice. “You don’t know how to cook.” Alice narrowed her eyes at Mary. “Do you want to know what I think about your opinion?” She reached into her bag and pulled out the genie that was still covered in a layer of jam inside the jar. Then she shook the jar up and down. The genie hurled insults and let out a strong of curses while gesturing strongly with a certain digit on his hand. Alice nodded and put the jar away. “That’s what I think about your opinion.” Mary bit her lower lip. “I’m going to find my own food to eat,” she said, climbing to her feet. “And I’m going to cook it by myself, and when you see how good it is, I’m not going to share. Hmph.” “Bye,” Alice said. Mr. Skelly nodded. “So long.” Vur grunted and waved at Mary with a spare hand. Mary tilted her chin up, her lips quivering. Then she sniffled and stomped away, disappearing in an instant before Tafel could stop her. Tafel lowered the hand that she had raised, sighing at the trail of broken trees Mary had left behind in her wake. “You guys…,” Tafel said, sweeping her gaze over the trio, who were busy eating. She threw a rock at Mr. Skelly. “Why are you eating my portion? You’re dead!” She paused. “Wait. No. Guys, that wasn’t very nice.” “She was rude first,” Alice said. “After I worked so hard to prep and cook that boar too.” “You didn’t even remove its guts,” Tafel said, rolling her eyes. “Your prepping consisted of sprinkling salt on it and stabbing a wooden stake through it to hoist it over the fire. And I was the one who made the fire.” “Well, you’re the mage,” Alice said. “It’s your job to create the fire.” She stuck her tongue out and gagged. “Hmm. Tastes a bit raw. I think it needs some pepper.” She placed the piece of boar onto a wooden plate and reached into her bag to take out a satchel. A few sprinkles of pepper onto the boar later, Alice stored the satchel away and took another bite. “Much better.” Tafel sighed. “I’m going to chase after Mary. I’ll leave a small portal behind, so if anything happens, just shout into it.”

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM2Mzk1ODFkZGFjNTQ5MTI5ZGY2YmJkMjI3MWVhZGFi" style="text-align: center"><strong>Chapter 17: Baku’s Gift</strong></p> <p class="cnMzOWIwOTYyZmU2YjQ1NWQ5OGMwOTExMTVlODc5NzI4"><strong><em>(Setting: Crystal Fields: Baku's Home- Kitchen Area)</em></strong></p> <p class="cnM4NjI3YzA3MzVhOTRjOTdhNGViMWM5MGU5Y2UwMWRj"><strong><em>(Scene: </em></strong><strong><em>Baku</em></strong><strong><em> appears at his home after a day with his bestfriends)</em></strong></p> <p class="cnMyNjAxNTQ2MDAwYzQzYmE5MTgwYzgzZjExY2NhMTk5"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></em><strong><em>Baku</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> enters his house and is greeted by his </span></em><strong><em>Mother, Mr. Luke, Old Lady Lula, Lulu and Little Lucy </em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">who are all sitting together at the dinner table</span></em><strong><em>.</em></strong></p> <p class="cnNhYTVhOTNhYTQ0YjRhMjc5OTA1MWFkMGUyY2FmZjEw"><strong>[Everybody]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Cheeringly*</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> Happy birthday, </span><strong>Baku</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">!</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZmE2Y2NkZDQwODQwMzBiNGY1OWYwMWQ5MWNmMjlk"><strong>[Baku]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Smiling* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">Hey, </span><strong>Mom</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">! Hey everybody!</span></p> <p class="cnNlNjk5NGQ1YjZlNDQxOTM4NzA0MjA3MWExNTRhODJk"><strong>[Nicolatrice]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Smiling* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">Welcome home, </span><strong>Baku</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">! I hope you had a great day!</span></p> <p class="cnNhOTA5NWI5NWM2MTRmMjVhNTI3YmMwMjQ3NzcxNzM2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></em><strong><em>Baku</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> hugs his </span></em><strong><em>mother</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> and is covered with a warm feeling. Being held in the arms of the woman who raised him since birth for fifteen years was the most comforting and reassuring feeling </span></em><strong><em>Baku</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> could ever have his soul experience.</span></em></p> <p class="cnMxYTNiMmY0MGEyYjQxZWQ5ZTE4YzE4MmE3OWEwY2Jk"><strong>[Old Lady Lula]: </strong><span style="font-weight: 400">I remember when you were just a teeny tiny baby, and now you’re so tall! What a handsome young man you've become,<strong> Baku</strong>!</span></p> <p class="cnM3YTQ4ZGRkOTZlMjRhYmM4YTRlMzU1NmVhZDRkZWE0"><strong>[Baku]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Smiling* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">I’m glad to see your doing well, </span><strong>Granny Lula,</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> I heard </span><strong>Lulu</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> and </span><strong>Little Lucy </strong><span style="font-weight: 400">were the ones taking care of you but I wasn’t so sure about that!</span></p> <p class="cnM2MmFhNDBhMDE5ZDQzN2U4NzdhMzdkZTc4NTM5NGJl"><strong>[Old Lady Lula]: </strong><em>*Knods* </em><span style="font-weight: 400">Mhm, yes, they did a wonderful job taking care of their dear old granny! In fact, I feel a whole twenty years younger!</span></p> <p class="cnNhZjk2NzEzNDI0ZjQ5MDRiNjJhZjhlOTY4ZTc5ZDIy"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*<strong>Lady Lula</strong> was the grandmother of <strong>Lucy</strong> and her older sister <strong>Lulu</strong>. </span></em></p> <p class="cnNjMTEzOWZmMWM5YzQ5NDVhNjhkNDRlMTkwN2M0NDUy"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*She was bed ridden until recently, but now she was on her feet again thanks to her family's hard work. The elderly woman reached out to <strong>Nicolatrice</strong> long ago and offered to help her raise <strong>Baku</strong> when he was very young, she also made him clothes and taught his <strong style="font-weight: 400">mother</strong> how to raise her first calf. She was basically <strong>Baku's</strong> grandma too, as she's been around since the beginning. </span></em></p> <p class="cnM1ODM2ZTgwN2Q3ZTRkMzM4MWY4ZTJjMGFlYmE5YmJh"><strong>[Little Lucy]:</strong> <em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Smiling* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">We’re way better than some silly egg-head doctor!</span></p> <p class="cnNiOWU5NGM5OTkyYTQ5YTNhYjQyY2E2NWVkYTYzNTk3"><strong>[Lulu]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Blushing* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">It was kind of fun pretending to be a nurse… We helped <strong>Papa</strong> plant the herbs, and then we followed instructions from a book to turn it into the medicine... It was hard to understand it, but thankfully the pictures were helpful!</span></p> <p class="cnMyZjNmYzQ1ZTQxMDQ1MWFiYTIzYjEwN2QwY2U4MTBk"><strong>[Nicolatrice]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Smiling* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">You did an amazing job, ladies! Maybe someday you both could become great doctors! </span><span style="font-weight: 400">Well then everybody, why don’t we start having dinner? There's plenty to go around, so </span><strong>Baku, </strong><span style="font-weight: 400">why don’t you dig in?</span></p> <p class="cnM4N2UxZDQ5NzA1OTRmNGI5ZTk5ZmM2ZDljYzMwMjRh"><strong>[Baku]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Smiling widely* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">Wow</span> <strong>Mom, </strong><span style="font-weight: 400">you made so much food! </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Sniiifff*</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> And it smells amazing!</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZjAxOGM0NmY4NTQ3YjU4NTQ3N2FlYmQyNDUwYTc4"><strong>[Nicolatrice]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Smiling* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">I’ll do anything to make you happy on your special day, <strong>sweetheart!</strong> We were truly blessed by the last harvest with what we made from it, so this is just the best way to celebrate!</span></p> <p class="cnM2YzRiMzc0NDNmYTQ4MGNiM2IwNjRhNTA4Mzg3ZWJm"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></em><strong><em>Baku </em></strong><em>along with his guest </em><em><span style="font-weight: 400">enjoy a meal that his </span></em><strong><em>mother</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> worked very hard to prepare of all of his favorite foods. The fried chicken legs and thighs are cooked to a delicious and crispy golden brown with all of the right seasonings marinated overnight into fresh, white meat to make every hot bite filled with flavor. </span></em></p> <p class="cnNjNGI0MzdhYzI5MjQyNjA5M2U4NTQ5NjViOTRhMDI5"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*The macaroni and cheese was crafted with the perfect blend of milk, cheddar, and black pepper as it is both saucy and smooth. </span></em><strong><em>Nicolatrice </em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">made a potato salad, it was the perfect chill and its chunky texture was the absolutely perfect combination of the warm, sweet and smokey baked beans which were in such a small round shape that they nearly melted in your mouth. </span></em></p> <p class="cnMxYmE1Yjc5ZmQzMjRlODJiYWRiZDViZTY3YTBjYjVm"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Lastly, for dessert </span></em><strong><em>Baku </em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">enjoyed a delicious triple chocolate cake. It was made with sweet and decadent white chocolate, lit with fifteen candles and in a soft and fluffy whip cream was written in cursive “Happy Birthday</span></em><strong><em> Baku</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">.” Spread out before him was something only his <strong>mother</strong> can do and everybody had plenty to eat and enjoy the yearly occasion. After everyone was done eating, it was time to open presents.</span></em></p> <p class="cnNmYzE5M2VlM2RkMDRmNzA5YWM4YzNjNjhhNzQxZjVk"><strong>[Mr. Luke]:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> Heyyo, </span><strong>Baku</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">! I heard you were into drawin’ and comic books, so I went into town and got you this as a gift! Happy birthday, kiddo!</span></p> <p class="cnNhZDMwNGMyNmRhZTQzY2I4ODlmM2FjNjY4YzZhOTBh"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></em><strong><em>Mr. Luke</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> hands </span></em><strong><em>Baku </em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">the complete series of Action Arts How To Draw Manga by </span></em><strong><em>Maku Kuriri</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">, </span></em><strong><em>Baku’s </em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">favorite drawing sensei. The 3 novel lesson teaches the reader the true art of creating with your imagination and letting your soul speak with you through the art of the pen. It had 150 chapters in its pages and taught the reader anatomy and how to draw action poses along with many other lessons. It was very valuable as it had just came out earlier this month.</span></em></p> <p class="cnM5MWY1YTU0N2E4NTQ4NGI4MjM1NWYyZGJjYWMyYTll"><strong>[Baku]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Ecstatically* *Shouting* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">Holy crap,<strong> Mr. Luke</strong>! </span><span style="font-weight: 400">I can’t believe you've found this! This seriously must have had to cost you a bunch, even though you didn't have to...</span></p> <p class="cnNjOTNjOTA2ZTlmMjRkMDk4YjM1NTIyNTAzZTQ3NjQw"><strong>[Mr. Luke]: </strong><span style="font-weight: 400">It ain’t no thang, </span><strong>lil buddy</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">! Siderin’ all the dang things ya gonn’ done and helped out with m’family o'er the years, and after last month’s tater harvest fiddlin’, I figured this would be a worthwhile gift! 'member when you helped me repair m’families roof when that meteor shower hit last December? With your extra help, I was still able to provide during the holidays! So think of it as a sort of thany ya, <strong>Baku!</strong></span></p> <p class="cnMxM2ViNGZjYmUxMjQ4ZTY4NWE4ZTZiYTA3YzE2MzFh"><strong>*</strong><strong><em>Baku</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> is still stunned simply by holding the book that not only cost a lot of money but was written by an author who hadn't released a drawing book in many years. The character on the front cover looked ready for battle armed with a cool anime sword backed up by his friends in the background. Just gazing upon it was giving <strong style="font-weight: 400">Baku</strong> so many ideas for characters to draw.</span></em></p> <p class="cnMyZTlkMjFlZDFiMjRhZjRhZGM2YmFkMGNjNTE5YjM4"><strong>[Nicolatrice]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Smiling* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">I know that will go to some great use, </span><strong>Baku</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">!</span></p> <p class="cnNmMGI1YmIyZjJjMDQyZGU4MGZhYmRmNWRmZjExN2M1"><strong>[Baku]: </strong><strong><em>*</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Smiling* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">Yeah, I can’t wait to level up my drawing! This is so totally awesome! Thank you, <strong>Mr. Luke!</strong></span></p> <p class="cnNiMzUzNDFmNGQ5ZDQ1NDM5MWEwNzE2MjlkNWE5YzVh"><strong> [Little Lucy]: </strong><strong>Baku</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">! Me and sissy made this for you!</span></p> <p class="cnMzYjE1ZjY4YjlkMDQwMjBiMDkxZDAxNzllYWJiYWQz"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></em><strong><em>Lucy</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> hands a </span></em><strong><em>Baku</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> a small bunny-like plush doll made of cotton with beads attached to it in a loop. There are alternating black and white buttons on its feet and it’s eyes. Its ears hang low and also have two shiny rings around them as well. A pair of white feathers were sewn to the back of the doll to look like little wings, and it was wearing a frilly dress that matched the color of the buttons. </span></em></p> <p class="cnMwMzM2MmQwNGMwZjRmODg4NjY1YjgzOTRkMDQyYTk3"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*The overall presentation of the doll and craftsmanship put into it show a lot of care and thought was put into precisely sewing every little detail. It'd make a perfect gift for a little girl, </span></em><strong><em>Millia </em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">would love something like this. Looking at it, </span></em><strong><em>Baku</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> can’t help but smile back at its sewn smiling face as it was somewhat comforting especially when thinking about who it's coming from.</span></em></p> <p class="cnMyNzY0Y2Y1YmIzYTRlZTBhN2NlMWNiMTRkMjBmYjZh"><strong>[Baku]:</strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> *smiling softly* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">Thanks, you two… I… Really, really like it... It's... Actually adorable...</span></p> <p class="cnNlYjhmNWRiMTBhZDRkMzNiMDVjZWUwY2I0YTNiYTdl"><strong>[Lulu]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Embarrassed* *Blushing* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">W-we've been practicing our knitting skills and </span><strong>Lucy </strong><span style="font-weight: 400">thought of making you a doll for your birthday…</span></p> <p class="cnMxODNjYzM4YzRhOTQ5MGI5NGM3OWYxMzIzZjczZjBj"><strong> [Little Lucy]:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> Huh? That's not true! You're the one that wanted to make him a present! Besides, you asked him for the beads, remember! Oh, I almost forgot, </span><strong>Baku, </strong><span style="font-weight: 400">there’s another thing you should know about your gift!</span></p> <p class="cnNkNzI1MzRhN2ZkZTRjYjRhMWZiMDk1NDBlYmE1Yjdi"><strong>[Lulu]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Blushing* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">We found a crystal buried in the ground out in the fields, and we thought it was one of those sound recordin’ ones, so we tried putting it in inside the doll. That way you can record sounds and then it would say it back to you when you pull the string on the back of its dress, but we couldn’t figure out all that mechanical stuff... So, it’s technically incomplete… But we thought maybe you could figure it out since you’re all educated and such!</span></p> <p class="cnM1NDc3MTMyODBlZjQ0OTY5ZGRkMmYyMGU0ZjM4MDFh"><strong>[Baku]: </strong><strong><em>*</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Smiling*</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> Aww, thanks you two! I’ll definitely fix it, and I’ll keep her close to me all the time! </span></p> <p class="cnMxNmFmYmY5ODVmZTQ4ODQ5NGU3ZGMxYmUyY2Y1NWFl"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></em><strong><em>Baku </em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">immediately attaches the doll to the side of his pants using the loop of black and white beads so it hangs right beside him. It was a pretty accessory and <strong>Baku</strong> loved the way it looked, grateful for what the girls who were basically his sisters made for his birthday.</span></em></p> <p class="cnNiOWY2Y2Q2NjJjMDQ4MTk4OWI4MjIwNzY0ODY4YTQ2"><strong>[Lulu]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Blushing* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">Wh-what are you going to name her, </span><strong>Baku?</strong></p> <p class="cnM2MGQ4YWFkMTg4YzRmNzY4MDZiYzVkZGQxZmY5NzEw"><strong>[Little Lucy]:</strong> <em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Smiling* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">Yeah! What are you going to name her???</span></p> <p class="cnMzYTY2OGQyOGU3NDQ1Y2Y4MWJkYTk4ZWFmMTgzYzZj"><strong>[Baku]: </strong><span style="font-weight: 400">Uhm… I’m not sure just yet, I’m not good at coming up with ideas on the spot, but I’ll make it extra special and let you guys know when I think of it, kay?</span></p> <p class="cnNmYmJiMjc2ZmQ0NjRiMjU5NzM1ZTE2NmRjZjM1YWIw"><strong>[Lulu and Little Lucy]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Smiling* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">Okay!</span></p> <p class="cnNiODA0ZjM0MjlkMDRkNWE5Yjc2MGUwOWFmMDQ0ZTll"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*<strong>Nicolatrice</strong> </span></em><em><span style="font-weight: 400">then approaches him with a beautiful smile on her face. The woman who loves </span></em><strong><em>Baku </em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">with every fiber with her being looks at her child with her soft and inviting eyes.</span></em></p> <p class="cnNhZjQwMDNjYWM4NTRjYzVhNWUwYWNkYmI1MmI1NTNm"><strong>[Nicolatrice]:</strong> <em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Smiling softly*</span></em> <strong>Baku</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">, I know this isn’t much, but for your fifteenth birthday, I wanted to give you this…</span></p> <p class="cnNkMDg1YWUwN2I1MzQyYjZhODhlMjlhYWZjNzVmNDgx"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></em><strong><em>Baku's </em></strong><strong><em>mother </em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">reaches behind her neck and removes the beautiful necklace that she always wore. It was made of gold and had tiny crystals forged within its grooves. She</span> softly takes <strong>Baku's</strong> hand, and places it gently in his palm, <span style="font-weight: 400">giving it to him, even though it’s always been very special to her. </span></em></p> <p class="cnM4MDY3YjI2N2E5MDQ4ZGM4MGUzYWJkN2I3NDVhMmNi"><strong>[Baku]:</strong> <em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Surprised* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">W-wait a minute-- </span><strong>Mom</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">, you don’t have to give this to me! You always said it was given to you by a friend! I can’t ever take this from you...</span></p> <p class="cnM1NWFhNDZiYjYwZTRiYjY5OWQzODExNjVhNDJiY2U1"><strong>[Nicolatrice]:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong> Sweetheart,</strong> this necklace is indeed very important to me… I’ve had it since you were born, after all… So, imagine this necklace as a symbolization of my unending love for you, <strong>my son</strong>. I want you to wear it knowing that our bond goes infinitely deeper than anyone else can begin to understand... </span></p> <p class="cnM0MzhhODJiNjMxZjQ4ODU4ZjIyNGUxZDA0NzZhYjE3"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></em><strong><em>Baku </em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">hugs his </span></em><strong><em>mother</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> tightly. He didn't want to let her go even for a second.</span></em></p> <p class="cnM4MzczNTBkNzkyMDQzMTZhYmEyZjZiMDNiMTM5YWI1"><strong>[Baku]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Teary eyed* *Sniffling*</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> ... </span><strong>Mom</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">... I love you... And I'm sorry for not telling you that enough…</span></p> <p class="cnMzZmUyNmE5YmFjZTQ2YjA5MDE1NTBlYmM3Mjg3NWQ2"><strong>[Nicolatrice]:</strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> *Smiling*</span></em> <strong>Baku</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">, you are my rejuvenation... Your smile is all I need from you for myself to be happy!</span></p> <p class="cnNiYWIwYjdhZGI1YzQ4Njg5ODVhZTM1NzEwMjVkZGVl"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*This is the woman who raised</span></em><strong><em> Baku</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">, and the only one fitting to do it. In her soft and caring arms was her one and only child, raised and nurtured single handedly into the young man he is today.</span></em></p> <p class="cnNkNjQ4NDljZGIxMTQzMTlhMzFmZjQ1MWUyMDQxMzAy"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*knock* *knock* *knock*</span></em></p> <p class="cnMxMzRmMzI1NTgwNjRhY2RhZmFiZTEyYWJiMTljM2Rl"><strong>[Everybody]:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> ...???</span></p> <p class="cnMzZjlkNzA3ODAxYzQyODQ4YzNhZTI2MDMwMzNkZWY1"><strong>[Nicolatrice]: </strong>Hm? <span style="font-weight: 400">I wonder who that could be? I wasn't expecting anymore guest…</span></p> <p class="cnMwZmNiM2I4M2Y5MjQyNmM4YjJkY2MzM2Q0OWU1YTFk"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></em><strong><em>Nicolatrice</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> answers the door. To her great surprise, a squadron of <strong>Royal Guards</strong> of the <strong>Crystal Palace</strong> appear on the other side.</span></em></p> <p class="cnM3ODA0NDJkNGEwMDRhYzk4ZGU0N2Q0NWZjY2FkMWE2"><strong>[Royal Guard]:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> Good evening,</span><strong> Ma'am</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">... I realize that it is very late, but the presence of your son, </span><strong>Aventurine X. Baku</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">, is required immediately by the </span><strong>Royal King Jeremiah Cree</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> and </span><strong>Queen Anastasia Cree.</strong></p> <p class="cnM3NDNhYzM4MzMxNjRjYzU4OTEzMjEzYzYwOWQ3NDFh"><strong>[Nicolatrice]:</strong> <em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Shocked* *Gasp!*</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> ... Wh-what!?</span></p> <p class="cnM1ZjZmY2IyYThiZDRmMjNiZDAwOTk4NTVjM2ZkYTcz"><strong>[Old Lady Lula]: </strong><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>My Goddess</strong>!</span></p> <p class="cnM1OWNmY2ZjOGI5NzRkMzY5NGNhOGIxMWZhMmFlMjYw"><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>[Mr. Luke]: </strong><em>*Surprised* </em>Ya say what now!?</span></p> <p class="cnMwNTNhODBlYjk5NjQwNWViOWM1ZmYwNmJmNWY4ZTJk"><strong>[Baku]:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> ............</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZWNiOTA1OTViYjQ3NTM4NWZmZjMxMTU4YWJjZWFk"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></em><strong><em>Nicolatrice</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> turns to</span></em><strong><em> Baku</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> and faces him with a scared look on her face and takes hold of him as he depressedly stares only at the floor unable to look at his <strong>mother,</strong> who is right in front of him.</span></em></p> <p class="cnM2MDBiYWQ0YjcyODRiY2ZhY2ZhZjNiMTExMDQwN2Jl"><strong>[Nicolatrice]: </strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Scared* </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">...</span><strong>B-Baku</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">?... </span><strong>Aventurine</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">! Y-you didn't do anything wrong... D-did you? </span><strong>Aventurine,</strong> please tell me,<strong> </strong>d<span style="font-weight: 400">id something happen!?</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZTNkNWFkZmM5MDRmODI5YWYzMzFlNWM1ZTNhZWIx"><strong>[Baku]:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> ...... </span><strong>M-mom.</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">.. I-I......</span></p> <p class="cnNjYjZiZjY4YmZjYzRiMTViYjUyMmY1NTZjYjZjYjMy"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></em><strong><em>Baku's</em></strong> <strong><em>mother</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> slowly kneels to the floor in front of him shaking as tears fill her eyes, frightening thoughts running through her mind as to what could have happened to require<strong style="font-weight: 400"> </strong><strong>the king</strong><strong style="font-weight: 400"> and </strong><strong>queen</strong> themselves to demand her child’s presence. She knows her child isn't a criminal, however <strong>Nicolatrice</strong><strong style="font-weight: 400"> </strong>couldn't help but imagine what could've happened while she was unaware that would bring the highest authorities' attention to their normally peaceful lives. <strong>The Luke's</strong> were also afraid, as they watched and were worried for <strong>Baku</strong> and<strong style="font-weight: 400"> </strong><strong>Nicolatrice</strong><strong style="font-weight: 400">.</strong></span></em></p> <p class="cnM1OWI2Y2Q1ZmJhNTQ3ZjU5M2FjMzNmZmZjNmFjNmQ5"><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>[Lulu and Little Lucy]: </strong><em>*Scared* </em>Wh-what's going on, <strong>Papa!?</strong></span></p> <p class="cnM3ZTM0NGY5MWZlZjQ3ZmViN2YyM2ZmNmM4MTAwOGY4"><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>[Mr. Luke]: </strong>N-now hold on, maybe there's a mistake... Surely <strong>their majesties</strong> must be confused for someone else, r-right fellers?</span></p> <p class="cnNhMWMxMGI2Nzc0NjRhZDZhOTAzZGJkMmE3YTJjYjJl"><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>[Old Lady Lula]: </strong><em>*Worried* </em>Can't we at least get an explanation, for heaven's sake? </span></p> <p class="cnNmM2QwNzNjODgxOTQyNWY5NjcwMzY3MjY3NGM5OTYw"><strong>[Royal Guard]: Ma'am</strong>... <span style="font-weight: 400">It is absolutely imminent that the both of you appear in front of the </span><strong>Crystal King</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> and </span><strong>Queen</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> immediately…</span></p> <p class="cnNhNjQzY2ViYjU0ZTQzMjNhODVmM2E5NjdmMmVjMjlm"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></em><strong><em>Baku</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> places his hand on his <strong>mother’s</strong> shoulder who is beginning to cry. He knew she didn't deserve this stress and heartache, and couldn't bare to watch her be afraid like this, but <strong>the young boy</strong> could only figure to say what he thought to sort of comfort her.</span></em></p> <p class="cnNmYjUxODgwODRiMDQzNDg4NThmYWY0ZGRjMzg2ZDAx"><strong>[Baku]: </strong><strong>Mom</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">, please listen to me... I'll try to explain everything, I promise... I just need you to trust me…</span></p> <p class="cnNkMTk3NzAyOGQ3ZTRiYjY5ZGYyNzUwYTI1Y2M3ZTE4"><strong>[Royal Guard]: </strong>Both of you, p<span style="font-weight: 400">lease come with us…</span></p> <p class="cnM1ZjUwODg1NWUyYjQ1OTdiZGIzNTA2ZmM2OWUxNzMz"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></em><strong><em>Nicolatrice</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> wrought with fear of something bad happening, manages to collect herself and agrees to come with </span></em><strong><em>Baku</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> as the guards take them onto a chariot headed for the </span></em><strong><em>Royal Center, </em></strong><em>leaving the <strong>Luke's</strong> behind</em><em><span style="font-weight: 400">. They left their home and began to pray for their good friends.</span></em></p> <p class="cnMwMGY0MWQ1OWY2OTRiMDI4NjNmYTg2OGU1NTY3YmM3"><strong><em>(Setting: Crystal Kingdom: Main City- Grand Plaza)</em></strong></p> <p class="cnM1NTgwMzQ5OGIwMzRlYTY5YWY4NDNmNDhmMTVmM2U0"><strong><em>(Scene: </em></strong><strong><em>Baku</em></strong><strong><em> and his mother appear in a royal chariot headed for the Royal Center)</em></strong></p> <p class="cnNmMjI0NzU3MjU4MzRlMWZhODBjMzJmMjA2ZjE1MzM5"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*</span></em><strong><em>Baku </em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">and his </span></em><strong><em>mother </em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">ride through the <strong>Main City</strong> as many people stare at the family from the <strong>Crystal Fields</strong> riding a royal chariot. The silence coupled with the overwhelming tension and eerie aura lingering in the air is enough to make anybody shiver in uneasiness. The white broncos galloped by the citizens who were still congregated on the streets where the stage and podium stood as well as the royal flags hung swaying ominously through the wind.</span></em></p> <p class="cnNiOWZlNTZlNTk1YTRkOTZiZTE3MmY3NTBhNDYzYTZl"><strong>[Citizens]:</strong> <em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Whispering to each other*</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> ... </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Psst*</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> ... Who's in that chariot? ... I don't know... I think it’s coming from the <strong>Crystal Fields</strong>…</span></p> <p class="cnM5MmU2NmQyMGUwZjQ3MWY4OGFkMDgyMDdlYTZiYTE2"><strong>[Nicolatrice]:</strong> <em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Whispering to herself in prayer*</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> I don't understand what's going on... Oh, <strong>Goddess</strong>, please watch over and protect us…</span></p> <p class="cnM5NmQzZDdhMWY4ODQ5MjdhYjQwN2I1ZTM5NmY4ZDE4"><strong>[Baku]:</strong> <em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Sigh*</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> .........</span></p> <p class="cnMyNTNlYTI4MGI2OTQwNTY4NDNjM2VmY2I5NDg3Y2M2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Suddenly, </span></em><strong><em>Baku </em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">hears shouting. It's his friends </span></em><strong><em>Barrtio</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> and </span></em><strong><em>Finn</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> chasing after the chariot.</span></em></p> <p class="cnM4ODg0YTE4NmY1MDQxYzNhZDg3OTYwODExN2FiODJm"><strong>[Barrtio and Finn]:</strong> <em><span style="font-weight: 400">*Shouting* *Running*</span></em> <strong>Baku</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">!!! What the hell's going on, dude!? What's happening!?</span></p> <p class="cnMzNDU3YjA2ZjM2NjQzOWVhZDM2MzY2ZmMxMzZlYzNj"><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> *The chariot moves too fast for them to even come close to try catching up.</span></em><strong><em> Baku</em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400"> and his </span></em><strong><em>mother </em></strong><em><span style="font-weight: 400">move deeper and deeper into the <strong>Main City</strong>, until they finally arrive at the crystal wall gate that separates the commoners from the royals.</span></em></p> </div>

**Chapter 17: Baku’s Gift** ***(Setting: Crystal Fields: Baku's Home- Kitchen Area)*** ***(Scene:*** ***Baku*** ***appears at his home after a day with his bestfriends)*** ******Baku*** *enters his house and is greeted by his* ***Mother, Mr. Luke, Old Lady Lula, Lulu and Little Lucy*** *who are all sitting together at the dinner table****.*** **[Everybody]:** **Cheeringly** Happy birthday, **Baku**! **[Baku]:** **Smiling** Hey, **Mom**! Hey everybody! **[Nicolatrice]:** **Smiling** Welcome home, **Baku**! I hope you had a great day! ******Baku*** *hugs his* ***mother*** *and is covered with a warm feeling. Being held in the arms of the woman who raised him since birth for fifteen years was the most comforting and reassuring feeling* ***Baku*** *could ever have his soul experience.* **[Old Lady Lula]:** I remember when you were just a teeny tiny baby, and now you’re so tall! What a handsome young man you've become, **Baku**! **[Baku]:** **Smiling** I’m glad to see your doing well, **Granny Lula,** I heard **Lulu** and **Little Lucy** were the ones taking care of you but I wasn’t so sure about that! **[Old Lady Lula]:** **Knods** Mhm, yes, they did a wonderful job taking care of their dear old granny! In fact, I feel a whole twenty years younger! ****Lady Lula** was the grandmother of **Lucy** and her older sister **Lulu**.* **She was bed ridden until recently, but now she was on her feet again thanks to her family's hard work. The elderly woman reached out to **Nicolatrice** long ago and offered to help her raise **Baku** when he was very young, she also made him clothes and taught his **mother** how to raise her first calf. She was basically **Baku's** grandma too, as she's been around since the beginning.* **[Little Lucy]:** **Smiling** We’re way better than some silly egg-head doctor! **[Lulu]:** **Blushing** It was kind of fun pretending to be a nurse… We helped **Papa** plant the herbs, and then we followed instructions from a book to turn it into the medicine... It was hard to understand it, but thankfully the pictures were helpful! **[Nicolatrice]:** **Smiling** You did an amazing job, ladies! Maybe someday you both could become great doctors! Well then everybody, why don’t we start having dinner? There's plenty to go around, so **Baku,** why don’t you dig in? **[Baku]:** **Smiling widely** Wow **Mom,** you made so much food! **Sniiifff** And it smells amazing! **[Nicolatrice]:** **Smiling** I’ll do anything to make you happy on your special day, **sweetheart!** We were truly blessed by the last harvest with what we made from it, so this is just the best way to celebrate! ******Baku*** *along with his guest* *enjoy a meal that his* ***mother*** *worked very hard to prepare of all of his favorite foods. The fried chicken legs and thighs are cooked to a delicious and crispy golden brown with all of the right seasonings marinated overnight into fresh, white meat to make every hot bite filled with flavor.* **The macaroni and cheese was crafted with the perfect blend of milk, cheddar, and black pepper as it is both saucy and smooth.* ***Nicolatrice*** *made a potato salad, it was the perfect chill and its chunky texture was the absolutely perfect combination of the warm, sweet and smokey baked beans which were in such a small round shape that they nearly melted in your mouth.* **Lastly, for dessert* ***Baku*** *enjoyed a delicious triple chocolate cake. It was made with sweet and decadent white chocolate, lit with fifteen candles and in a soft and fluffy whip cream was written in cursive “Happy Birthday* ***Baku****.” Spread out before him was something only his **mother** can do and everybody had plenty to eat and enjoy the yearly occasion. After everyone was done eating, it was time to open presents.* **[Mr. Luke]:** Heyyo, **Baku**! I heard you were into drawin’ and comic books, so I went into town and got you this as a gift! Happy birthday, kiddo! ******Mr. Luke*** *hands* ***Baku*** *the complete series of Action Arts How To Draw Manga by* ***Maku Kuriri****,* ***Baku’s*** *favorite drawing sensei. The 3 novel lesson teaches the reader the true art of creating with your imagination and letting your soul speak with you through the art of the pen. It had 150 chapters in its pages and taught the reader anatomy and how to draw action poses along with many other lessons. It was very valuable as it had just came out earlier this month.* **[Baku]:** **Ecstatically* *Shouting** Holy crap, **Mr. Luke**! I can’t believe you've found this! This seriously must have had to cost you a bunch, even though you didn't have to... **[Mr. Luke]:** It ain’t no thang, **lil buddy**! Siderin’ all the dang things ya gonn’ done and helped out with m’family o'er the years, and after last month’s tater harvest fiddlin’, I figured this would be a worthwhile gift! 'member when you helped me repair m’families roof when that meteor shower hit last December? With your extra help, I was still able to provide during the holidays! So think of it as a sort of thany ya, **Baku!** ********Baku*** *is still stunned simply by holding the book that not only cost a lot of money but was written by an author who hadn't released a drawing book in many years. The character on the front cover looked ready for battle armed with a cool anime sword backed up by his friends in the background. Just gazing upon it was giving **Baku** so many ideas for characters to draw.* **[Nicolatrice]:** **Smiling** I know that will go to some great use, **Baku**! **[Baku]:** ********Smiling** Yeah, I can’t wait to level up my drawing! This is so totally awesome! Thank you, **Mr. Luke!** **[Little Lucy]:** **Baku**! Me and sissy made this for you! ******Lucy*** *hands a* ***Baku*** *a small bunny-like plush doll made of cotton with beads attached to it in a loop. There are alternating black and white buttons on its feet and it’s eyes. Its ears hang low and also have two shiny rings around them as well. A pair of white feathers were sewn to the back of the doll to look like little wings, and it was wearing a frilly dress that matched the color of the buttons.* **The overall presentation of the doll and craftsmanship put into it show a lot of care and thought was put into precisely sewing every little detail. It'd make a perfect gift for a little girl,* ***Millia*** *would love something like this. Looking at it,* ***Baku*** *can’t help but smile back at its sewn smiling face as it was somewhat comforting especially when thinking about who it's coming from.* **[Baku]:** **smiling softly** Thanks, you two… I… Really, really like it... It's... Actually adorable... **[Lulu]:** **Embarrassed* *Blushing** W-we've been practicing our knitting skills and **Lucy** thought of making you a doll for your birthday… **[Little Lucy]:** Huh? That's not true! You're the one that wanted to make him a present! Besides, you asked him for the beads, remember! Oh, I almost forgot, **Baku,** there’s another thing you should know about your gift! **[Lulu]:** **Blushing** We found a crystal buried in the ground out in the fields, and we thought it was one of those sound recordin’ ones, so we tried putting it in inside the doll. That way you can record sounds and then it would say it back to you when you pull the string on the back of its dress, but we couldn’t figure out all that mechanical stuff... So, it’s technically incomplete… But we thought maybe you could figure it out since you’re all educated and such! **[Baku]:** ********Smiling** Aww, thanks you two! I’ll definitely fix it, and I’ll keep her close to me all the time! ******Baku*** *immediately attaches the doll to the side of his pants using the loop of black and white beads so it hangs right beside him. It was a pretty accessory and **Baku** loved the way it looked, grateful for what the girls who were basically his sisters made for his birthday.* **[Lulu]:** **Blushing** Wh-what are you going to name her, **Baku?** **[Little Lucy]:** **Smiling** Yeah! What are you going to name her??? **[Baku]:** Uhm… I’m not sure just yet, I’m not good at coming up with ideas on the spot, but I’ll make it extra special and let you guys know when I think of it, kay? **[Lulu and Little Lucy]:** **Smiling** Okay! ****Nicolatrice*** *then approaches him with a beautiful smile on her face. The woman who loves* ***Baku*** *with every fiber with her being looks at her child with her soft and inviting eyes.* **[Nicolatrice]:** **Smiling softly** **Baku**, I know this isn’t much, but for your fifteenth birthday, I wanted to give you this… ******Baku's*** ***mother*** *reaches behind her neck and removes the beautiful necklace that she always wore. It was made of gold and had tiny crystals forged within its grooves. She softly takes **Baku's** hand, and places it gently in his palm, giving it to him, even though it’s always been very special to her.* **[Baku]:** **Surprised** W-wait a minute-- **Mom**, you don’t have to give this to me! You always said it was given to you by a friend! I can’t ever take this from you... **[Nicolatrice]:** **Sweetheart,** this necklace is indeed very important to me… I’ve had it since you were born, after all… So, imagine this necklace as a symbolization of my unending love for you, **my son**. I want you to wear it knowing that our bond goes infinitely deeper than anyone else can begin to understand... ******Baku*** *hugs his* ***mother*** *tightly. He didn't want to let her go even for a second.* **[Baku]:** **Teary eyed* *Sniffling** ... **Mom**... I love you... And I'm sorry for not telling you that enough… **[Nicolatrice]:** **Smiling** **Baku**, you are my rejuvenation... Your smile is all I need from you for myself to be happy! **This is the woman who raised* ***Baku****, and the only one fitting to do it. In her soft and caring arms was her one and only child, raised and nurtured single handedly into the young man he is today.* **knock* *knock* *knock** **[Everybody]:** ...??? **[Nicolatrice]:** Hm? I wonder who that could be? I wasn't expecting anymore guest… ******Nicolatrice*** *answers the door. To her great surprise, a squadron of **Royal Guards** of the **Crystal Palace** appear on the other side.* **[Royal Guard]:** Good evening, **Ma'am**... I realize that it is very late, but the presence of your son, **Aventurine X. Baku**, is required immediately by the **Royal King Jeremiah Cree** and **Queen Anastasia Cree.** **[Nicolatrice]:** **Shocked* *Gasp!** ... Wh-what!? **[Old Lady Lula]:** **My Goddess**! **[Mr. Luke]:** **Surprised** Ya say what now!? **[Baku]:** ............ ******Nicolatrice*** *turns to* ***Baku*** *and faces him with a scared look on her face and takes hold of him as he depressedly stares only at the floor unable to look at his **mother,** who is right in front of him.* **[Nicolatrice]:** **Scared** ...**B-Baku**?... **Aventurine**! Y-you didn't do anything wrong... D-did you? **Aventurine,** please tell me,did something happen!? **[Baku]:** ...... **M-mom.**.. I-I...... ******Baku's*** ***mother*** *slowly kneels to the floor in front of him shaking as tears fill her eyes, frightening thoughts running through her mind as to what could have happened to require**the king** **and** **queen** themselves to demand her child’s presence. She knows her child isn't a criminal, however **Nicolatrice**couldn't help but imagine what could've happened while she was unaware that would bring the highest authorities' attention to their normally peaceful lives. **The Luke's** were also afraid, as they watched and were worried for **Baku** and**Nicolatrice****.*** **[Lulu and Little Lucy]:** **Scared** Wh-what's going on, **Papa!?** **[Mr. Luke]:** N-now hold on, maybe there's a mistake... Surely **their majesties** must be confused for someone else, r-right fellers? **[Old Lady Lula]:** **Worried** Can't we at least get an explanation, for heaven's sake? **[Royal Guard]: Ma'am**... It is absolutely imminent that the both of you appear in front of the **Crystal King** and **Queen** immediately… ******Baku*** *places his hand on his **mother’s** shoulder who is beginning to cry. He knew she didn't deserve this stress and heartache, and couldn't bare to watch her be afraid like this, but **the young boy** could only figure to say what he thought to sort of comfort her.* **[Baku]:** **Mom**, please listen to me... I'll try to explain everything, I promise... I just need you to trust me… **[Royal Guard]:** Both of you, please come with us… ******Nicolatrice*** *wrought with fear of something bad happening, manages to collect herself and agrees to come with* ***Baku*** *as the guards take them onto a chariot headed for the* ***Royal Center,*** *leaving the **Luke's** behind**. They left their home and began to pray for their good friends.* ***(Setting: Crystal Kingdom: Main City- Grand Plaza)*** ***(Scene:*** ***Baku*** ***and his mother appear in a royal chariot headed for the Royal Center)*** ******Baku*** *and his* ***mother*** *ride through the **Main City** as many people stare at the family from the **Crystal Fields** riding a royal chariot. The silence coupled with the overwhelming tension and eerie aura lingering in the air is enough to make anybody shiver in uneasiness. The white broncos galloped by the citizens who were still congregated on the streets where the stage and podium stood as well as the royal flags hung swaying ominously through the wind.* **[Citizens]:** **Whispering to each other** ... **Psst** ... Who's in that chariot? ... I don't know... I think it’s coming from the **Crystal Fields**… **[Nicolatrice]:** **Whispering to herself in prayer** I don't understand what's going on... Oh, **Goddess**, please watch over and protect us… **[Baku]:** **Sigh** ......... **Suddenly,* ***Baku*** *hears shouting. It's his friends* ***Barrtio*** *and* ***Finn*** *chasing after the chariot.* **[Barrtio and Finn]:** **Shouting* *Running** **Baku**!!! What the hell's going on, dude!? What's happening!? **The chariot moves too fast for them to even come close to try catching up.* ***Baku*** *and his* ***mother*** *move deeper and deeper into the **Main City**, until they finally arrive at the crystal wall gate that separates the commoners from the royals.*

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMxY2UzZGIwNjAxZjRjODY4MDc5YjgxNjE5OTY1MGY2">Orou spent the rest of his day exploring the city, listening to the various opinions beastman had of the king and becoming feral. He still didn’t have an opinion about it until he stumbled upon a small tea shop with two beastmen sipping on black tea and discussing with each other. There was no one around them, but Orou decided to sneak closer to them and listen to what they were saying, after all, they looked to be quite engrossed in the topic they were discussing.</p> <p class="cnNkNmYyMGY5OWE1NjRkNDg5ZGE3OTlmYjRhMmZkNjUx">“You do know that if we keep discussing this, we could get executed? One of my friends recently spoke about this topic and not an hour later, he was dragged off to Hangman’s square where he was lined up along with the rest of the so-called ‘revolutionaries’,” the shorter of the two beastmen wearing a big, stylish hat which covered most of his head spoke up, his voice slightly trembling. He resembled a big mouse with two comically large eyes and even bigger ears.</p> <p class="cnM0NDA2NTZkYTg2ZTQxZDZhYjM1NzJjYTY4M2UwOTIz">“It’s fine, there’s no one here anyway. So, what do you think about this? We’ve been raised all of our lives to not even dare think about expressing emotions and eating meat in fear of becoming feral. I remember my mother told me horror stories about becoming feral and eating everyone around me, but it isn’t that bad, is it? I’ve seen a man turn feral and, honestly, the only thing that changed was his demeanor. It was like he had a shackle removed around his neck.” The taller of the beastmen had a large cane by his side and was playing with a pocket watch that he had laid on the table. He had two large tusks, slightly resembling an elephant.</p> <p class="cnMxYjg1YjFkYWY3ODQxMzk4ZTU1NTU0NzNiY2I0YTE1">“I’d very much so like to keep my head attached to my neck, but even if I do get a bit emotional at times, that’s what the crystals are for. Besides, there must be some reason for the king to disallow any talk about it. I’m just a poor shopkeeper, what do I know about the various things in the king’s mind,” the mouse like beastmen shrugged his shoulders and took another sip of the tea, occasionally looking around for anyone, that might be approaching them.</p> <p class="cnM0ZGZkYWRkMGJkNzQ5YTdiOGNjYzk4NzQzMDhkMGI5">“The king’s full of nonsense, he doesn’t know anything about managing a kingdom. I wouldn’t be surprised if the city fell even before the revolutionaries arrived,” the elephant-like beastman laughed before his partner loudly shushed him. Leaning in closer to his partner, he continued: “Who doesn’t know the story about the king and his brother, every child that turns twelve has to hear it. What some people might not know is that the tale goes quite a bit differently. I don’t know if this is true or not, but I’ve heard a story from my father once.”</p> <p class="cnMzOGNmMDI5YTgxNDQwZDk5ZWE3NTdiMzNiNGEwNzE5">“The story goes like this - Once upon a time, there lived two brothers. The two of them would compete in everything, their appearance, how many maids they could make blush and most importantly, they competed in combat. The two of them were prodigies in combat, but because of that, one could never come on top of another. Unfortunately, one day, the king got ill and after several days of struggling with the deathly illness, he passed away. After his death, the whole palace got searched and those tending the previous king were interrogated for his last will, but there was none to be found. According to the laws of the kingdom, the throne should have been passed to the current king, but his brother had something to say about that.</p> <p class="cnMzY2Y5ODExZmJlYzQ1ZTBhMjA3MGExNWEwYzE5MDFh">“He proposed that the throne be passed to the victor of a duel, and while the king didn’t have to accept, the provocation and the mockery he received from his brother provoked a split second decision, guided by anger. The king’s brother knew that the two of them were evenly matched and on the day of the duel, he let his anger run rampant. The two of them fought with skill and grace that had been never seen in the kingdom, but in the end, the king’s brother, letting his anger guide his strikes, overpowered the king. Just as he was about to deliver the last strike, their own sister got in between them, begging to spare the king.</p> <p class="cnM3NWRmMDM2NTMwZDRiM2E5OWI0NDc0NmViOWQyMjgw">His mind was so clouded by emotion that he didn’t recognise her and with a single strike, he cut his own sister in half. This gave a chance for the king to retaliate and, striking a deadly blow to his chest, his brother fell. The king spared his brother from death and instead, he sent him on exile, having the late king’s shaman work on something, that would trap him forever. Ever since that day, the king has banned all talk of this and created new laws about keeping your emotions in check. Ironically, after tens of years of being the king, he seems to have signs of turning feral himself.”</p> <p class="cnM5NzY3MWQ5MzFhMzQwOGFhNmUzODIyMTczNzJmNjc5">Finishing the tale, the elephant-like beastman sighed and his partner, still thinking about what he heard earlier, said to him: “So, in the end, the decision to prohibit all emotions was a decision that the king made while being influenced by his emotions. Going feral means unbottling all of your pent-up emotions and the first time you do that, the emotions you feel are going to be intense.” Orou was intently listening to both the story and what they had to say, but they were interrupted by several beastmen walking nearby. The two of them immediately switched the topic and even after the beastmen had passed, they weren’t in the mood to continue talking.</p> <p class="cnNmM2ZkZTVjNDljZDRkYjNiNGQ2MzNhNTk2YmE1OTY4">Orou disappointedly left the small tea shop and noticing that the sun was setting, he started slithering back to their house. To Orou’s surprise, Grizz had arrived back before him and sitting next to his table, he was writing something about calling in his connections at the top and how the person in question would receive a lot of monetary reward for helping him out. Sealing up the letter, he turned his head towards Orou and smiled, though his face looked quite exhausted.</p> <p class="cnMyMWIwZjI1MzY5ODRmMzhhMThlNTY4YTJmOWZlY2Ey">“So, what have you been up to? Mar didn’t tell me anything important and I wasted half a day dealing with the damn guards. They’re too arrogant to deal with bribes and even after haggling with them for hours, they tell me that not even they can exit the city. The medallion that they use to open up the barrier simply doesn’t work and they have to deal with the pressure of people holding them accountable for trapping them in the city. I couldn’t care less about their feelings, but after contacting a few more people, it really seems that the king had decided to lock down the city on his own. The court is panicking and thinking about how to stop the people from revolting while the revolutionary army is about to knock on the city gates.”</p> <p class="cnM3MWEyMDJlZWYzNjRkZjlhNjA0N2E2NmI0NzIwYjk2">Grizz seemed calm when Orou entered the shop, but once he started talking about his day, his emotions were unleashed upon Orou. Taking a deep breath, he stopped talking for a few seconds before saying: “We’ve got two days before the army is here. I still hope that I’ll find a way for us to escape, but if not, we should be prepared. I don’t want to fight anyone, but I’m sure as hell going to be prepared for when they come.”</p> </div>

Orou spent the rest of his day exploring the city, listening to the various opinions beastman had of the king and becoming feral. He still didn’t have an opinion about it until he stumbled upon a small tea shop with two beastmen sipping on black tea and discussing with each other. There was no one around them, but Orou decided to sneak closer to them and listen to what they were saying, after all, they looked to be quite engrossed in the topic they were discussing. “You do know that if we keep discussing this, we could get executed? One of my friends recently spoke about this topic and not an hour later, he was dragged off to Hangman’s square where he was lined up along with the rest of the so-called ‘revolutionaries’,” the shorter of the two beastmen wearing a big, stylish hat which covered most of his head spoke up, his voice slightly trembling. He resembled a big mouse with two comically large eyes and even bigger ears. “It’s fine, there’s no one here anyway. So, what do you think about this? We’ve been raised all of our lives to not even dare think about expressing emotions and eating meat in fear of becoming feral. I remember my mother told me horror stories about becoming feral and eating everyone around me, but it isn’t that bad, is it? I’ve seen a man turn feral and, honestly, the only thing that changed was his demeanor. It was like he had a shackle removed around his neck.” The taller of the beastmen had a large cane by his side and was playing with a pocket watch that he had laid on the table. He had two large tusks, slightly resembling an elephant. “I’d very much so like to keep my head attached to my neck, but even if I do get a bit emotional at times, that’s what the crystals are for. Besides, there must be some reason for the king to disallow any talk about it. I’m just a poor shopkeeper, what do I know about the various things in the king’s mind,” the mouse like beastmen shrugged his shoulders and took another sip of the tea, occasionally looking around for anyone, that might be approaching them. “The king’s full of nonsense, he doesn’t know anything about managing a kingdom. I wouldn’t be surprised if the city fell even before the revolutionaries arrived,” the elephant-like beastman laughed before his partner loudly shushed him. Leaning in closer to his partner, he continued: “Who doesn’t know the story about the king and his brother, every child that turns twelve has to hear it. What some people might not know is that the tale goes quite a bit differently. I don’t know if this is true or not, but I’ve heard a story from my father once.” “The story goes like this - Once upon a time, there lived two brothers. The two of them would compete in everything, their appearance, how many maids they could make blush and most importantly, they competed in combat. The two of them were prodigies in combat, but because of that, one could never come on top of another. Unfortunately, one day, the king got ill and after several days of struggling with the deathly illness, he passed away. After his death, the whole palace got searched and those tending the previous king were interrogated for his last will, but there was none to be found. According to the laws of the kingdom, the throne should have been passed to the current king, but his brother had something to say about that. “He proposed that the throne be passed to the victor of a duel, and while the king didn’t have to accept, the provocation and the mockery he received from his brother provoked a split second decision, guided by anger. The king’s brother knew that the two of them were evenly matched and on the day of the duel, he let his anger run rampant. The two of them fought with skill and grace that had been never seen in the kingdom, but in the end, the king’s brother, letting his anger guide his strikes, overpowered the king. Just as he was about to deliver the last strike, their own sister got in between them, begging to spare the king. His mind was so clouded by emotion that he didn’t recognise her and with a single strike, he cut his own sister in half. This gave a chance for the king to retaliate and, striking a deadly blow to his chest, his brother fell. The king spared his brother from death and instead, he sent him on exile, having the late king’s shaman work on something, that would trap him forever. Ever since that day, the king has banned all talk of this and created new laws about keeping your emotions in check. Ironically, after tens of years of being the king, he seems to have signs of turning feral himself.” Finishing the tale, the elephant-like beastman sighed and his partner, still thinking about what he heard earlier, said to him: “So, in the end, the decision to prohibit all emotions was a decision that the king made while being influenced by his emotions. Going feral means unbottling all of your pent-up emotions and the first time you do that, the emotions you feel are going to be intense.” Orou was intently listening to both the story and what they had to say, but they were interrupted by several beastmen walking nearby. The two of them immediately switched the topic and even after the beastmen had passed, they weren’t in the mood to continue talking. Orou disappointedly left the small tea shop and noticing that the sun was setting, he started slithering back to their house. To Orou’s surprise, Grizz had arrived back before him and sitting next to his table, he was writing something about calling in his connections at the top and how the person in question would receive a lot of monetary reward for helping him out. Sealing up the letter, he turned his head towards Orou and smiled, though his face looked quite exhausted. “So, what have you been up to? Mar didn’t tell me anything important and I wasted half a day dealing with the damn guards. They’re too arrogant to deal with bribes and even after haggling with them for hours, they tell me that not even they can exit the city. The medallion that they use to open up the barrier simply doesn’t work and they have to deal with the pressure of people holding them accountable for trapping them in the city. I couldn’t care less about their feelings, but after contacting a few more people, it really seems that the king had decided to lock down the city on his own. The court is panicking and thinking about how to stop the people from revolting while the revolutionary army is about to knock on the city gates.” Grizz seemed calm when Orou entered the shop, but once he started talking about his day, his emotions were unleashed upon Orou. Taking a deep breath, he stopped talking for a few seconds before saying: “We’ve got two days before the army is here. I still hope that I’ll find a way for us to escape, but if not, we should be prepared. I don’t want to fight anyone, but I’m sure as hell going to be prepared for when they come.”

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMyODQ4ZGIzYzk1YjQ3MDFiOGQ1N2QyOGFkYmQzMTZk">Death. Time. Weakness. What could he have seen in the darkness that subdued him? There was once wealth, and also benevolence. But the throne refused to have him there, to have him seated. The people rebelled, and the region tore away from what made it glorious. Friendships turned stale, sour, and resentful. Does it make much sense?</p> <p class="cnM1NTM0YWFiOTRlYTRkMTNiNWJmZGM1MGM1ODBmNWU3">Cast away and sealed from the World of Transition, Shadowmere existed between realities, devoid of meaning. It was important, yet trivial; powerful, yet weak; eternal, yet fleeting. But there was one word often synonymous to Shadowmere, even to those who may have forgotten its purpose. A prison, unlike any other – forged and fortified with Godvildian magic.</p> <p class="cnNmMzUwZWI3NWRmNzQ3YjU5YWYwNzI3N2ZiOWIwOWQy">“Not as impervious as you had imagined, Zane,” whispered a weak voice, overwhelmed with the crutches of time and decay. “I wonder what helped me march back into reality.”</p> <p class="cnNhMTMxM2YzYzUyNzRhZTY5YWEyNzkxNTZhZThjMmQx">Aeterna never reached Shadowmere, after all. But the cracks had begun to show, and sunlight did follow. In time, the darkness showed promise to recede. But the World of Transition, it trembled. An aura spurred to life – royal, magnificent, but dipped entirely in the blackest of nights. It was from a man denied justice and honour, deprived of common sense and the concept of reality; pushed into madness.</p> <p class="cnMyNmJiYTJhYTEzOTQ1MTk5YzE5YTY2ZjM0ZWJiZDEw">The vines around his arms loosened, as did the magic that held him. He moved his arms, shrivelled and diseased. For a moment, the man craved food above all else. His skin felt papery, deprived of nourishment and care. He blinked, trying to adjust to the darkness. It wasn’t necessary. The light, it eventually did reach him.</p> <p class="cnMzMzZlNWFkOTMwYzQ0MThiNTBjZDdhOTNhNzliOTZl">He had little strength to stand as well, but the warmth – it was enough. Three thousand years; that’s what it took. He struggled to his feet, almost a corpse, and fell right after. He returned to sleep a little later.</p> <p class="cnMwOTU0NTU1MjgxMTQ5ZTFiYjQyNzNiMjY2YmY5NjFm">As the magic continued to fall apart, the cracks widened. It was brighter, and the dormant soul-fires stirred. Driven towards escape, they travelled within the towers of light. Outside, they sought Aeterna. But a few did wander with worry, puzzled by the mystery of their imprisonment. Some sought the man deprived of freedom, the same as them. They moved, but faded within inches around the almost corpse-like being.</p> <p class="cnNhYmM1YzQ2ZDE5ZDQzOGI5YjZmYmU4ZWEwNWQ0MDNh">He greedily consumed the soul-fires, without restraint. His body suffered through the emotions and the pain, but he persevered. The soul-fires did attempt escape, but the man held them hostage around an aeter-built net, constructed with what little strength he had left. He continued without remorse, until his body adapted, and until the soul-fires’ demise. But it didn’t help, at least not immediately.</p> <p class="cnM1ZWYwNDIzYTUzMDQxYTliNWUxOGM4ZTg5YTE5ZTcz">There was resistance, a rejection towards everything new. His body tore apart from the inside, and the blood – there was a lot of blood. He turned to his side, choked around the throat, and vomited. His limbs twisted, controlled by a force beyond comprehension. It was a cycle without rest. But in his determination, the man continued. He fished for the soul-fires, extending his net to trap more. Many escaped, but fortune – it’s a tricky thing.</p> <p class="cnM4Mjk0ZjAzYmRlMjQ3OWE4MDgxNDY1MTNlMDhhMzgx">He repeated his self-inflicted torture incessantly, until the soul-fires ceased to exist. And in silence, he suffered through the punishment. He needed the nourishment, he needed the colour to return to his cheeks, and for his body to regain some of its former strength.</p> <p class="cnM0YWJkMWFlY2Y1ZTQxNzI4ZjVhNjRjMGNkMTBmNDNi">Hours passed; it felt like an eternity to the man that slumbered. But he survived, as gruesome as it was, as deathly as it was. Now on his feet, he lowered his head to assess what was accomplished. He was stronger, not by much, but more human-like. He looked around and wandered without thought, reaching what appeared to be a stone-made wall.</p> <p class="cnM5MjdmMmFhZjc2NTQ1NmFhNGYwMzIyYjM5ZTBlZmUz">He brushed along the circumference to reach a door – an exit to the outside, to the wilderness. It smelt different, absent any form of life or value. He continued to walk and later reached an old storehouse. Further still, there existed an abandoned village – lost within the embrace of Shadowmere. It held remnants of those long forgotten, but the man remembered. Through all of the soul-fires and their memories, the man remembered.</p> <p class="cnMyZGIwY2RlOWVhZTRkYTliMGNkODYyMzEwMzU2NGE4">Within the storehouse, he found some rags; it helped against the cold. Out of curiosity, he cast his aeter-made net across the entirety of Shadowmere. It offered insight and nothing else, not even a route to the outside world. How long would he have to wait, the man wondered.</p> <p class="cnNkYTFjNDc0NWIzOTRhNmFiMzJmMTVmYzc3MTg2OWQ2">Skyward, there existed cracks that allowed for the light to venture inside, almost mockingly so. But there was also movement, a movement of change that allowed for freedom. He could wait, as long as it took. After three thousand years, how much would four days matter? He wandered some more and reached the centre of Shadowmere – an area with blood-soaked soil, and uncomfortably strange trees.</p> <p class="cnNmNTkzZTM1YmJlNDQxMmVhOWZlNWFkZmE5OGQ4MDA3">“All I did was move in favour of my world,” the man whispered, with a sad expression on his face. “Was there any other way for me to have resolved the matter, Zane?”</p> <p class="cnM3OTE1Y2U4NzdlYTRmNjk4OWQ1NDJjMjE5NmVmOTU4">An aura danced into existence with the man at its core, redder than the hottest of coals. He raised an arm and redirected much of what he had toward the cracks. The aeter seeped through to reach the World of Transition, altering the sky and its shape to something picturesque and beautiful. It meant a lot more though; the man sought to make a declaration – a declaration of his awakening, that is.</p> <p class="cnM1MTRlMTIyNTFjNTRiNjliNWY5ODkzNDFlNmRiY2Nh">Shadowmere retaliated, fearful of its prisoner and his influence in the outside world. It failed in the endeavour.</p> <p class="cnNjOTNlZGJhNGE1NzQxMGNiNTQ3Njg1NzI4ODA2Mjgy">People shuddered from the pressure of what was released, which reached as far as the Kingdom of Suntaria even. Everyone noticed, from the Pillars to the Grandmasters, from the Relictan Lords to the demi-humans. An era of bloodlust, war, death, and carnage; it had arrived.</p> <p class="cnM0ZWI0NTcyZjBhZTQ4ZDhiMTEyOTRmZmJhMDMzM2Rm">“<em>How will you welcome me this time, Mioverold?</em>” the man wondered, dissipating his aura through the thought. “<em>I suppose it doesn’t matter, not after witnessing what I did.</em>”</p> <p class="cnMwMmI3OTMyYTRjODRiMzE5NTc3Y2MxMTEzNTBkYzQw">Four days…</p> </div>

Death. Time. Weakness. What could he have seen in the darkness that subdued him? There was once wealth, and also benevolence. But the throne refused to have him there, to have him seated. The people rebelled, and the region tore away from what made it glorious. Friendships turned stale, sour, and resentful. Does it make much sense? Cast away and sealed from the World of Transition, Shadowmere existed between realities, devoid of meaning. It was important, yet trivial; powerful, yet weak; eternal, yet fleeting. But there was one word often synonymous to Shadowmere, even to those who may have forgotten its purpose. A prison, unlike any other – forged and fortified with Godvildian magic. “Not as impervious as you had imagined, Zane,” whispered a weak voice, overwhelmed with the crutches of time and decay. “I wonder what helped me march back into reality.” Aeterna never reached Shadowmere, after all. But the cracks had begun to show, and sunlight did follow. In time, the darkness showed promise to recede. But the World of Transition, it trembled. An aura spurred to life – royal, magnificent, but dipped entirely in the blackest of nights. It was from a man denied justice and honour, deprived of common sense and the concept of reality; pushed into madness. The vines around his arms loosened, as did the magic that held him. He moved his arms, shrivelled and diseased. For a moment, the man craved food above all else. His skin felt papery, deprived of nourishment and care. He blinked, trying to adjust to the darkness. It wasn’t necessary. The light, it eventually did reach him. He had little strength to stand as well, but the warmth – it was enough. Three thousand years; that’s what it took. He struggled to his feet, almost a corpse, and fell right after. He returned to sleep a little later. As the magic continued to fall apart, the cracks widened. It was brighter, and the dormant soul-fires stirred. Driven towards escape, they travelled within the towers of light. Outside, they sought Aeterna. But a few did wander with worry, puzzled by the mystery of their imprisonment. Some sought the man deprived of freedom, the same as them. They moved, but faded within inches around the almost corpse-like being. He greedily consumed the soul-fires, without restraint. His body suffered through the emotions and the pain, but he persevered. The soul-fires did attempt escape, but the man held them hostage around an aeter-built net, constructed with what little strength he had left. He continued without remorse, until his body adapted, and until the soul-fires’ demise. But it didn’t help, at least not immediately. There was resistance, a rejection towards everything new. His body tore apart from the inside, and the blood – there was a lot of blood. He turned to his side, choked around the throat, and vomited. His limbs twisted, controlled by a force beyond comprehension. It was a cycle without rest. But in his determination, the man continued. He fished for the soul-fires, extending his net to trap more. Many escaped, but fortune – it’s a tricky thing. He repeated his self-inflicted torture incessantly, until the soul-fires ceased to exist. And in silence, he suffered through the punishment. He needed the nourishment, he needed the colour to return to his cheeks, and for his body to regain some of its former strength. Hours passed; it felt like an eternity to the man that slumbered. But he survived, as gruesome as it was, as deathly as it was. Now on his feet, he lowered his head to assess what was accomplished. He was stronger, not by much, but more human-like. He looked around and wandered without thought, reaching what appeared to be a stone-made wall. He brushed along the circumference to reach a door – an exit to the outside, to the wilderness. It smelt different, absent any form of life or value. He continued to walk and later reached an old storehouse. Further still, there existed an abandoned village – lost within the embrace of Shadowmere. It held remnants of those long forgotten, but the man remembered. Through all of the soul-fires and their memories, the man remembered. Within the storehouse, he found some rags; it helped against the cold. Out of curiosity, he cast his aeter-made net across the entirety of Shadowmere. It offered insight and nothing else, not even a route to the outside world. How long would he have to wait, the man wondered. Skyward, there existed cracks that allowed for the light to venture inside, almost mockingly so. But there was also movement, a movement of change that allowed for freedom. He could wait, as long as it took. After three thousand years, how much would four days matter? He wandered some more and reached the centre of Shadowmere – an area with blood-soaked soil, and uncomfortably strange trees. “All I did was move in favour of my world,” the man whispered, with a sad expression on his face. “Was there any other way for me to have resolved the matter, Zane?” An aura danced into existence with the man at its core, redder than the hottest of coals. He raised an arm and redirected much of what he had toward the cracks. The aeter seeped through to reach the World of Transition, altering the sky and its shape to something picturesque and beautiful. It meant a lot more though; the man sought to make a declaration – a declaration of his awakening, that is. Shadowmere retaliated, fearful of its prisoner and his influence in the outside world. It failed in the endeavour. People shuddered from the pressure of what was released, which reached as far as the Kingdom of Suntaria even. Everyone noticed, from the Pillars to the Grandmasters, from the Relictan Lords to the demi-humans. An era of bloodlust, war, death, and carnage; it had arrived. “*How will you welcome me this time, Mioverold?*” the man wondered, dissipating his aura through the thought. “*I suppose it doesn’t matter, not after witnessing what I did.*” Four days…

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMxOTMwMTEwYTUxYjQ4ZDdhM2M4OGY4OWY3NzkwOGU0">The closer he got to the opposing team's Crowd Controllers' location, Han was able to get an unobstructed view of the situation of the other side. Just as he was hoping, the other side was fighting off a wave, though the number of monsters was decreasing to be able to deal with the oncoming onslaught that was behind Han.<br> <br> <br>It would be hard for him to get past this group without alerting the other team. Han thought about whether he should try and fight off the Crowd Controllers while they were occupied or try and sneak past. The issue was with the monsters and how they would respond to him. Getting close and fighting the enemy would be close enough where the monsters would react to him, as a reaction to the violence. This meant that he would have to weave between the monsters and the enemy, which didn't sound like a pleasant experience.<br> <br> <br>Getting into combat would just drag things out, considering his constraints of not overly using his powers. He grinned at an idea that came to mind that would solve both issues in his mind.<br> <br> <br>"I'll have you guys not desire to notice me," He said to himself at the two players, currently, fighting.<br> <br> <br>As he increased his speed, he made an attempt to steer clear of them, but this time he didn't consider it as necessary. Even though Han was making a decent amount of noise, the distance between him and the two players was sufficient on top of them being affected by his abilities.<br> <br> <br>He watched as the players would turn towards where he was but then continue to look past him and deal with the immediate threat. "I may be cheating, but at least I'm putting in a little bit of effort in not being noticed," He grinned. If the players didn't have their helmets on, Han could picture their eyes not focusing on him and any sounds he made would be put on the back burner of their minds to deal with the more pressing issue at hand.<br> <br> <br>Sometimes, it wasn't the existence of power that was important but how it was used was significant. It would have been easy for him to quickly kill the two people even without him touching them, but such an action would cause a chain reaction of problems he would have to handle. Suspicion wasn't an emotion that just went away when it entered into a person's mind, and him using his powers too much would make people wonder how he was so skilled. Eventually, the amount of suspicion would get to a level where the only option would be to reset reality, though even he didn't know if he had that ability. If he couldn't reset reality, then this new experience couldn't be salvage and cause him to abandon this world.<br> <br> <br>"Next time, I'll make sure to fight you guys properly, but you guys have beaten us too many times. Call me cheap, but I'm not fond of seeing my teammates looking depressed after losing a game." Han thought to himself as he was continuing towards the Guards.<br> <br> <br>Compared to the Crowd Controllers, the Guards would need to be fought head-on instead of using some type of cheat. He hoped that his immoral act, earlier, would give him enough time to fight the guards and touch the door.<br> <br> <br>The current scene around him was identical to his side, just being a straight line in a canyon towards the door. With the CCs doing their job at keeping the monsters occupied, he didn't need to worry about fighting them and focus on the guards. Being three against one, Han knew it was going to be challenging hence why his role as a Charger was reserved to the strongest member in the team. Guards had more gear on them to match their functions, to hold off the enemy and monsters at the same time but this caused them to move slower. Their weapons were also focused on defense instead of offense, making it not as daunting of a task for him.</p> <br> <br>"I'm going to have to rely on you again, partner," Han said to his sword. Compared to when he first picked out the weapon, his Jackknife was vastly different, with a lot of upgrades placed on it. Before the game started, he made decisions on how his weapon should be balanced which affected his attack method.<br> <br> <br>Up ahead, he could see the three guards standing in front of a glowing door. Just like their's, the door looked like a giant could fit through it. The glow was due to the Guards still being alive and would prevent him from reaching his objective.<br> <br> <br>Pulling out his weapon, Han opened it up to its full length and held it behind him. The three guards made arm motions to direct one another and prepared to engage with Han. One of the guards had giant drills on their hands, making him think of a specific video game. Another had two artillery cannons their shoulders and some type of energy weapon shield. The last one had a something that looked like a mixture of a tower shield and an energy weapon.<br> <br> <br>"They really have their close, mid, and long ranges covered, making things interesting for me." Han groaned. This team was just at good with strategy, meaning he would have to be careful how he dealt with this group.<br> <br> <br>Clamps fell down onto the ground, drilling into the ground, on either side of the player with the artillery cannons. Han could see the player slightly crouching and leaning forward while the barrels lifted up. <br> <br> <br>"Fuck!" Han said, just as he heard a concussive blast. With how close he was, he only had a few seconds to leap to one side as the ground where he was located was torn apart in a fiery blast. Quickly getting up, Han glanced at his prior location and just saw a giant hole in the ground. "Not even a crater... It's a fucking hole in the ground!" Han swore sweat could be felt on his forehead as he thought about how it would feel to take that attack. "You guys better appreciate how much I enjoy being in this world," He growled in frustration. In the back of his mind, he was picturing people either cheering or booing him on screens across the various locations where the teams were located.<br> <br> <br>"I guess I'm going to have to do something about that person first," Han looked around and ran towards the guards while listening for the telltale sound of artillery approaching him. "This wasn't something I wanted to show off so soon, but I guess I'll have to demonstrate the new upgrade I made to my partner!"<br> <br> <br>In his hand, his weapon began to glow, and Han spun his weapon until a whistling noise was heard, the sound was like the air around him was being torn apart. Making a slicing motion at the guards, an invisible blade seemed to cut ahead of him. As it traveled across the ground, the dirt was kicked up and made visibility almost impossible.<br> <br> <br>"Too bad it takes so long to use that new move I added to my weapon," Han muttered, though he appreciated the cone-shaped dust cloud in front of him. "I really lucked out at acquiring that item."<br> <br> <br>It was at that moment that he heard another loud blast from the cannons, cheating with his vision, he saw that the explosion would completely miss him. As he continued to race towards the guards, a lot of the dust was eliminated due to the impact. <br> <br> <br>There was a feeling in his mind, directing him to roll to one side.<br> <br> <br>At that moment, a beam of light tore through the dust cloud.<br> <br> <br>Looking ahead of him, he saw one of the guards holding their shield to one side and aiming directly at him. Out of the barrel, there were arcs of energy coming off of the weapon to indicate that it was recently fired.<br> <br> <br>"I guess I'm dealing with you?" Han said to himself, thinking that this was just going to get even more difficult.<p></p> </div>

The closer he got to the opposing team's Crowd Controllers' location, Han was able to get an unobstructed view of the situation of the other side. Just as he was hoping, the other side was fighting off a wave, though the number of monsters was decreasing to be able to deal with the oncoming onslaught that was behind Han. It would be hard for him to get past this group without alerting the other team. Han thought about whether he should try and fight off the Crowd Controllers while they were occupied or try and sneak past. The issue was with the monsters and how they would respond to him. Getting close and fighting the enemy would be close enough where the monsters would react to him, as a reaction to the violence. This meant that he would have to weave between the monsters and the enemy, which didn't sound like a pleasant experience. Getting into combat would just drag things out, considering his constraints of not overly using his powers. He grinned at an idea that came to mind that would solve both issues in his mind. "I'll have you guys not desire to notice me," He said to himself at the two players, currently, fighting. As he increased his speed, he made an attempt to steer clear of them, but this time he didn't consider it as necessary. Even though Han was making a decent amount of noise, the distance between him and the two players was sufficient on top of them being affected by his abilities. He watched as the players would turn towards where he was but then continue to look past him and deal with the immediate threat. "I may be cheating, but at least I'm putting in a little bit of effort in not being noticed," He grinned. If the players didn't have their helmets on, Han could picture their eyes not focusing on him and any sounds he made would be put on the back burner of their minds to deal with the more pressing issue at hand. Sometimes, it wasn't the existence of power that was important but how it was used was significant. It would have been easy for him to quickly kill the two people even without him touching them, but such an action would cause a chain reaction of problems he would have to handle. Suspicion wasn't an emotion that just went away when it entered into a person's mind, and him using his powers too much would make people wonder how he was so skilled. Eventually, the amount of suspicion would get to a level where the only option would be to reset reality, though even he didn't know if he had that ability. If he couldn't reset reality, then this new experience couldn't be salvage and cause him to abandon this world. "Next time, I'll make sure to fight you guys properly, but you guys have beaten us too many times. Call me cheap, but I'm not fond of seeing my teammates looking depressed after losing a game." Han thought to himself as he was continuing towards the Guards. Compared to the Crowd Controllers, the Guards would need to be fought head-on instead of using some type of cheat. He hoped that his immoral act, earlier, would give him enough time to fight the guards and touch the door. The current scene around him was identical to his side, just being a straight line in a canyon towards the door. With the CCs doing their job at keeping the monsters occupied, he didn't need to worry about fighting them and focus on the guards. Being three against one, Han knew it was going to be challenging hence why his role as a Charger was reserved to the strongest member in the team. Guards had more gear on them to match their functions, to hold off the enemy and monsters at the same time but this caused them to move slower. Their weapons were also focused on defense instead of offense, making it not as daunting of a task for him. "I'm going to have to rely on you again, partner," Han said to his sword. Compared to when he first picked out the weapon, his Jackknife was vastly different, with a lot of upgrades placed on it. Before the game started, he made decisions on how his weapon should be balanced which affected his attack method. Up ahead, he could see the three guards standing in front of a glowing door. Just like their's, the door looked like a giant could fit through it. The glow was due to the Guards still being alive and would prevent him from reaching his objective. Pulling out his weapon, Han opened it up to its full length and held it behind him. The three guards made arm motions to direct one another and prepared to engage with Han. One of the guards had giant drills on their hands, making him think of a specific video game. Another had two artillery cannons their shoulders and some type of energy weapon shield. The last one had a something that looked like a mixture of a tower shield and an energy weapon. "They really have their close, mid, and long ranges covered, making things interesting for me." Han groaned. This team was just at good with strategy, meaning he would have to be careful how he dealt with this group. Clamps fell down onto the ground, drilling into the ground, on either side of the player with the artillery cannons. Han could see the player slightly crouching and leaning forward while the barrels lifted up. "Fuck!" Han said, just as he heard a concussive blast. With how close he was, he only had a few seconds to leap to one side as the ground where he was located was torn apart in a fiery blast. Quickly getting up, Han glanced at his prior location and just saw a giant hole in the ground. "Not even a crater... It's a fucking hole in the ground!" Han swore sweat could be felt on his forehead as he thought about how it would feel to take that attack. "You guys better appreciate how much I enjoy being in this world," He growled in frustration. In the back of his mind, he was picturing people either cheering or booing him on screens across the various locations where the teams were located. "I guess I'm going to have to do something about that person first," Han looked around and ran towards the guards while listening for the telltale sound of artillery approaching him. "This wasn't something I wanted to show off so soon, but I guess I'll have to demonstrate the new upgrade I made to my partner!" In his hand, his weapon began to glow, and Han spun his weapon until a whistling noise was heard, the sound was like the air around him was being torn apart. Making a slicing motion at the guards, an invisible blade seemed to cut ahead of him. As it traveled across the ground, the dirt was kicked up and made visibility almost impossible. "Too bad it takes so long to use that new move I added to my weapon," Han muttered, though he appreciated the cone-shaped dust cloud in front of him. "I really lucked out at acquiring that item." It was at that moment that he heard another loud blast from the cannons, cheating with his vision, he saw that the explosion would completely miss him. As he continued to race towards the guards, a lot of the dust was eliminated due to the impact. There was a feeling in his mind, directing him to roll to one side. At that moment, a beam of light tore through the dust cloud. Looking ahead of him, he saw one of the guards holding their shield to one side and aiming directly at him. Out of the barrel, there were arcs of energy coming off of the weapon to indicate that it was recently fired. "I guess I'm dealing with you?" Han said to himself, thinking that this was just going to get even more difficult.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM3ODM2M2VjZGEwZDQzMTU4ZjBkYTYyMjcxMzE5OWVh">After a few moments of silence permeated the air, one of the villagers pointed out. "Hey, ain't that Daryl's son?" Murmurs erupted all around as they began to recognise Tenur.</p> <p class="cnM4NGZkMjJiMmE2NzQ5MjdhMmI0YTUyOTUyNTZlYzc2">"And, isn't that a troll? Why's he not wearing a pants with a female troll as a companion?" Another woman pointed out. The murmurs intensified as a result, most of them jeering at Tenur. The impression he gave them was not exactly a good one.</p> <p class="cnM3OTVjMGQ0NjFmMzQ3Zjg5ZDZiNmFjOTk1NzMwN2U3">"Troll fucker!"</p> <p class="cnMzYmM4ZWQ5ODE0MTQzN2Y4ZjIwZjY2Y2QxNjM5NjNj">"Beastiality!"</p> <p class="cnM5MmNiODlmOTg4YzQ1OGVhM2NkMGQ2ODgxZjhkNWE2">Some of the remarks rose above the others. As a result, most of them began picking up on the circulating nicknames, calling Tenur weird, disgusting and most of all, a troll fucker.</p> <p class="cnNhOGVjODgzNTg2MzRmZmVhZGRiMDgzNTQ1Nzk0NTZi">"Can this be any worse?" Tenur facepalmed when he heard his mother's voice among the crowd, struggling her way to the front of the crowd. She was wearing her usual clothing which consisted of an old white dress. His father wasn't with her. <em>At least that's good</em>, Tenur thought.</p> <p class="cnMwYTYxNzAzMTdmYjQ2OWU4ODhkZDRmMDdkMzUyMjk4">"Son? What's the meaning of this?" Daryl asked once she was face to face with her son. The noise disturbed their mother-son conversation, so she yelled to everyone else. "Don't you all have better things to do than stand here in the middle of the night!?" that earned her some crude remarks but it did the job of shooing the nosey villagers away, leaving only those who truly matter at the crime scene.</p> <p class="cnNiNzRkMzM4ZWJlNjQ1YzNhMGUxZDNiNDBjOWIwNDNj">"Uh, I can explain-"</p> <p class="cnM3OTAzZDI5ODNhNTQyMWY4NjU0MjMwOWNiMmM5M2Zl">"Don't. You're coming home with me now, mister," she then turned to Laura, hands on hips and said, "as for you, how are you related to my son?"</p> <p class="cnNiODU3YmEyMzkyZjQ1NTdiZTVmNTA1NjljMzdjODQy">"I'm... his familiar?" she sounded unsure of herself. There was conflict brewing within her. On one hand, she was extremely repulsed at the fact of using 'being Tenur's familiar' as an excuse, while on the other, she was not sure what other excuse she could use, thus the dilemma she was facing.</p> <p class="cnNhZWIwYzVhMTM2NzRiMTk5ODI5YTIzZTExMTVhY2Nk">Daryl looked confused for a moment, before telling Laura, "come with us."</p> <p class="cnM0OGMzZGVmMjMzZDQ3MjE4ZmMxMmQ0Zjg0YWY0MjAz">"And pull up your pants Tenur, you're embarassing yourself."</p> <hr> <p class="cnM0NWZmMDUzMWIyNDRkYTJiNTM1N2EwYjNiMmZkMzRm">As the door slammed shut, Tenur found himself reminiscing his past. He hoped his mother would be willing to hear the whole story before blasting him into oblivion. He also hoped his father would not hear about this incident, otherwise death by his mother's hands would be much more preferable.</p> <p class="cnMxODQxNWMzYTRmMDRlNGFhYjE5NzU2MTM0MWZiNGRi">"Explain," she gestured for both Laura and Tenur to sit on the chairs couch while lighting the fire place.</p> <p class="cnM4NGViODk1NDFkZTQ5ZjU4MGZhY2U4NmNlMzY4YTM3">"So first..." Tenur then explained everything that happened, how his grimoire was also his mentor, how he took on the responsibility of taking care of Laura the currently orphan troll and how he ended up back here. Occasionally, Laura would add in a few left out details which, to Tenur's dismay, was mostly his bad acts.</p> <p class="cnNhY2E0ODdhZmYxMzQ3ZTY4YTcwODY4NDM2OGZkM2Zi">After hearing the full story, Daryl sat with her eyes closed, contemplating all the facts she was given. "So you're not his familiar?" she looked at Laura who shifted uneasily in her seat. The ceiling barely touched Laura's head even as she sat.</p> <p class="cnM2YjE1NzlhMzcxMDRjZTM5ZmRlZWQxYjM2OTlhZmQ0">"No."</p> <p class="cnM3OTE0ZTlmMTYwMTRlMTA5MzQwNjNhNWM2NTM4ZTcx">"And you're his teacher?" Daryl looked at the grimoire.</p> <p class="cnNjZmYxNzIxYWE2ZTQyMWI4NDRhMDJkZTU5MTBlNDI5">"Yes."</p> <p class="cnM4ZmE1ODZkMjI2ZjQ2MzliN2ViZWJjMmQ1MmMzNzNi">"And both of your companions are trolls?" she looked at her son.</p> <p class="cnM4NDdiZGZlM2NjNzRiNDM5ZTU2ZDJkMjJkMTMyZmJj">"Yes mom, yes."</p> <p class="cnNmMDJkYzBmOGJjNDQxZDY4NzIxOWZkMTAxNzMyODc2">Daryl rubbed the bridge of her nose as she thought of it more. On the bright side of things, she was happy her son finally found a teacher that could teach him the basics he needs to control his mana and magic. Yet on the dark side of things, they were trolls. Filthy, overgrown, green and despised humanoid beasts that live in the forest, eating those who trespass on their territory.</p> <p class="cnM0NTFjYzM4ZmZiZjQ0OTFiNzZlNzI3ODRjNGFlM2Zk">"Oh no, we don't eat trespassers anymore ever since we raided one of your kind's village a long time ago. We got the seeds for farming and were able to create an alternate food source, allowing us to become what you call 'civilised'," sensing Daryl's thoughts, Denka quickly explained to clear up the misunderstanding.&nbsp;<em>That's one question down as to how my son survived passing through a village of trolls</em>, Daryl mused.</p> <p class="cnNjMzZjMDY3MThlNjQ5N2RiMGRmNmQzZTI3MmVhNzdl">"Alright then, you can stay with us first until you find a proper residential area," Daryl told Laura after sighing. She looked sleep deprived, considering her beauty sleep was interrupted in the middle of the night and the discussion took place for more than two hours.</p> <p class="cnNhMWRjMDUwNTUxYTQ0NzA5NWMyYmZlZWE1MzdmOTU0">"Miss Daryl, I appreciate your hospitality, but I need to sleep with your son."</p> <p class="cnNmYjk5ZjZhYThjYTRlMTQ4ZjRmYjVmOWIyNGZlMTAw">"You know the amount of implcations from what you're saying right?"</p> <p class="cnMxNjRhYTg2Y2JhMTRiOGVhNzI4ZDZiZDljMWI1MTVk">"Yes, but I have stay near your son eight hours a day, or else I'll start to die."</p> <p class="cnMxYTdkNzE5MDExMDQ1Yjc4ZmFmOWY1ZmE3MDlmZTcy">"Sounds serious, but I can't let you literally sleep with him, only near him. Perhaps you could take up residence in the storage room just beside his room?" Daryl suggested.</p> <p class="cnM3MDgyNTU0MjhiOTRkZDlhYTk3Mjc1MDBiOWJjNTU3">"That's probably sufficient enough. I'll pay you the rent after I'm able to get a job, is that alright?"</p> <p class="cnNmNDgwNGFlZDE1MDQ2NGNiNDkyOTBlZDdiYTdjNTM4">"Done," Daryl stood up. "There's a bed, a blanket and a pillow already inside. You can take the mattress and place it on the floor instead of using the frame because of your height. You might want to wash the bedsheet, blanket and pillow as well, considering nobody used it for almost three years." She then turned and went back to her room.</p> <p class="cnM4NWExMmUwODFlNTRhZDE4ZmVkNzhhMDQwZTU2OGIx">"Your mom's pretty chill 'bout letting a troll into her house. I kinda like her already," Laura started.</p> <p class="cnNkOTUxNGU4N2IyYzRiYWNhOGE3MDgwYTFmYWY4ZjFl">"I know. She rarely gets genuinely surprised, considering her past life as an adventurer and my dad's career which brings a lot surprises back," Tenur shrugged. His mother had told him about her various adventures before as bed time stories, and they had made every one of his bed time sessions the most exciting part of the day. Sometimes, his father would take turns with his mother to deliver an exciting adventure. It always involved life endangering elements that only served to make his career even more exciting.</p> <p class="cnNiNjdiZWIwMDNjZDQyNmQ5NzhlNDE0YjcwNzJmZDBi">"You two should probably get to bed, especially you Tenur since you've exhausted your mana not long ago," Denka voiced his advice.</p> <p class="cnMxYzhkYzdhNTBlZTRmMjRhZDFmMzdjZWVjNmNlMjJi">"Yeah, I'll get preparing the room first," Laura walked up and towards what looked like the door leading to the store room and entered, before closing the door behind her.</p> <p class="cnMxYjc0YTAzYjM4MjRmZDRhYmVhYmE4M2VlY2I3OTEw">Tenur looked around for a moment, thinking about something that's been on his mind for some time now. "What's up Tenur?"</p> <p class="cnNlNmIyZjcxNjNkOTRkZTQ4NjJjZWVkOWIxYTQ3Yjkw">"I don't know, I feel like I forgot someone, but forgot who."</p> <p class="cnM2ZjdlMTkxNDgwNjQ0ZjY4MjkxZjlmNmVkMzRlMTgz">"Probably just your imagi-"</p> <p class="cnM0OTk5ZjA3MzQ2MzRhOGViZDhjOTA2MTZjMTgxNjc5">His eyes suddenly lit up. "Andrew! I forgot bout him." Tenur was going to look for Andrew, but paused. He felt fatigued.</p> <p class="cnMwZGU0NmI1Y2U2ZDRjOGJhM2JkNDA3OGNmNjQzYjNl"><em>Oh well</em>. He shrugged and went to bed.</p> <p class="cnMyMTA3MzRiN2IyMjQyYzg4Njc0ZjRiNmE1NTE2NmU3"><em>I'll just go find him once I wake up.</em> With that, the book slept beside the tired master.</p> </div>

After a few moments of silence permeated the air, one of the villagers pointed out. "Hey, ain't that Daryl's son?" Murmurs erupted all around as they began to recognise Tenur. "And, isn't that a troll? Why's he not wearing a pants with a female troll as a companion?" Another woman pointed out. The murmurs intensified as a result, most of them jeering at Tenur. The impression he gave them was not exactly a good one. "Troll fucker!" "Beastiality!" Some of the remarks rose above the others. As a result, most of them began picking up on the circulating nicknames, calling Tenur weird, disgusting and most of all, a troll fucker. "Can this be any worse?" Tenur facepalmed when he heard his mother's voice among the crowd, struggling her way to the front of the crowd. She was wearing her usual clothing which consisted of an old white dress. His father wasn't with her. *At least that's good*, Tenur thought. "Son? What's the meaning of this?" Daryl asked once she was face to face with her son. The noise disturbed their mother-son conversation, so she yelled to everyone else. "Don't you all have better things to do than stand here in the middle of the night!?" that earned her some crude remarks but it did the job of shooing the nosey villagers away, leaving only those who truly matter at the crime scene. "Uh, I can explain-" "Don't. You're coming home with me now, mister," she then turned to Laura, hands on hips and said, "as for you, how are you related to my son?" "I'm... his familiar?" she sounded unsure of herself. There was conflict brewing within her. On one hand, she was extremely repulsed at the fact of using 'being Tenur's familiar' as an excuse, while on the other, she was not sure what other excuse she could use, thus the dilemma she was facing. Daryl looked confused for a moment, before telling Laura, "come with us." "And pull up your pants Tenur, you're embarassing yourself." --- As the door slammed shut, Tenur found himself reminiscing his past. He hoped his mother would be willing to hear the whole story before blasting him into oblivion. He also hoped his father would not hear about this incident, otherwise death by his mother's hands would be much more preferable. "Explain," she gestured for both Laura and Tenur to sit on the chairs couch while lighting the fire place. "So first..." Tenur then explained everything that happened, how his grimoire was also his mentor, how he took on the responsibility of taking care of Laura the currently orphan troll and how he ended up back here. Occasionally, Laura would add in a few left out details which, to Tenur's dismay, was mostly his bad acts. After hearing the full story, Daryl sat with her eyes closed, contemplating all the facts she was given. "So you're not his familiar?" she looked at Laura who shifted uneasily in her seat. The ceiling barely touched Laura's head even as she sat. "No." "And you're his teacher?" Daryl looked at the grimoire. "Yes." "And both of your companions are trolls?" she looked at her son. "Yes mom, yes." Daryl rubbed the bridge of her nose as she thought of it more. On the bright side of things, she was happy her son finally found a teacher that could teach him the basics he needs to control his mana and magic. Yet on the dark side of things, they were trolls. Filthy, overgrown, green and despised humanoid beasts that live in the forest, eating those who trespass on their territory. "Oh no, we don't eat trespassers anymore ever since we raided one of your kind's village a long time ago. We got the seeds for farming and were able to create an alternate food source, allowing us to become what you call 'civilised'," sensing Daryl's thoughts, Denka quickly explained to clear up the misunderstanding. *That's one question down as to how my son survived passing through a village of trolls*, Daryl mused. "Alright then, you can stay with us first until you find a proper residential area," Daryl told Laura after sighing. She looked sleep deprived, considering her beauty sleep was interrupted in the middle of the night and the discussion took place for more than two hours. "Miss Daryl, I appreciate your hospitality, but I need to sleep with your son." "You know the amount of implcations from what you're saying right?" "Yes, but I have stay near your son eight hours a day, or else I'll start to die." "Sounds serious, but I can't let you literally sleep with him, only near him. Perhaps you could take up residence in the storage room just beside his room?" Daryl suggested. "That's probably sufficient enough. I'll pay you the rent after I'm able to get a job, is that alright?" "Done," Daryl stood up. "There's a bed, a blanket and a pillow already inside. You can take the mattress and place it on the floor instead of using the frame because of your height. You might want to wash the bedsheet, blanket and pillow as well, considering nobody used it for almost three years." She then turned and went back to her room. "Your mom's pretty chill 'bout letting a troll into her house. I kinda like her already," Laura started. "I know. She rarely gets genuinely surprised, considering her past life as an adventurer and my dad's career which brings a lot surprises back," Tenur shrugged. His mother had told him about her various adventures before as bed time stories, and they had made every one of his bed time sessions the most exciting part of the day. Sometimes, his father would take turns with his mother to deliver an exciting adventure. It always involved life endangering elements that only served to make his career even more exciting. "You two should probably get to bed, especially you Tenur since you've exhausted your mana not long ago," Denka voiced his advice. "Yeah, I'll get preparing the room first," Laura walked up and towards what looked like the door leading to the store room and entered, before closing the door behind her. Tenur looked around for a moment, thinking about something that's been on his mind for some time now. "What's up Tenur?" "I don't know, I feel like I forgot someone, but forgot who." "Probably just your imagi-" His eyes suddenly lit up. "Andrew! I forgot bout him." Tenur was going to look for Andrew, but paused. He felt fatigued. *Oh well*. He shrugged and went to bed. *I'll just go find him once I wake up.* With that, the book slept beside the tired master.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNlODdhOGE5OTY4MTQ2Mjc5ZjE0ZDUxYTM2MWY2YzRm">STOOD WITH ITS HIND LEGS, the Hamster had neither enjoyed the show nor would be a critique for it.</p> <p class="cnM2MWM4MDliMGEwMDQwYmViODRlMTZiNjUxYWU0YWVl">The mere fact that although a hamster hater person died at its very presence which made the Hamster cherished every moment of what happened, that event turned this place different as it seemed to be. And what you could see around the cadaver was a puddle of blood that was still being flourished brought about by a three millimeters stainless steel beam that created a chute.</p> <p class="cnNkM2UxNjMxZDJmYzQ4ZWJhZWFhZmU5YjYyMzlmYmE2">The Hamster didn't show as much empathy rather than it just stared as a bystander. It just watched Lance Reyes suffered his death. It had no intention to approach the soaked in blood corpse, it kept itself distant to him.</p> <p class="cnNjZTU1YjMyMjYyZTQ1YTNhN2RiNDYxNDJhNjVjOTc0">Maybe if he just loved hamster, this little fella had once again found a rightful owner. It would be just alright to the Hamster to sacrifice its freedom if this man loved hamster rather than to hate it. That made everything in the first place incapable to happen.</p> <p class="cnMyMzAzYzQwMWFlMDQ4OWJiNDQwNjI1OTcwNDFlYmM2">Only if they showed mutual feelings toward each other, things from bad had not gone to worst and only glory days would never resort to end. No more violent action, witnessed the principal gone through the stage of decomposition, and terrible death show. It would be just a win-win solution for both of them. Only if.</p> <p class="cnM0ODM5ODcxNmU3NTQ4NTg4OTNmMTRlODQyMTAwNzIx">But things happened for a reason. Which the Hamster didn't know still. While it watched the scenario, it made the Hamster to grow a boredom from the initial of being excited. It reminded him of the 'thing' it should do before this Utility Personnel came across his way and tried to kill him. This male Hamster felt again that same feeling. While on its way recently going to the attic, its primary purpose was to satisfy its hunger.</p> <p class="cnNjNzQzZTM2MmQ2MzQxZTU5MWI3MDIzNjYxZmUwNDJm">But still, the hamster didn't have the plan to eat human flesh, not unless they were the only remaining food that would be palatable and could save them from famishment. When that time came, the rats and the hamsters would be the same. They would be reunited, once again, with the same taste buds.</p> <p class="cnNmMDM5YTBkZThiODQ1N2NhMDQzMmI1OTA1YWVjMDU2">But that time was not now. Maybe tomorrow, if not, maybe the next day. But the Hamster could assure, not now.</p> <p class="cnMzNGJkZTgzNGRlYzQzNjBhZDkwMDRlYzkwMmFhZmY2">In fact, the Hamster just remembered something, it burrowed some of its food above the attic. Overhead, where also the principal hung, it had a food that maybe could last for today. That's why it was sure, human flesh was not the course menu at the present time.</p> <p class="cnNiMzA5N2M2YzhmODQzMGViY2RjMzg5OWNjMGI0NWVh">Though the Hamster started to make its way there, it tried to find a clean route to go to the attic. With this, it prevented contact with the dead hamster hater and his puddle of blood. Remained presentable, even though its fur could be mistakenly recognized as filthy appearance, it crawled swooningly.</p> <p class="cnNhNTcyOWRkYjdkMjRmM2M5ODAzYTQ5MmU4YmYxY2Ri">Of all the senses which hamsters felt was not stronger than the others they had, was their sense of sight. Compared to the felines which they relied on it every time they hunt, day and night, all the hamster, in order to survive, had to be alert at all times.</p> <p class="cnNmMTM0NGZmODlkOTQzMDM4OTJmN2ZiYTczOGZhYjE0">To see how cats perceived things, with or without light, was not how hamsters coped with their survival. Cats were predator and Hamsters were being preyed. And if Hamsters reacted to its environment very late, today we didn't know that the word 'Hamster' truly did exist. We just contented ourselves of thinking how would a friendly rat be alike, how would it behave and what would be its name?</p> <p class="cnMyNThiYzNiN2UyNTQxNjNiNmI3OGFiMmE3ODA1Mzdm">Good thing hamsters were still alive until as of now. Thanks to the rest of their senses and their coordination with one another: to their sense of hearing, they heard what was&nbsp; coming; to their sense of taste, they were explicitly different to their cousins; to their sense of smell, this Hamster knew where it left its food, and were right now was on its way to have some of it.</p> <p class="cnMzNDkyNWU4ZThhNzQwZjBhMmNmYmY3NTYxNjM5OTFj">All was fine to have the Hamster known to the world. Which was the only problem of the humanity was down to one: the Missing Link itself.</p> <p class="cnM4YjQyZjViMThlMTQ4NjBhMDA1MWE2ODU5YjM4ZWVi">By gaining access to the same route, which already became the only reliable path to this hamster, it crawled its way through the hole that granted both entrance and exit between the attic and the stockroom. The Hamster entered a cold and dark attic.</p> <p class="cnMxNWFhZjdmM2Q2NDQ2YmI4MDgyMGZkM2FmYjZhMjkw">Just as what all hamsters were capable of, even though the attic was currently lightless, they didn't rely on their sense of sight. And instead, what made this Hamster survived its everyday life in a dark room below the roof like this, was with the help of its remaining senses.</p> <p class="cnNlZjZjMzRlYTk5ZDQyZDViYzBlNzkwMjFhM2ExM2Fl">For what that dead man below didn't know, was about the light switch: the only thing that would make this entire place glowed with light.&nbsp; With the aid of its sense of hearing, it would try to locate the sound where the electromagnetic waves were being manufactured.</p> <p class="cnMxNWM2NDkyYjk4ZTQ5ODhhNmFkOTExMzRiOTQ5MzNk">To his right, when the time the Hamster heard electrical impulses that came to where the light's switch was located, it turned its head to it. Although there was no light to its environment, except for the light that came from below which it didn't aid him, the Hamster's eyes gleamed as it assured if that was the spot where the particular sound did come.</p> <p class="cnMzMDE4ODg2NzA2NjRhMmU5NzIzZTc1ODVlOTkxMTQy">With the assurance of the location, it scurringly made its way to there. Even though most of the device which restrained and allowed the flow of electricity was placed on walls, for some reason, the switch that this hamster was looking for, was positioned on the floor. Guided by the sound of electromagnetism inside the light switch, it moved its tiny legs with cadence to it.</p> <p class="cnM0ODY0OGExMTQwOTRlZWY4Mzg5ZjIwM2Y3ODJjNzRh">If the Hamster wanted to leave this place, he would just manually switch the light off, if it wanted to bring that back again, he would simply turn it on.</p> <p class="cnMzNjZhZjZlOTc4YTRhMzdiOTJhZThhYTRlNGE4OWE1">Right now, upon its pace, the gleam on its red eyes in the dark, gave some of it in order for the well polished white colored thermoset made light switch to be partially uncovered from the dark.</p> <p class="cnNiMDNhYTdlNzBmZjRkNjRhYWY3YWI5MWJhMWE3YjM4">He tried to locate where the part of the switch was levitating. the highest point where it sloped down, the Hamster adjusted a little more steps. When it thought that this would be the right spot, it stood with its hind legs. Those hands who securely held the food when it ate, he placed it on the crest. With all its strengths were placed on his hands, it pressed the switch.</p> <p class="cnMzMGJmZDQxZjE3MzRiYTg5NWU5YzEyNDExMjFiNzBl">The light slightly appeared, but immediately disappeared. But together with it, the sight of a zoo in the attic vanished.</p> </div>

STOOD WITH ITS HIND LEGS, the Hamster had neither enjoyed the show nor would be a critique for it. The mere fact that although a hamster hater person died at its very presence which made the Hamster cherished every moment of what happened, that event turned this place different as it seemed to be. And what you could see around the cadaver was a puddle of blood that was still being flourished brought about by a three millimeters stainless steel beam that created a chute. The Hamster didn't show as much empathy rather than it just stared as a bystander. It just watched Lance Reyes suffered his death. It had no intention to approach the soaked in blood corpse, it kept itself distant to him. Maybe if he just loved hamster, this little fella had once again found a rightful owner. It would be just alright to the Hamster to sacrifice its freedom if this man loved hamster rather than to hate it. That made everything in the first place incapable to happen. Only if they showed mutual feelings toward each other, things from bad had not gone to worst and only glory days would never resort to end. No more violent action, witnessed the principal gone through the stage of decomposition, and terrible death show. It would be just a win-win solution for both of them. Only if. But things happened for a reason. Which the Hamster didn't know still. While it watched the scenario, it made the Hamster to grow a boredom from the initial of being excited. It reminded him of the 'thing' it should do before this Utility Personnel came across his way and tried to kill him. This male Hamster felt again that same feeling. While on its way recently going to the attic, its primary purpose was to satisfy its hunger. But still, the hamster didn't have the plan to eat human flesh, not unless they were the only remaining food that would be palatable and could save them from famishment. When that time came, the rats and the hamsters would be the same. They would be reunited, once again, with the same taste buds. But that time was not now. Maybe tomorrow, if not, maybe the next day. But the Hamster could assure, not now. In fact, the Hamster just remembered something, it burrowed some of its food above the attic. Overhead, where also the principal hung, it had a food that maybe could last for today. That's why it was sure, human flesh was not the course menu at the present time. Though the Hamster started to make its way there, it tried to find a clean route to go to the attic. With this, it prevented contact with the dead hamster hater and his puddle of blood. Remained presentable, even though its fur could be mistakenly recognized as filthy appearance, it crawled swooningly. Of all the senses which hamsters felt was not stronger than the others they had, was their sense of sight. Compared to the felines which they relied on it every time they hunt, day and night, all the hamster, in order to survive, had to be alert at all times. To see how cats perceived things, with or without light, was not how hamsters coped with their survival. Cats were predator and Hamsters were being preyed. And if Hamsters reacted to its environment very late, today we didn't know that the word 'Hamster' truly did exist. We just contented ourselves of thinking how would a friendly rat be alike, how would it behave and what would be its name? Good thing hamsters were still alive until as of now. Thanks to the rest of their senses and their coordination with one another: to their sense of hearing, they heard what was  coming; to their sense of taste, they were explicitly different to their cousins; to their sense of smell, this Hamster knew where it left its food, and were right now was on its way to have some of it. All was fine to have the Hamster known to the world. Which was the only problem of the humanity was down to one: the Missing Link itself. By gaining access to the same route, which already became the only reliable path to this hamster, it crawled its way through the hole that granted both entrance and exit between the attic and the stockroom. The Hamster entered a cold and dark attic. Just as what all hamsters were capable of, even though the attic was currently lightless, they didn't rely on their sense of sight. And instead, what made this Hamster survived its everyday life in a dark room below the roof like this, was with the help of its remaining senses. For what that dead man below didn't know, was about the light switch: the only thing that would make this entire place glowed with light.  With the aid of its sense of hearing, it would try to locate the sound where the electromagnetic waves were being manufactured. To his right, when the time the Hamster heard electrical impulses that came to where the light's switch was located, it turned its head to it. Although there was no light to its environment, except for the light that came from below which it didn't aid him, the Hamster's eyes gleamed as it assured if that was the spot where the particular sound did come. With the assurance of the location, it scurringly made its way to there. Even though most of the device which restrained and allowed the flow of electricity was placed on walls, for some reason, the switch that this hamster was looking for, was positioned on the floor. Guided by the sound of electromagnetism inside the light switch, it moved its tiny legs with cadence to it. If the Hamster wanted to leave this place, he would just manually switch the light off, if it wanted to bring that back again, he would simply turn it on. Right now, upon its pace, the gleam on its red eyes in the dark, gave some of it in order for the well polished white colored thermoset made light switch to be partially uncovered from the dark. He tried to locate where the part of the switch was levitating. the highest point where it sloped down, the Hamster adjusted a little more steps. When it thought that this would be the right spot, it stood with its hind legs. Those hands who securely held the food when it ate, he placed it on the crest. With all its strengths were placed on his hands, it pressed the switch. The light slightly appeared, but immediately disappeared. But together with it, the sight of a zoo in the attic vanished.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNiYTE2YzhlYzgxYzQ1ODY4ZmJkODQ1YWFlMjBkZmI0">“Well, that’s good because only with brothers like them, can you protect yourself from cunning foxes like Hendrickson. There have been times when I saw your father marching into a deadzone and it was only Sir Julian’s support which made it possible for him to return alive. Anyway, Sir Julian was never supportive of Hendrickson’s plans and strategy and often questioned it afterwards, often in my room with your father, and frankly speaking, it was clear as day that Hendrickson was trying to kill your father by giving him those kinds of missions. One mission directed your father to take the frontlines and to charge at the Caliph’s forces, nearly killing him there. Now, I don’t think that you would believe every words of mine, but I will warn you for one last time, do not trust Hendrickson. And… there’s another thing… which I think might be the cause of all of these troubles…”</p> <p class="cnM4YWI0YmU3NTU1OTQwODE4ODJhZDdmZWQxMWMzYzU1">Felix joked, “Something more dangerous than Sir Hendrickson?”</p> <p class="cnNkZDdjODFkODYxMDRlYmE4NTRiMTBlNjJhMmQ2ZmRk">“Quite so,” replied Princess Yasmina. “Have you seen the Fabled Crown?”</p> <p class="cnM5OTdmZDBlNTRlZTQ1ODVhZWFlOTA1ZTQ5MzFkMDYw">Almost immediately, Felix’s smile disappeared. He frowned deeply, but didn’t say anything. She understood it immediately that he had seen it. She sighed deeply.</p> <p class="cnM3ZDRmNDYxODY5ZTQ2ZWFhNDA3N2M2N2M0NDRmMTM2">“So, you’ve seen it…”</p> <p class="cnMxZjMyOGJiYzcwNDQxNTlhN2IzY2ZkZDlhMjZjNTY3">“How do you know?” Felix asked with a stern tone, quite skeptical, but it was actually quite ‘open’ to others given his expression.</p> <p class="cnM0NjhhYWY3ZDRiNDQ1NmRhYjBhMzljZGUzYTZlMTYz">“And first of all, how do you know about it? I’ve heard that it was given to my father by the King of Sindhu and not Yasmin.”</p> <p class="cnM2ZGQxOWY5YWJhMDQ5YzBiN2YxM2Y2MGUwNDYzOWM0">She sighed again and closed her eyes. After a moment, she opened her eyes and said in a strong tone,</p> <p class="cnM1NzJhOWVhZDJiYjQyNDFhNTY0MWE5Nzc5OTg1MzFl">“Listen carefully, because I'm not going to repeat it again. That Fabled Crown, which was gifted by the current King of Sindhu is a cursed object. I can't speak much of it, but please believe it. We, of the Yasmin kingdom was gifted those jewels and ivory by a certain adventurer who has visited the Fabled Lands of The Origins and had … kind of forced us to make it into a crown. The adventurer was a strange and eccentric person and told us that the crown will be cursed, even before we made it.</p> <p class="cnNiN2Q4Zjg0YmQyMDQ1NzBiNjExNDVmYWI5MDZmNWFl">My grandfather was the ruler of the principality then and was a healthy man and a religious man. He believed that The One would protect him and so he gathered the finest jewelers and engravers to make the best crown he could. And as you can see it, that’s the result. But, right after the crown was made, strange things started to happen. The engravers who made it all died of a mysterious disease, the jewelers all went insane and an extreme greed of money and jewels birthed in them. These strange sightings were reported to the Sultan, but it was already late. My grandfather had already fell in love with the crown and never seemed to be able to remove it and it wasn’t only him. It went same for the people around him, the generals, the advisors even the petty soldiers, all of them stay cooped in the courtroom for days, even weeks to gaze at the crown in admiration. There have been times, when servants were needed to feed the ministers personally. The occurrence had frightened my father, the Crown Prince extremely that he started planning ways to get rid of the crown. And the most strange thing about this crown is that it chooses it’s victims, like a living person.</p> <p class="cnM0MDI4MGJkMjNhMDRkODM5NDFiZWViZDZjOTQ0ZWYy">Finally, after a series of fake mishaps and incidents, the court was finally able to dismiss itself, but right after that, my grandfather turned insane. He stayed like that for 3 decades, but suddenly, he was killed mysteriously, just like those engravers the previous night of Sindhu army’s siege. My father; the new Sultan was right away put incharge of the battle and saw the Sindhu army as an opportunity to get rid of the crown.</p> <p class="cnNiN2JiMjk1NTM1YjRjZGNhODU0ZmM0YzBiMDE2OWZj">The Yasmin army was quite powerful then, but my father intentionally issued some foolish and tactless commands, which led to Yasmin’s eventual defeat. As a mean of surrender, my father used the Fabled Crown as a bargain and quite amazingly, the Sindhu King withdrew his army. He had also been charmed by the Fabled Crown.</p> <p class="cnMwYzY4NzU1ZWY5YTQ2NGJiMTMxYTQ3MjU3OWY1MTcx">The generals criticized the King tremendously but he silenced them all. Later, words came that the kingdom of Sindhu was hit by a terrible plague and it was then, the Warlord of Garbu, Gazel was ordered by the Caliph to attack the Catholic empires, capture the Jasper Pass and thus, start the 36^th Mucadas Antiqam or Holy Revenge.</p> <p class="cnNmMzE3YzBiNDY3YzRiYWZiMzc0YjlhNzA5YWMwNmI5">But the strings of fate are so strange. Who would’ve expected that the person who defeated Sindhu and was rewarded the Fabled Crown would also defeat Yasmin. But alas, your father wasn’t … anyway, that’s the basic story of the Fabled Crown. A very dangerous object, which is cursed yet people try to posses it. We, of the Heathens also believed in demons and presumed that the crown was haunted by a genie, but the … curse was anything we’ve seen. We tried to hide it as much as possible, but now, it has been seen by the world and I presume, a war for this single crown isn’t too far away.”</p> <p class="cnMxZGMzOTllMDczOTRmMzZiMWM3NTg3ZDhkMzI2NjFk">Felix listened to the story calmly and quite seriously, firstly because the story was very unbelievable and secondly, because there are instances in the story which seems so cliché. He folded his arms and asked, quite logically, “Well, then if you’ve seen it, why aren’t you affected by greed? As you say that it’s been 3 decades since it was made, I wonder why you haven’t fallen like the others?”</p> <p class="cnMxNmYxOTExMjVlYjQ0NmQ5NzAzMzU4MWM2MTgxZTll">“Because the crown chooses it’s victims. It has some kind of … sentience within it, just like a demon or a genie and it chooses his victims. I don’t know what is its true criteria to choose its victims, but I do know for sure that it has a special attraction for ‘court-people.’ I don’t know whether it’s just the entire court or whether it’s people with power, but I’ve even seen useless court servants, falling into its curse almost instantly. There’ve been many patterns I’ve figured about its victim but I'm neither going to discuss about it nor am I tell you what it is. As for me, frankly I don’t know why I'm not a victim and that goes for my father too. Other than the two of us, all the rest of the Royal family fell into its curse and died miserably.”</p> <p class="cnMxZDZjZTE0MmY2YTRhMTQ4YmQ1NDlmNmIxNDE3NTVj">“Oh! That’s quite sad, but how is telling me all these, going to benefit both you and me?” asked Felix with a prospective merchant-like view.</p> <p class="cnNiNGRmNzdlNDZlOTRlODM5ZDIwNGU2OWZhYjdiMGI5">“As for benefiting me, there are none. I'm only trying to prevent a massacre from happening again and perhaps a war. As for benefitting you, there are many. One of which is that, you might be able to save your mother.”</p> <p class="cnMxYzYzZWM2ZWVhOTRhZGU4ZDU5ZGY2ZjQ1YjIzZmY4">“!!” the moment his mother was mentioned in the conversation, Felix was again alerted. He clutched his Greatsword and asked with a stern tone, “…What do you mean?”</p> <p class="cnMwMzYxNzczOGNmMzQ5NTg5YTBlZWE1N2I3MzhiMDk5">“I mean what I say. I'm pretty sure that your mother has fallen into the crown’s clutches. The hesitation on today’s ceremony is a clear proof of it. It may not seem like that to you, but to me, it’s as clear as day that your mother has been ensnared. I’ve also seen you staring at the crown and frankly, I don’t know how you’re able to talk to me so calmly about the crown, but I did try to talk about it with your mother once and she … she was clearly a victim. All I can say is that, please take care of your mother and try to persuade her away from the crown as much as possible.”</p> <p class="cnNlOGYyZWFiNWFhMjQ5NDE4MmE0M2ViNDQ2MjRmNTA2">Her words threw Felix’s heart deeper and deeper into the Abyss. He certainly remembers the first feeling he got when he looked at the crown and the least, he could say about it is that the crown is cursed. He agrees with it completely and this is what throws him into a dilemma.</p> <p class="cnNlNDJkYzIwNDQwNjQ5YWI4YThjMTI2M2JkZDBkNzdm">Should he trust this foreign woman who has come into his life all of a sudden after his father’s death?</p> <p class="cnNiZTUwOThmMDE0MDRlZmZhOTRiODkyZmJmM2EyY2Ex">Or should he believe in his mother’s iron will and dump all these talks about curses into water?</p> <p class="cnM2ZDUyMDRiNjlhNzQ5OTZiOTYxNDNkNGE3ZDQ4ZWQy">He was thinking hard when Princess Yasmina bowed slightly and said, “It is getting late, Felix. Now, I must return to my quarters or your mother would worry. But before that, I’ve got to at least thank you for all the care that you and your mother has shown to us, Heathens.”</p> <p class="cnM4ZmFmOGU0ZTI5MzRkZDA5ODc3ODViYTgzMzE4YTZk">“Uh… but I didn’t do anything.” Felix said awkwardly, because he really didn’t do anything. From morning to night, he has been either practicing with Aslak or pondering silently on the fickle matter of death and life. He has not even asked for their names or talked to them once. He only got to know about their names because he sent Aslak to gather information because he was shy. So, on the point of hospitality, he sure didn’t treat them quite right.</p> <p class="cnNjYTc2MzA4NTQ2NDRmMWI5YjBjZmMxYjQ2NjhjMjEy">Princess Yasmina smiled and replied, “It’s not the fact that you didn’t do anything. It’s the fact that you didn’t reject us, as Heathens, you treated us fairly and your mother… she is a nice woman. She not only cared about us, but also about our servants, who are really just some petty girls of 15s, whom we wanted to save from their miserable fates and of our unborn child. I'm really happy that … that my unborn child wasn’t killed in my belly during the entire war and … and that’s all thanks to your father. Therefore, as a mother, I'm really thankful to you and your family.”</p> <p class="cnNlNzQ2ZDFjNTM0MDQzZGY5Mjc3ZjRkMWM2MjViOWVh">All of a sudden, her beautiful face turned melancholy and she touched her belly gently. A loving smile blossomed on her face, as she caressed her belly. She then again faced Felix and said gently, “Thank you for accepting us. I hope that you will be able to call the child born from me and my sister Aarti, as your brother or sister, with pride.”</p> <p class="cnNmYTkwZjA2NWVlMTQxOGQ5M2Y0NTllOWM3NmE4Mjg4">“…”</p> <p class="cnM5YmUzMzYzOTc4NDQwOGFhNjY0MWUxMWNkZGQ4NzIx">Felix chose not to answer the question, but Princess Yasmina didn’t mind it. She bowed down and left the courtyard silently. Sir Celyn stared at Felix for a few second and said, “Vesuvius mountains in north-western frontier of Lugrade Empire. If you ever find yourself homeless, do give a visit. Later.”</p> <p class="cnM4ZjBhZGM1NjgyYTQ3MmE5MzljYTc5YzQxOTg0Nzlk">Saying that, he also turned and walked into the darkness, leaving Felix alone. Felix wasn’t sure that the last statement was an invitation or not, but it did seem like one. At least an informal one, even though it was quite a harsh one.</p> <p class="cnNkOWNlNGU2ZDY1NDRkZDFhZWZkNDAyZWYwNzU2MWMz">“Sigh…” Felix sighed and returned back to his seat. He sat down and picked up his helm which he has dropped and stared at it for a moment. He then looked up and stared at the moonless night and at the countless stars glittering around. The fire of the big torch was dimming, making the stars more visible and brighter. He smiled faintly and muttered, “Will I be able to call my father’s own child, his own blood, my brother and sister, proudly?”</p> <p class="cnNiOTkzOGZiYTI2YjQ4NjJiNjNlZGRmYzMwZjRhMGRl">He asked the question to the firmament, quite vainly but like a miracle, a shooting star streaked through the sky. Shooting stars like these weren’t quite uncommon, but for some reason Felix felt like he knew the answer of his question.</p> <p class="cnMzNDBhY2U4YmRmOTQ5YjRhNjE2ZGEyYzkwMjMzNWUx">“What does pride have to do with family. No matter who is born into this world in my household, he or she will always be my brother or sister, regardless of color, race, ethnicity or caste. Regardless of anything, that person would be my siblings. Sigh… why did I need to think about it so much…”</p> <p class="cnMwOGM1ODRiYWY0MDRjMjc4ZDNkNjAwNDlmY2U5YjVl">Saying that, Felix wore his armet, closed its visor and in the complete darkness of his helm, he closed his eyes to sleep, unaware that he was still outside in the courtyard. And the result—</p> <p class="cnNmZjlkYWEzZjE3NzQ5ZGE4NTY2MGVhODNiOTJkMzgy">…</p> <p class="cnM2NzE4MmUxNmU3YzRlNmE4OTExMjE4ZTkwOWM2ZGFh">“Achoo!!!”</p> <p class="cnNhNDNjOGEyMmEwODQ0NTZiYzU4NWIyMGRkZWJiMzQy">“That’s what you get for sleeping outside in a tinsuit. What a numbskull you are, Felix!!”</p> <p class="cnMyNmVkYzFiNjFkZDRmOGI5MWE0NDU1ZTg5MjM0YThk">“Oh! Shut up!! Sniff! First and foremost, why didn’t you wake me up and secondly, why didn’t you carry me?!”</p> <p class="cnNhNjgzOWNhY2Q0YTQwZDI4ODhkN2ZiYzg5OGM0ZWE5">“Who would in their right minds carry you in … that tinsuit of yours?”</p> <p class="cnNjZjVhZGE3OGYzMTQ3OTA5Y2UwMmRmODhlZGRkZDM4">“A*SSHOLE!!”</p> <p class="cnM4N2Q3ZTQzNjBjMTQ4NjRhYzFjODkyZjdiY2Y2YjI4">…</p> </div>

“Well, that’s good because only with brothers like them, can you protect yourself from cunning foxes like Hendrickson. There have been times when I saw your father marching into a deadzone and it was only Sir Julian’s support which made it possible for him to return alive. Anyway, Sir Julian was never supportive of Hendrickson’s plans and strategy and often questioned it afterwards, often in my room with your father, and frankly speaking, it was clear as day that Hendrickson was trying to kill your father by giving him those kinds of missions. One mission directed your father to take the frontlines and to charge at the Caliph’s forces, nearly killing him there. Now, I don’t think that you would believe every words of mine, but I will warn you for one last time, do not trust Hendrickson. And… there’s another thing… which I think might be the cause of all of these troubles…” Felix joked, “Something more dangerous than Sir Hendrickson?” “Quite so,” replied Princess Yasmina. “Have you seen the Fabled Crown?” Almost immediately, Felix’s smile disappeared. He frowned deeply, but didn’t say anything. She understood it immediately that he had seen it. She sighed deeply. “So, you’ve seen it…” “How do you know?” Felix asked with a stern tone, quite skeptical, but it was actually quite ‘open’ to others given his expression. “And first of all, how do you know about it? I’ve heard that it was given to my father by the King of Sindhu and not Yasmin.” She sighed again and closed her eyes. After a moment, she opened her eyes and said in a strong tone, “Listen carefully, because I'm not going to repeat it again. That Fabled Crown, which was gifted by the current King of Sindhu is a cursed object. I can't speak much of it, but please believe it. We, of the Yasmin kingdom was gifted those jewels and ivory by a certain adventurer who has visited the Fabled Lands of The Origins and had … kind of forced us to make it into a crown. The adventurer was a strange and eccentric person and told us that the crown will be cursed, even before we made it. My grandfather was the ruler of the principality then and was a healthy man and a religious man. He believed that The One would protect him and so he gathered the finest jewelers and engravers to make the best crown he could. And as you can see it, that’s the result. But, right after the crown was made, strange things started to happen. The engravers who made it all died of a mysterious disease, the jewelers all went insane and an extreme greed of money and jewels birthed in them. These strange sightings were reported to the Sultan, but it was already late. My grandfather had already fell in love with the crown and never seemed to be able to remove it and it wasn’t only him. It went same for the people around him, the generals, the advisors even the petty soldiers, all of them stay cooped in the courtroom for days, even weeks to gaze at the crown in admiration. There have been times, when servants were needed to feed the ministers personally. The occurrence had frightened my father, the Crown Prince extremely that he started planning ways to get rid of the crown. And the most strange thing about this crown is that it chooses it’s victims, like a living person. Finally, after a series of fake mishaps and incidents, the court was finally able to dismiss itself, but right after that, my grandfather turned insane. He stayed like that for 3 decades, but suddenly, he was killed mysteriously, just like those engravers the previous night of Sindhu army’s siege. My father; the new Sultan was right away put incharge of the battle and saw the Sindhu army as an opportunity to get rid of the crown. The Yasmin army was quite powerful then, but my father intentionally issued some foolish and tactless commands, which led to Yasmin’s eventual defeat. As a mean of surrender, my father used the Fabled Crown as a bargain and quite amazingly, the Sindhu King withdrew his army. He had also been charmed by the Fabled Crown. The generals criticized the King tremendously but he silenced them all. Later, words came that the kingdom of Sindhu was hit by a terrible plague and it was then, the Warlord of Garbu, Gazel was ordered by the Caliph to attack the Catholic empires, capture the Jasper Pass and thus, start the 36th Mucadas Antiqam or Holy Revenge. But the strings of fate are so strange. Who would’ve expected that the person who defeated Sindhu and was rewarded the Fabled Crown would also defeat Yasmin. But alas, your father wasn’t … anyway, that’s the basic story of the Fabled Crown. A very dangerous object, which is cursed yet people try to posses it. We, of the Heathens also believed in demons and presumed that the crown was haunted by a genie, but the … curse was anything we’ve seen. We tried to hide it as much as possible, but now, it has been seen by the world and I presume, a war for this single crown isn’t too far away.” Felix listened to the story calmly and quite seriously, firstly because the story was very unbelievable and secondly, because there are instances in the story which seems so cliché. He folded his arms and asked, quite logically, “Well, then if you’ve seen it, why aren’t you affected by greed? As you say that it’s been 3 decades since it was made, I wonder why you haven’t fallen like the others?” “Because the crown chooses it’s victims. It has some kind of … sentience within it, just like a demon or a genie and it chooses his victims. I don’t know what is its true criteria to choose its victims, but I do know for sure that it has a special attraction for ‘court-people.’ I don’t know whether it’s just the entire court or whether it’s people with power, but I’ve even seen useless court servants, falling into its curse almost instantly. There’ve been many patterns I’ve figured about its victim but I'm neither going to discuss about it nor am I tell you what it is. As for me, frankly I don’t know why I'm not a victim and that goes for my father too. Other than the two of us, all the rest of the Royal family fell into its curse and died miserably.” “Oh! That’s quite sad, but how is telling me all these, going to benefit both you and me?” asked Felix with a prospective merchant-like view. “As for benefiting me, there are none. I'm only trying to prevent a massacre from happening again and perhaps a war. As for benefitting you, there are many. One of which is that, you might be able to save your mother.” “!!” the moment his mother was mentioned in the conversation, Felix was again alerted. He clutched his Greatsword and asked with a stern tone, “…What do you mean?” “I mean what I say. I'm pretty sure that your mother has fallen into the crown’s clutches. The hesitation on today’s ceremony is a clear proof of it. It may not seem like that to you, but to me, it’s as clear as day that your mother has been ensnared. I’ve also seen you staring at the crown and frankly, I don’t know how you’re able to talk to me so calmly about the crown, but I did try to talk about it with your mother once and she … she was clearly a victim. All I can say is that, please take care of your mother and try to persuade her away from the crown as much as possible.” Her words threw Felix’s heart deeper and deeper into the Abyss. He certainly remembers the first feeling he got when he looked at the crown and the least, he could say about it is that the crown is cursed. He agrees with it completely and this is what throws him into a dilemma. Should he trust this foreign woman who has come into his life all of a sudden after his father’s death? Or should he believe in his mother’s iron will and dump all these talks about curses into water? He was thinking hard when Princess Yasmina bowed slightly and said, “It is getting late, Felix. Now, I must return to my quarters or your mother would worry. But before that, I’ve got to at least thank you for all the care that you and your mother has shown to us, Heathens.” “Uh… but I didn’t do anything.” Felix said awkwardly, because he really didn’t do anything. From morning to night, he has been either practicing with Aslak or pondering silently on the fickle matter of death and life. He has not even asked for their names or talked to them once. He only got to know about their names because he sent Aslak to gather information because he was shy. So, on the point of hospitality, he sure didn’t treat them quite right. Princess Yasmina smiled and replied, “It’s not the fact that you didn’t do anything. It’s the fact that you didn’t reject us, as Heathens, you treated us fairly and your mother… she is a nice woman. She not only cared about us, but also about our servants, who are really just some petty girls of 15s, whom we wanted to save from their miserable fates and of our unborn child. I'm really happy that … that my unborn child wasn’t killed in my belly during the entire war and … and that’s all thanks to your father. Therefore, as a mother, I'm really thankful to you and your family.” All of a sudden, her beautiful face turned melancholy and she touched her belly gently. A loving smile blossomed on her face, as she caressed her belly. She then again faced Felix and said gently, “Thank you for accepting us. I hope that you will be able to call the child born from me and my sister Aarti, as your brother or sister, with pride.” “…” Felix chose not to answer the question, but Princess Yasmina didn’t mind it. She bowed down and left the courtyard silently. Sir Celyn stared at Felix for a few second and said, “Vesuvius mountains in north-western frontier of Lugrade Empire. If you ever find yourself homeless, do give a visit. Later.” Saying that, he also turned and walked into the darkness, leaving Felix alone. Felix wasn’t sure that the last statement was an invitation or not, but it did seem like one. At least an informal one, even though it was quite a harsh one. “Sigh…” Felix sighed and returned back to his seat. He sat down and picked up his helm which he has dropped and stared at it for a moment. He then looked up and stared at the moonless night and at the countless stars glittering around. The fire of the big torch was dimming, making the stars more visible and brighter. He smiled faintly and muttered, “Will I be able to call my father’s own child, his own blood, my brother and sister, proudly?” He asked the question to the firmament, quite vainly but like a miracle, a shooting star streaked through the sky. Shooting stars like these weren’t quite uncommon, but for some reason Felix felt like he knew the answer of his question. “What does pride have to do with family. No matter who is born into this world in my household, he or she will always be my brother or sister, regardless of color, race, ethnicity or caste. Regardless of anything, that person would be my siblings. Sigh… why did I need to think about it so much…” Saying that, Felix wore his armet, closed its visor and in the complete darkness of his helm, he closed his eyes to sleep, unaware that he was still outside in the courtyard. And the result— … “Achoo!!!” “That’s what you get for sleeping outside in a tinsuit. What a numbskull you are, Felix!!” “Oh! Shut up!! Sniff! First and foremost, why didn’t you wake me up and secondly, why didn’t you carry me?!” “Who would in their right minds carry you in … that tinsuit of yours?” “A*SSHOLE!!” …

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNjOTE1ZmE4OGIxNjRhMWZiMmM4YTQzMGU2NDk3Y2Q2">So, just like all other kids, after sleeping one night outside in his steel armor, our MC, Felix had caught a cold and not some simple one. With a searing headache, muscle pain, running nose and burning skin, he was permanently bed-ridden for at least half-a-week according to Sir Doncan, the Castle doctor. He was also taken to a separate room, so that he doesn't get Aslak sick too.<br>Among all the people in the Castle, the one person who was the most annoyed with Felix, was none other than Sir Doncan. Along with 2½ dozen wounded veterans, now he had to deal with another kid with fever and headache, talk about misfortune. And that's why, Sir Doncan restricted Felix to get up from his bed for almost an entire week, not only to avoid worsening his condition but also to avoid paying more attention to him when he has other people fighting life-and-death battles.<br>Even Felix was ashamed of himself and therefore, didn't even as much as utter a single peep when Sir Doncan was around. It was only due to Sir Loann's earnest request that he reduced the resting period to half-a-week, but on the hind sight, it seems that Sir Loann was pretty angry with him getting sick. A hellish training was underway.<br>…<br>During his resting period, other his mother, it was mostly his new step-mother's who were taking care of him and it was also then, when he got to know more about them. The first mistress of his father was, Princess Aarti and his first step-mother, from the kingdom of Sindhu. She was a dark-skinned woman with large brown-eyes and a cheerful personality. With a height of about 5feets 11inches, she is fairly tall but not quite like my mother or Princess Yasmin, but with a perfect bosom, extra-ordinary butt and a near-perfect appearance, she was more than enough to bewitch men to stare at her. <br>Along with her cheerful-self, she is also caring, even though she can be quite clumsy sometimes. With a strict vegetarian diet and regular exercise, she is more athletic than many other veterans in the Castle and could fight one-on-one with Sir Peder. According to Julian, she had inflicted more damage to Catholic army during the siege of Indu than any other battalions did and had one-handedly defeated half of my father's small squad of veterans. She is also quite open to the masses and only wore the face-veil because it was ordered by Sir Hendrickson and the Arch-Bishop to do so.<br>Princess Yasmina, the second mistress or step-mother, is a more calculative and careful person than Lady Aarti. With a devastating beauty, awe-inspiring curves and long legs and … oh… let's not talk about that. She's no less of a curse than the Fabled Crown. Infact, she was so beautiful, that she needed to hide herself in her white long silk gown and a white face-veil and intentionally made it seem like she was fat or ugly by padding her sides, so as to not bewitch the people around her and halt all the works. She only opened her face-veil infront of the Dean household, her servants and a few other persons of authority. <br>Felix was practically in heaven, yet was so embarrassed with a perpetual red-face and an earnest wish of digging a hole for himself to jump in. The followers of Lady Aarti and Lady Yasmina would always giggle past him and sometimes tease him, on the other hand, Aslak would always come crying to him with fake tears and complain on what a bad brother he was to not accompany him to sleep outside. <br>Well, it was only useless talks because more than pleasure he fears Demon Loann's hellish trainings. Felix, other than lying in his bed these three days, was also able to learn a lot about the Princesses, their retinue, loots and more. After talking a lot with the Princesses, he got to know more about the background of the 36th Crusade. Most of the information was useless or about tactics and he wasn't quite interested in it, right now. Later, if he ever wanted to step into battlefield or seek revenge for his father, he would need to have these strategies by heart. And the perfect person to teach him those is none other than Lady Yasmina.<br>He also got to know that Lady Aarti was pregnant for four months, while Lady Yasmina was pregnant for three months. They had been impregnated during the campaign, and quite frankly, it's a miracle that their unborn children were able to survive through the entire campaign.<br>He was also informed by his mother that the loots or the rewards of the campaign was at least 2.5million Gold in worth, a massive amount even in a scale of an empire and that she was in quite a paradox on where to spend it. She seriously didn't want to keep THAT much of Gold in her treasury, lest it might bring disaster. So, with the advice of Lady Yasmina, it was decided that the money would be spent to either equipping the army or to increase the trade. She decided to go with trade and so, invested 100, 000 Gold in both the market and in docks and ordered for a large Man'O'War, a few frigates and schooners to be built by Sir Hendrickson. <br>50, 000 Gold was used to further upgrade the Castle defenses and to upgrade the lazy soldier's equipment. Master Torgeir took most of the Black Iron, Chromite-Sulphur, Titanium-infused nodules and Perforated Carbon, to make the GREATEST armors of his life. He obviously took two portions and a bit extra, to make one for Felix and Aslak for their upcoming adulthood ceremony, which was to be held on their 10th birthday. <br>Loads of arrows and steel were also ordered from renowned trading companies to make new arms and proposals from trading companies flooded the Study Room. Strangely enough though, not a single weaponsmith or armorsmith, builders, architects or people with unique profession arrived at the town of Cainshire, which was also on a complete overhaul. All of these left the treasury with 2.1million Golds.<br>There was also another place where a bit of the money was spent and that was to build an extra spacious place for the living of the servants of the retinue, a room with three cribs and a big dorm for the Persian slaves to live. In reality, these Persian slaves were not simple. They were experienced mercenaries, most of whom were the fathers or brothers of the servant girls and were quite loyal to the Dean household, Sir Aston and the Princesses for saving their daughters and themselves from being slaughtered by the Catholic army. Loyal, trained, efficient and ruthless, they were no less of a task force for the Dean household, but the only problem is that they don't take orders from just anyone. </p>As for room with three cribs, it was so because Sir Doncan, 'magically' had predicted that Lady Aarti was pregnant with twins and Lady Yasmina with a singlet, that's why there are three cribs…. But quite frankly, it wasn't much of a prediction because the bump of Lady Aarti's was a LOT bigger than any normal person.<br>…<br>Time passed quite quickly and soon, it was Lady Aarti's day. It was the Month of Festivities and so, the entire Castle was illuminated by candles and torches, giving it a holy feel. The entire Castle was told to be alert all the time and even though, extra care was taken, not many people were informed about it. The delivery went smooth and just like predicted, two twins, one girl and one boy were born on 23rd of Month of Festivities. The girl was named Asha Dean and the boy was named Arvind Dean. Both of them looked quite similar with a big head, tiny feets and finger and a large body. Both of them were almost the same, with no change in skin color, ears or anything, even if there are, they won't be able to notice it right away, with the only point of difference was that the boy had a tiny, very tiny penis, while the girl didn't. <br>The delivery process went quite smoothly but the feat of birthing twin in these times was not something a weak-hearted lady could do. Even the most hardiest have died during giving birth, regardless of their status and there was no guarantee that Lady Aarti would survive, given the circumstances. But fortunately, she was able to and right after the babies had their first-cry, she herself started crying. It was a moment of pure bliss and happiness. Later, when Sir Doncan diagnosed the babies, he found that not only were the babies filled with incredible vitality and vigor, unlike many babies of that time, but their bodies were also much more adapted for battle. It's seems kinda … illogical to tell whether a child is 'good' for battle right after being born, but Sir Doncan's assumption was on the basis that both the babies had excellent meridians and veins, a must for later phase Battle Technique training. As a matter of fact, the only reason why Felix and Aslak had delayed their Battle Technique for so long I because neither of them have excellent meridians, so they need to train harder physically to increase their so-called 'talents,' while on the other-hand, these new born infants already have extreme talents, with the girl, Asha having the better meridians and talent than Arvind. <br>After one month, Lady Yasmina also had her delivery and unlike Lady Aarti's, her went considerably well and okay. She gave birth to a girl and was named Jasmine, a homonym[1] to her mother's home land, Yasmin. She, just like her mother had porcelain-like skin and a very cute-little mouth and face, worthy of being her mother's daughter. <br>But after diagnosing by Sir Doncan, it was found that unlike her one-month older siblings, Jasmine had a very weak body. It wasn't that kind of weak body which would lead to death, but it was the kind which makes one unable to practice most common and normal Battle Techniques and normal sword or spear fighting, or in better terms, a severe kind of talent. <br>This was not a problem for two reasons, one, she is a girl and most girls aren't much expected to learn too much Battle Techniques or fight in battles. Secondly, her mother was adamantine on making her having some kind of qualification to be in the battlefield and she decided that she would teach her all the tactics and strategy becoming the tactician of the Cainhorn troop, if it ever comes to cross swords with other nobles.<br>Nobody quite had a problem with it, except the treasurer, who was a staunch hater of Persians, but who would listen to him. After this tough time, the happiest pairs were none other than Felix and Aslak. Felix, because he always wanted smaller siblings to take care of and not big duds like Aslak, while Aslak was happy because he finally found his guinea pigs to bully and experiment. The next were the mothers and then Lady Faye.<br>…<br>During these 6 months, other than the constant renewal of the town of Cainshire, there are two new things which happened. One of them being, Sir Loann teaching Felix and Aslak the family heirloom, Black Wolfe Technique. A technique which boasts of a perfect coordination of agility and strength, it focuses more on teamwork and cohesion rather than brute strength or mind-boggling agility. Strangely enough, it is not distributed among the common soldiers and is only used by the Dean family, who have been famous for their birth-control. <br>The other strange thing which Felix noticed was his mother's behavior. 6 months before, when mother Yasmina told him about the dangers of the Fabled Crown, he had a lengthy talk with his mother and persuaded her to get the crown away from her. Lady Faye was quite critical of it, but Felix made her promise it on his name, so whether she liked it or not, she needed to fulfill it and it did work. <br>But lately, she started fidgeting again. Her actions became more and more strange and Felix, on his command as her son, told her to take a good rest and transferred the command of the Castle and the town to Lady Yasmina. He also had Sir Doncan diagnose her, but strangely nothing out-of-ordinary was found. <br>But strangely, after the diagnosing she returned to normal, all of a sudden. He was still worried about her health and therefore, had a very old man transfer the crown deep into the treasury. The reason he told an old man was because of what Lady Yasmina told him 6 months ago. The crown loves 'court'-people or in better terms, people wielding power and an old man, on the verge of death doesn't have or need any power whatsoever. Even if the old man turns insane or starts biting people, he was still 'expendable' and Felix was heartless when protecting his family. An unrelated old man is nowhere close to his mother's well-being. But, little did he know that the sentience inside the crown was far more intelligent. <br>The old man died shortly after transferring the crown, partly confirming Felix and Lady Yasmina's claims, but it definitely made Felix more critical of the Fabled Crown and its dangers.<br>…<p></p> </div>

So, just like all other kids, after sleeping one night outside in his steel armor, our MC, Felix had caught a cold and not some simple one. With a searing headache, muscle pain, running nose and burning skin, he was permanently bed-ridden for at least half-a-week according to Sir Doncan, the Castle doctor. He was also taken to a separate room, so that he doesn't get Aslak sick too. Among all the people in the Castle, the one person who was the most annoyed with Felix, was none other than Sir Doncan. Along with 2½ dozen wounded veterans, now he had to deal with another kid with fever and headache, talk about misfortune. And that's why, Sir Doncan restricted Felix to get up from his bed for almost an entire week, not only to avoid worsening his condition but also to avoid paying more attention to him when he has other people fighting life-and-death battles. Even Felix was ashamed of himself and therefore, didn't even as much as utter a single peep when Sir Doncan was around. It was only due to Sir Loann's earnest request that he reduced the resting period to half-a-week, but on the hind sight, it seems that Sir Loann was pretty angry with him getting sick. A hellish training was underway. … During his resting period, other his mother, it was mostly his new step-mother's who were taking care of him and it was also then, when he got to know more about them. The first mistress of his father was, Princess Aarti and his first step-mother, from the kingdom of Sindhu. She was a dark-skinned woman with large brown-eyes and a cheerful personality. With a height of about 5feets 11inches, she is fairly tall but not quite like my mother or Princess Yasmin, but with a perfect bosom, extra-ordinary butt and a near-perfect appearance, she was more than enough to bewitch men to stare at her. Along with her cheerful-self, she is also caring, even though she can be quite clumsy sometimes. With a strict vegetarian diet and regular exercise, she is more athletic than many other veterans in the Castle and could fight one-on-one with Sir Peder. According to Julian, she had inflicted more damage to Catholic army during the siege of Indu than any other battalions did and had one-handedly defeated half of my father's small squad of veterans. She is also quite open to the masses and only wore the face-veil because it was ordered by Sir Hendrickson and the Arch-Bishop to do so. Princess Yasmina, the second mistress or step-mother, is a more calculative and careful person than Lady Aarti. With a devastating beauty, awe-inspiring curves and long legs and … oh… let's not talk about that. She's no less of a curse than the Fabled Crown. Infact, she was so beautiful, that she needed to hide herself in her white long silk gown and a white face-veil and intentionally made it seem like she was fat or ugly by padding her sides, so as to not bewitch the people around her and halt all the works. She only opened her face-veil infront of the Dean household, her servants and a few other persons of authority. Felix was practically in heaven, yet was so embarrassed with a perpetual red-face and an earnest wish of digging a hole for himself to jump in. The followers of Lady Aarti and Lady Yasmina would always giggle past him and sometimes tease him, on the other hand, Aslak would always come crying to him with fake tears and complain on what a bad brother he was to not accompany him to sleep outside. Well, it was only useless talks because more than pleasure he fears Demon Loann's hellish trainings. Felix, other than lying in his bed these three days, was also able to learn a lot about the Princesses, their retinue, loots and more. After talking a lot with the Princesses, he got to know more about the background of the 36th Crusade. Most of the information was useless or about tactics and he wasn't quite interested in it, right now. Later, if he ever wanted to step into battlefield or seek revenge for his father, he would need to have these strategies by heart. And the perfect person to teach him those is none other than Lady Yasmina. He also got to know that Lady Aarti was pregnant for four months, while Lady Yasmina was pregnant for three months. They had been impregnated during the campaign, and quite frankly, it's a miracle that their unborn children were able to survive through the entire campaign. He was also informed by his mother that the loots or the rewards of the campaign was at least 2.5million Gold in worth, a massive amount even in a scale of an empire and that she was in quite a paradox on where to spend it. She seriously didn't want to keep THAT much of Gold in her treasury, lest it might bring disaster. So, with the advice of Lady Yasmina, it was decided that the money would be spent to either equipping the army or to increase the trade. She decided to go with trade and so, invested 100, 000 Gold in both the market and in docks and ordered for a large Man'O'War, a few frigates and schooners to be built by Sir Hendrickson. 50, 000 Gold was used to further upgrade the Castle defenses and to upgrade the lazy soldier's equipment. Master Torgeir took most of the Black Iron, Chromite-Sulphur, Titanium-infused nodules and Perforated Carbon, to make the GREATEST armors of his life. He obviously took two portions and a bit extra, to make one for Felix and Aslak for their upcoming adulthood ceremony, which was to be held on their 10th birthday. Loads of arrows and steel were also ordered from renowned trading companies to make new arms and proposals from trading companies flooded the Study Room. Strangely enough though, not a single weaponsmith or armorsmith, builders, architects or people with unique profession arrived at the town of Cainshire, which was also on a complete overhaul. All of these left the treasury with 2.1million Golds. There was also another place where a bit of the money was spent and that was to build an extra spacious place for the living of the servants of the retinue, a room with three cribs and a big dorm for the Persian slaves to live. In reality, these Persian slaves were not simple. They were experienced mercenaries, most of whom were the fathers or brothers of the servant girls and were quite loyal to the Dean household, Sir Aston and the Princesses for saving their daughters and themselves from being slaughtered by the Catholic army. Loyal, trained, efficient and ruthless, they were no less of a task force for the Dean household, but the only problem is that they don't take orders from just anyone. As for room with three cribs, it was so because Sir Doncan, 'magically' had predicted that Lady Aarti was pregnant with twins and Lady Yasmina with a singlet, that's why there are three cribs…. But quite frankly, it wasn't much of a prediction because the bump of Lady Aarti's was a LOT bigger than any normal person. … Time passed quite quickly and soon, it was Lady Aarti's day. It was the Month of Festivities and so, the entire Castle was illuminated by candles and torches, giving it a holy feel. The entire Castle was told to be alert all the time and even though, extra care was taken, not many people were informed about it. The delivery went smooth and just like predicted, two twins, one girl and one boy were born on 23rd of Month of Festivities. The girl was named Asha Dean and the boy was named Arvind Dean. Both of them looked quite similar with a big head, tiny feets and finger and a large body. Both of them were almost the same, with no change in skin color, ears or anything, even if there are, they won't be able to notice it right away, with the only point of difference was that the boy had a tiny, very tiny penis, while the girl didn't. The delivery process went quite smoothly but the feat of birthing twin in these times was not something a weak-hearted lady could do. Even the most hardiest have died during giving birth, regardless of their status and there was no guarantee that Lady Aarti would survive, given the circumstances. But fortunately, she was able to and right after the babies had their first-cry, she herself started crying. It was a moment of pure bliss and happiness. Later, when Sir Doncan diagnosed the babies, he found that not only were the babies filled with incredible vitality and vigor, unlike many babies of that time, but their bodies were also much more adapted for battle. It's seems kinda … illogical to tell whether a child is 'good' for battle right after being born, but Sir Doncan's assumption was on the basis that both the babies had excellent meridians and veins, a must for later phase Battle Technique training. As a matter of fact, the only reason why Felix and Aslak had delayed their Battle Technique for so long I because neither of them have excellent meridians, so they need to train harder physically to increase their so-called 'talents,' while on the other-hand, these new born infants already have extreme talents, with the girl, Asha having the better meridians and talent than Arvind. After one month, Lady Yasmina also had her delivery and unlike Lady Aarti's, her went considerably well and okay. She gave birth to a girl and was named Jasmine, a homonym[1] to her mother's home land, Yasmin. She, just like her mother had porcelain-like skin and a very cute-little mouth and face, worthy of being her mother's daughter. But after diagnosing by Sir Doncan, it was found that unlike her one-month older siblings, Jasmine had a very weak body. It wasn't that kind of weak body which would lead to death, but it was the kind which makes one unable to practice most common and normal Battle Techniques and normal sword or spear fighting, or in better terms, a severe kind of talent. This was not a problem for two reasons, one, she is a girl and most girls aren't much expected to learn too much Battle Techniques or fight in battles. Secondly, her mother was adamantine on making her having some kind of qualification to be in the battlefield and she decided that she would teach her all the tactics and strategy becoming the tactician of the Cainhorn troop, if it ever comes to cross swords with other nobles. Nobody quite had a problem with it, except the treasurer, who was a staunch hater of Persians, but who would listen to him. After this tough time, the happiest pairs were none other than Felix and Aslak. Felix, because he always wanted smaller siblings to take care of and not big duds like Aslak, while Aslak was happy because he finally found his guinea pigs to bully and experiment. The next were the mothers and then Lady Faye. … During these 6 months, other than the constant renewal of the town of Cainshire, there are two new things which happened. One of them being, Sir Loann teaching Felix and Aslak the family heirloom, Black Wolfe Technique. A technique which boasts of a perfect coordination of agility and strength, it focuses more on teamwork and cohesion rather than brute strength or mind-boggling agility. Strangely enough, it is not distributed among the common soldiers and is only used by the Dean family, who have been famous for their birth-control. The other strange thing which Felix noticed was his mother's behavior. 6 months before, when mother Yasmina told him about the dangers of the Fabled Crown, he had a lengthy talk with his mother and persuaded her to get the crown away from her. Lady Faye was quite critical of it, but Felix made her promise it on his name, so whether she liked it or not, she needed to fulfill it and it did work. But lately, she started fidgeting again. Her actions became more and more strange and Felix, on his command as her son, told her to take a good rest and transferred the command of the Castle and the town to Lady Yasmina. He also had Sir Doncan diagnose her, but strangely nothing out-of-ordinary was found. But strangely, after the diagnosing she returned to normal, all of a sudden. He was still worried about her health and therefore, had a very old man transfer the crown deep into the treasury. The reason he told an old man was because of what Lady Yasmina told him 6 months ago. The crown loves 'court'-people or in better terms, people wielding power and an old man, on the verge of death doesn't have or need any power whatsoever. Even if the old man turns insane or starts biting people, he was still 'expendable' and Felix was heartless when protecting his family. An unrelated old man is nowhere close to his mother's well-being. But, little did he know that the sentience inside the crown was far more intelligent. The old man died shortly after transferring the crown, partly confirming Felix and Lady Yasmina's claims, but it definitely made Felix more critical of the Fabled Crown and its dangers. …

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM5OTdjOTE5Zjg4OTRiM2ViYzNlYzIxMzBhZWEyY2Y4"><span style="font-weight: 400">After Aleks had reached Legendary status, his power had grown. The ability ‘Soul System’ had been enhanced and he had more options than before. He could now not only create new beings from scratch using an existing soul and body, but he could also choose to respecialize instead of creating a new being. The being that was respecialized would retain their appearance and memories, but their would be an initial cost added on at creation which would exceed the cost of creating a new being. The higher the level and class, the greater the cost to respecialize.</span></p> <p class="cnM1MzNkMzFkYTYzMzRjZmE5MjMyM2Q3ZjIzNGEyYWJm"><span style="font-weight: 400">There were benefits to respecialization however. The being going through respecialization would retain their memories, personality, appearance, and bloodline. This meant that they could completely integrate into their former identity without any issue. Not only that, but they would become absolutely loyal to Aleks as their souls would be inexplicably tied to his own just like when creating a new being.</span></p> <p class="cnMzZmUwN2YzNDllMTQwNjY5N2RlZjRjMTVlYzg4NDNh"><span style="font-weight: 400">Grobak was only a level 40 Intermediate class being so while the penalty was not a trivial one, it wasn’t so high that Aleks couldn’t afford to respecialize him. As a matter of fact, he could afford to respecialize a few beings if he wished to and still have enough ‘Soul Potential’ left over for other purposes as long as their levels weren’t too high. </span></p> <p class="cnMyYmM1N2FjMTNjNDRiYWM5NGQyMjkwNWM2ZmI0YmU3"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Begin Soul Purification process?</span></em></p> <p class="cnMyM2Y4MTZkNjg2MjQ2OGY4NmIwYWQwZTNhM2JlOGEz"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Yes.”</span></p> <p class="cnMwMzg5ODEyMDA5MTQxZjRiYWIwZTJlOWNhYzZjNDgw"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Soul Purification process activated…</span></em></p> <p class="cnNkNTIzNmJiOTEyOTRjOWJiMThkNjljOTVhNDEzOGIz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Grobak who was still being gripped by Aleks began to shake briefly and then his eyes dimmed, seeming almost soulless.</span></p> <p class="cnNjZDk3N2MwNmQ0OTQyNWJhYmQ0NjEwMmE3MGU2NzRm"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Soul Purification complete, you may now begin respecialization</span></em></p> <p class="cnM4NGI4NThmNjMyNjQzNjBhMTk0M2ExNWUyZWVkMzdm"><span style="font-weight: 400">With Grobak’s soul having been cleansed of the taint of ancestral worship, it could now be marked with Aleks’s unique soul imprint. This was similar to the mark imprinted by either worship of the gods, devil sovereigns, ancestral spirits, and other beings on the level of divinities. Normally, a Legendary being would not be capable of such a thing but Aleks was unique. In most cases, a being would have to be at least a powerful Demigod in order to accept the worship of other lifeforms. At this time, Aleks couldn’t receive the power of faith and worship from his followers but he could still imprint his mark on their souls.</span></p> <p class="cnMwMjQzMjQ3NzUzODQ3NmU5NzYyZDUyNzU0M2VlYTNm"><span style="font-weight: 400">Aleks spent several minutes browsing through the system menus in his mind while Lenia watched on. She couldn’t see what Aleks was doing because he wasn’t wearing his mask and she couldn’t see his eyes clearly from the side. However, she was somewhat clear on what he was doing. She felt some comfort in the fact that this Orc wasn’t a uniquely created being like her but instead someone her master was respecializing. In her mind, this was an important distinction which she could accept.</span></p> <p class="cnNjMWQ2NTkxNTcwZTQ0Mjc4OTNiOTNiYzA5MmI4OTJi"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Hmm, a High Orc’s bloodline is quite good. It has a double the strength of a normal Orc and they are even somewhat more intelligent. A High Orc still can’t compare with some other races when it comes to magic and magic resistance but their strength is quite high. With this bloodline I expect at least a 10% increase in PHY. ATK. over a Human per level. As his level increases, the disparity between his PHY. ATK. and that of a Human will only become much more apparent. With a suitable weapon, this Grobak will be very powerful. There also seems to be an innate damage reduction due to his superior bloodline which will also add to his PHY. DEF. but only about 5% over a Human.”</span></p> <p class="cnMwYWQ5ZjUyNjkzNDQ2MzNhNDQ2YjI4MzYzNjJjNTcx"><span style="font-weight: 400">Aleks continued to browse the menus, making sure to evaluate both the positives and negatives of the classes available. There weren’t many options for the Orc’s initial class, but he noticed that there was an additional basic class he hadn’t seen before.</span></p> <p class="cnMwZjRjMmUzZDY5MzRlMDE5YTNiNjZiZTJjNWQ4OTRj"><span style="font-weight: 400">“A Barbarian, this wasn’t available to me when I created Lenia. It appears to be a class only available to those who worship ancestral spirits, and since his soul was initially marked by an ancestor spirit and he had that particular class, it is now available for me to choose. It appears to be a good basic class for a pure offensive type and I can class him up to a berserker. The rage ability especially is very good since it will boost his strength by quite a bit. Lenia is more of a balanced type leaning towards defense, but for Grobak I will focus on PHY. ATK. and Vitality. His AGI is also pretty high because of the Berserker class. While Lenia is intended to be a commander who leads from the rear and oversees the entirety of my forces, Grobak will be well suited to be a champion who leads from the front and charges into battle.”</span></p> <p class="cnNlMzI1ZmZiZjMyMDQyZDBiZGE2ZjcxN2NjOGI4Yzcx"><span style="font-weight: 400">Because Grobak was a level 40 Intermediate class being, the initial cost to respecialize was 3,000 SP. Aleks would then need to pay a cost of 8,000 SP to respecialize Grobak into a level 60 Intermediate class being. While increasing the level of Grobak by 20 levels would also increase the presence and strength of his aura, it wasn’t enough to cause too much suspicion. They might feel the stronger aura, but there are other ways to increase one’s power in the short term and there were also other reasons why a being’s aura might feel weaker than normal.</span></p> <p class="cnMzYWQxNzczZTM3MjRmMmFiZjdiMWExOTBkZjlmYTVj"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Finally, some abilities which will reinforce his strengths. Rage, Increased Rage and a few secondary abilities giving defense against status effects are also a good choice. It seems his personality already has the negative trait, Wrath. I could remove it by paying a cost in SP but it says here that if he can overcome his Wrath then he will no longer suffer a negative status effect when using Rage. He would only get the positive effects but none of the negative ones, this is quite useful so I will keep it. Alright, total cost to respecialize including the abilities is 12,000 ‘Soul Potential’.”</span></p> <p class="cnMwYTAzNTM5MjAwYzQyMTBiNzE2YTA1YTllZDNmYmNk"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Finalize selection?</span></em></p> <p class="cnNiODk4ZjQ0NGEzYzRmMzY4NWU0MWRmMGE4MmQ0MTEx"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Yes.”</span></p> <p class="cnM3ZGNkMjliMmM0NjQ4NDRiNTllZDYyYmI4OWRiYWUy"><span style="font-weight: 400">As the system finalized the respecialization, Grobak’s soul was once more filled with ‘Soul Potential’ and his eyes which were once dim had brightened. Taking his hand off of the Orc, Aleks sat down once more and made himself comfortable in the chair. Grobak slowly regained consciousness and soon came out of his initial daze. Once he was aware of his surroundings, he immediately kneeled in front of Aleks. Due to his tall stature and large frame, even while kneeling he was still able to meet Aleks’s gaze head on.</span></p> <p class="cnMzZmRiM2Y0Y2Q3ZDRlMDk4NDZlZWViNGY0MjU3ODQ3"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Master, I am at your service.”</span></p> <p class="cnNhOTllODVmNWM3NzRjMmM5ZDg0Yjg1OWMxY2FlODky"><span style="font-weight: 400">Alek’s calmly observed the Orc and met his gaze which caused the Orc to look slightly down in respect.</span></p> <p class="cnM5Mzc1MmNjNWMzNDQyNGQ4MDVlNjdiOTc3MjkyY2Q1"><span style="font-weight: 400">“You are only 17 years old Grobak, younger than me. Call me big brother.”</span></p> <p class="cnNlMTc5N2JlYjU0NzQ1NTU4ZWVjYjY2MGI3MDc2OGEy"><span style="font-weight: 400">Grobak was somewhat flustered which looked strange due to his large body.</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZDkzM2VkMWNjNTQ4NTdhMTQ3YjYyYzE0MGJjZjEw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Master, I can’t!”</span></p> <p class="cnNjOWEzYWM1ZmFkNzQ2YmJhNGJiMTBjMTAyZjRjNmQ4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“This is an order, no need to call me master. From now on, I am your big brother.”</span></p> <p class="cnNmMTkxMjZiYjNhYjQ1ODU4MzYwZjhlNDQwNDVkZDVj"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Big brother…” Grobak played with the word a bit on his tongue and found it somewhat uncomfortable to say but he didn’t want to disobey his master’s command.</span></p> <p class="cnMwZDJlMGYyZGU0NDQ2ZGE4MGI5NjFlM2NjNjU0NTRj"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Good, now let’s display you full status for you to see.”</span></p> <p class="cnMxNmU1MzI0YWNhMDQ3MGNhOGQ0NTUxN2U3NDVhM2Fj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Aleks took out his mask from within his ‘Soul Realm’ surprising Grobak who had never seen someone pull something out of the air before. </span></p> <p class="cnM1ZGM3MDQxZWQwMDQ4YWI5NjA2ZDRiYmYwMTZjNzkx"><span style="font-weight: 400">He placed the mask gently on his face and said, “Tower of Babel, show Grobak’s status.”</span></p> <p class="cnNmZjdkYzczMDM0ZDQzNzdiN2FjZDBiZDYyZTEwMTdj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Numbers, symbols, and letters began fluttering across the mask revealing Grobak’s status. Both Lenia and Grobak carefully looked through the information displayed on the mask with interest.</span></p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p class="cnMyYjNiYmY0MzE4ZjRkYmM4OGNlNzUzMThkZTYyOWQ4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Name</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnMwMjJiYjc2ZmE1MTQwZGZiMzg5NWVlZGZjMzNkNmIx"><span style="font-weight: 400">Grobak</span></p> </td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnNkMDYyMjVmODVhZDQ2YzY5YzQ0NzI4YzAyYWU3Zjg4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Class</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM4ODZjNDU3MWEyYTRlM2I5ZTJiMmY1MWFiMzYxZWE5"><span style="font-weight: 400">Barbarian</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM3ZGQzNTA3MDFjMTRiNDQ5OWEzNzZjMWMwZmMwYmUy"><span style="font-weight: 400">Berserker</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM4Y2FiYmE5NmUwNTQyZTliYTYwZWFhZjA3MDI3ZTZm"><span style="font-weight: 400">Intermediate Rank</span></p> </td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnNiMmI1Zjk2NGRmMjRmNTc4MTE4YTJlODQ4MjI0NDQ0"><span style="font-weight: 400">Level</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnMyYzMyZjc1MGY5ZDQyMDZhZmZlZmMzMmY4OTA3YmRj"><span style="font-weight: 400">30    </span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM1Y2E3OTJmNDg2ODQ0N2U4Y2Q2ODg2MmFhOGQ4YWJl"><span style="font-weight: 400">30</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM0M2FjZGY3MmQ4ODQ5NGE4NzQyNzRhNTljNzUwMDkw"><span style="font-weight: 400">Total Level 60</span></p> </td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnM5MjliMDAxMjA1ZDQ3NDM4ZWQ2MmZjY2FmNzU3MDJi"><span style="font-weight: 400">Vitality</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNiNzk4N2IyZTNhOTRhMTJhNTM5MzQzODUwYTMxOTBj"><span style="font-weight: 400">300</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM1ZTYzYmNkZmIwMzRkNzZhZjNlMjYyZWE2N2VlNTcz"><span style="font-weight: 400">750</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM4YTJjMDY2YzFlNTQ5MzFiMGI1NDQxMjY3ZDYyYzE3"><span style="font-weight: 400">Total HP 1050</span></p> </td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnNjNThiNjBiY2MwYzQ1YzZiYzdlM2MwYWIyMzJmZDIw"><span style="font-weight: 400">Magic</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNmYWU3MGQ2ZDA3MjRmOTM4MzRkZGM4MDUyZjFhMzk1"><span style="font-weight: 400">0</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM3MTU5NmZiZGRmNTQ1ZTE4NGY2MTMyODQyNzEzYTQ5"><span style="font-weight: 400">0</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnMxMTBiMWJhNDFkZjRmM2FhYzA4ODZlMThkMjEzZDE4"><span style="font-weight: 400">0</span></p> </td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnMxM2IxZTM4YWQ0MTQ4YzNiMjc5Y2M4NGU2Y2Y0ZGFl"><span style="font-weight: 400">PHY. ATK</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNjNTExNzFkMDZmYzQ0MjY4YTY1NDNiY2RiYTFkZTQ2"><span style="font-weight: 400">66</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNhMTUwMjhhZTVhYTQ0OTdhZDBjZDU1MTk3MGE1Yjdm"><span style="font-weight: 400">99</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM0YWE1Y2MzODE5OTQ5ZjNhN2I4OGU0NTVkMGQ4MTg5"><span style="font-weight: 400">Total PHY ATK 165</span></p> </td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnM2ODQ4MGRiZjk3MzQ3MmZhZGI4NTA2ODk4YmVhNDhh"><span style="font-weight: 400">PHY. DEF</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnMwNzBhMjEzZTA2NjRmOGFhMWI0NWJmZjZiNGQyNDFh"><span style="font-weight: 400">32</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNkYzZhZjViOTc4ZjQ1OGE4MGQwNjlhYzVhMTc5YjNj"><span style="font-weight: 400">63</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnMzZDJjMjJlMTljZDQ0YWM4OThlY2UzMWYzNTgxNzQ4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Total PHY DEF 95</span></p> </td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnNmYjc0MThlMjVlMDQwYTU5YWEyZGVhZjEwNmNkNTNl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Agility</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM1OGUxMWUwZDAwOTQ4MGJiMzJhNzkwZGE4YzRmMmE5"><span style="font-weight: 400">30</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnMzYmY5M2ZiNmQ1MzRmZjViZjQ2NmFmMWY4YTUyZjRl"><span style="font-weight: 400">45</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNlYzMyNWQwNzMwNDQ4ZWVhN2RkYWUzYzEzMDMzODJj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Total AGI 75</span></p> </td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnNkMWNlNTlhN2U0NTQ1NjZhZmU0ZGRiNjU5ZDgwZDk4"><span style="font-weight: 400">MAG RES</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNmYjMwNmZlNmZlNDRhNzA5MGIyZDczMWVjMjBiZTQ1"><span style="font-weight: 400">25</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnMwNTNjODVlMDUxNDRiMGQ5ZmVmNTEyOTk2OWQ4ZTg2"><span style="font-weight: 400">50</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnMzNjc2MTNkZWQyNjQ0MmNiYzIzMGM0MTkwOWMxZDU2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Total MAG RES 75</span></p> </td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnM3Mzc1MTk4ODk3ODQxMWNiYmMyZTQ4MWUyNWRmYjc0"><span style="font-weight: 400">Abilities</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNmODgxZDY5NDgyYjQzYjRhYzliYjEzNmIwZWRmMDg0"><span style="font-weight: 400">Rage (When using the rage ability, PHY. ATK. increases by 15% but PHY. DEF. decreased by 5%, Once rage ends ability user becomes fatigued suffering a 5% decrease in PHY. ATK., PHY. DEF., and AGI until short rest)</span></p> <p class="cnMzZTZlZDQwMmRhNjRjNzFhYjRhNjEwZDk1YjMwY2Yx"><span style="font-weight: 400">Flurry of fists (Attack in rapid succession when unarmed ignoring 10% of PHY. DEF., chance to stun)</span></p> <p class="cnM4NzQ3MGYyZGUwYzRhZWI4NGVhODNiNzFmYzZjY2Nh"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ignore Pain (While in Rage, ignores pain from damage taken allowing one to use abilities even when vitality required is insufficient)</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM4NjdiODllYTk4YjQ4Y2NiZDYwZmI3NzVjMzY5MmU3"><span style="font-weight: 400">Increased Rage (Rage lasts double the amount of time, PHY. ATK. increases by another 10% but PHY. DEF. decreases by an additional 5%)</span></p> <p class="cnNlYjBmYzU0NjhmYTQ0OWZhMTRhNWY2NjRjODY5NDBh"><span style="font-weight: 400">Whirlwind Strike (Using a Two-handed weapon, swing the weapon in a whirlwind, attacking multiple targets in a radius around the ability user, knock-back effect with each hit)</span></p> <p class="cnM2ZWY0Yjc1YWQ2MTQ4Mjg5YjZmMzMzNDg2YzQ0ZTU4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Fearless (While in Rage, Immune to the effects of fear, stun, intimidation, and confusion)</span></p> </td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="cnMzYzhmMjBiMGRhZjQ4Y2U5YWM4N2E0NTA4N2QxMWMz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Fighting stances</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnNkOTFlYjhhZjMwYTQ2MzFiZmE0YzAwNTMzNzU4MDM2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Unarmed</span></p> </td> <td> <p class="cnM4N2U2MmI1MzgxYjQzMGY4MGFkZjM4NjQ5MWU2YWZi"><span style="font-weight: 400">Two-Handed</span></p> </td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnMzY2EyYTM0OTBiZjRlN2JhYThlMDc5NTM0MzkxYWNj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Grobak had never seen anything like this before and didn’t know what to make of everything he was seeing. Although he could understand some of what was being displayed on the mask, much of it was still confusing to him. Of course, Lenia was already accustomed to seeing this and completely understood everything displayed. She was happy to see that she was still much stronger than Grobak.</span></p> <p class="cnNhZjcxYWMyM2VkYjRjZGU4ZTk5Y2NkNDZkYzA3OGNk"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Let me explain.”</span></p> <p class="cnM3OTA3Mzc0Y2U3OTQ5ZmRhOThkYjBhMTFkYmFhY2M4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Aleks noticed Grobak’s confusion and explained simply so that he would understand what he was seeing. He didn’t go into too much detail, only explaining the basics, but it was enough for Grobak to get a feel for how the information displayed showed his strengths and weaknesses. </span></p> <p class="cnNjMzlhNmMwNDI5MzQ2NGI5NGY4MzI1M2Y1YTcyOWQ5"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Good, now that you understand you can stand up. No need to kneel to me since we are all family here. Lenia shall be my right hand, and you Grobak shall be my left. The two of you are both important for my plans. Lenia, go and see if the <span style="font-weight: 400">proprietress</span> of this boutique has prepared some slaves for us to choose from.”</span></p> </div>

After Aleks had reached Legendary status, his power had grown. The ability ‘Soul System’ had been enhanced and he had more options than before. He could now not only create new beings from scratch using an existing soul and body, but he could also choose to respecialize instead of creating a new being. The being that was respecialized would retain their appearance and memories, but their would be an initial cost added on at creation which would exceed the cost of creating a new being. The higher the level and class, the greater the cost to respecialize. There were benefits to respecialization however. The being going through respecialization would retain their memories, personality, appearance, and bloodline. This meant that they could completely integrate into their former identity without any issue. Not only that, but they would become absolutely loyal to Aleks as their souls would be inexplicably tied to his own just like when creating a new being. Grobak was only a level 40 Intermediate class being so while the penalty was not a trivial one, it wasn’t so high that Aleks couldn’t afford to respecialize him. As a matter of fact, he could afford to respecialize a few beings if he wished to and still have enough ‘Soul Potential’ left over for other purposes as long as their levels weren’t too high. *Begin Soul Purification process?* “Yes.” *Soul Purification process activated…* Grobak who was still being gripped by Aleks began to shake briefly and then his eyes dimmed, seeming almost soulless. *Soul Purification complete, you may now begin respecialization* With Grobak’s soul having been cleansed of the taint of ancestral worship, it could now be marked with Aleks’s unique soul imprint. This was similar to the mark imprinted by either worship of the gods, devil sovereigns, ancestral spirits, and other beings on the level of divinities. Normally, a Legendary being would not be capable of such a thing but Aleks was unique. In most cases, a being would have to be at least a powerful Demigod in order to accept the worship of other lifeforms. At this time, Aleks couldn’t receive the power of faith and worship from his followers but he could still imprint his mark on their souls. Aleks spent several minutes browsing through the system menus in his mind while Lenia watched on. She couldn’t see what Aleks was doing because he wasn’t wearing his mask and she couldn’t see his eyes clearly from the side. However, she was somewhat clear on what he was doing. She felt some comfort in the fact that this Orc wasn’t a uniquely created being like her but instead someone her master was respecializing. In her mind, this was an important distinction which she could accept. “Hmm, a High Orc’s bloodline is quite good. It has a double the strength of a normal Orc and they are even somewhat more intelligent. A High Orc still can’t compare with some other races when it comes to magic and magic resistance but their strength is quite high. With this bloodline I expect at least a 10% increase in PHY. ATK. over a Human per level. As his level increases, the disparity between his PHY. ATK. and that of a Human will only become much more apparent. With a suitable weapon, this Grobak will be very powerful. There also seems to be an innate damage reduction due to his superior bloodline which will also add to his PHY. DEF. but only about 5% over a Human.” Aleks continued to browse the menus, making sure to evaluate both the positives and negatives of the classes available. There weren’t many options for the Orc’s initial class, but he noticed that there was an additional basic class he hadn’t seen before. “A Barbarian, this wasn’t available to me when I created Lenia. It appears to be a class only available to those who worship ancestral spirits, and since his soul was initially marked by an ancestor spirit and he had that particular class, it is now available for me to choose. It appears to be a good basic class for a pure offensive type and I can class him up to a berserker. The rage ability especially is very good since it will boost his strength by quite a bit. Lenia is more of a balanced type leaning towards defense, but for Grobak I will focus on PHY. ATK. and Vitality. His AGI is also pretty high because of the Berserker class. While Lenia is intended to be a commander who leads from the rear and oversees the entirety of my forces, Grobak will be well suited to be a champion who leads from the front and charges into battle.” Because Grobak was a level 40 Intermediate class being, the initial cost to respecialize was 3,000 SP. Aleks would then need to pay a cost of 8,000 SP to respecialize Grobak into a level 60 Intermediate class being. While increasing the level of Grobak by 20 levels would also increase the presence and strength of his aura, it wasn’t enough to cause too much suspicion. They might feel the stronger aura, but there are other ways to increase one’s power in the short term and there were also other reasons why a being’s aura might feel weaker than normal. “Finally, some abilities which will reinforce his strengths. Rage, Increased Rage and a few secondary abilities giving defense against status effects are also a good choice. It seems his personality already has the negative trait, Wrath. I could remove it by paying a cost in SP but it says here that if he can overcome his Wrath then he will no longer suffer a negative status effect when using Rage. He would only get the positive effects but none of the negative ones, this is quite useful so I will keep it. Alright, total cost to respecialize including the abilities is 12,000 ‘Soul Potential’.” *Finalize selection?* “Yes.” As the system finalized the respecialization, Grobak’s soul was once more filled with ‘Soul Potential’ and his eyes which were once dim had brightened. Taking his hand off of the Orc, Aleks sat down once more and made himself comfortable in the chair. Grobak slowly regained consciousness and soon came out of his initial daze. Once he was aware of his surroundings, he immediately kneeled in front of Aleks. Due to his tall stature and large frame, even while kneeling he was still able to meet Aleks’s gaze head on. “Master, I am at your service.” Alek’s calmly observed the Orc and met his gaze which caused the Orc to look slightly down in respect. “You are only 17 years old Grobak, younger than me. Call me big brother.” Grobak was somewhat flustered which looked strange due to his large body. “Master, I can’t!” “This is an order, no need to call me master. From now on, I am your big brother.” “Big brother…” Grobak played with the word a bit on his tongue and found it somewhat uncomfortable to say but he didn’t want to disobey his master’s command. “Good, now let’s display you full status for you to see.” Aleks took out his mask from within his ‘Soul Realm’ surprising Grobak who had never seen someone pull something out of the air before. He placed the mask gently on his face and said, “Tower of Babel, show Grobak’s status.” Numbers, symbols, and letters began fluttering across the mask revealing Grobak’s status. Both Lenia and Grobak carefully looked through the information displayed on the mask with interest. | Name | Grobak | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Class | Barbarian | Berserker | Intermediate Rank | | | Level | 30 | 30 | Total Level 60 | | | Vitality | 300 | 750 | Total HP 1050 | | | Magic | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | PHY. ATK | 66 | 99 | Total PHY ATK 165 | | | PHY. DEF | 32 | 63 | Total PHY DEF 95 | | | Agility | 30 | 45 | Total AGI 75 | | | MAG RES | 25 | 50 | Total MAG RES 75 | | | Abilities | Rage (When using the rage ability, PHY. ATK. increases by 15% but PHY. DEF. decreased by 5%, Once rage ends ability user becomes fatigued suffering a 5% decrease in PHY. ATK., PHY. DEF., and AGI until short rest) Flurry of fists (Attack in rapid succession when unarmed ignoring 10% of PHY. DEF., chance to stun) Ignore Pain (While in Rage, ignores pain from damage taken allowing one to use abilities even when vitality required is insufficient) | Increased Rage (Rage lasts double the amount of time, PHY. ATK. increases by another 10% but PHY. DEF. decreases by an additional 5%) Whirlwind Strike (Using a Two-handed weapon, swing the weapon in a whirlwind, attacking multiple targets in a radius around the ability user, knock-back effect with each hit) Fearless (While in Rage, Immune to the effects of fear, stun, intimidation, and confusion) | | | | Fighting stances | Unarmed | Two-Handed | | | Grobak had never seen anything like this before and didn’t know what to make of everything he was seeing. Although he could understand some of what was being displayed on the mask, much of it was still confusing to him. Of course, Lenia was already accustomed to seeing this and completely understood everything displayed. She was happy to see that she was still much stronger than Grobak. “Let me explain.” Aleks noticed Grobak’s confusion and explained simply so that he would understand what he was seeing. He didn’t go into too much detail, only explaining the basics, but it was enough for Grobak to get a feel for how the information displayed showed his strengths and weaknesses. “Good, now that you understand you can stand up. No need to kneel to me since we are all family here. Lenia shall be my right hand, and you Grobak shall be my left. The two of you are both important for my plans. Lenia, go and see if the proprietress of this boutique has prepared some slaves for us to choose from.”

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMzMWM5ODYyOWNiNjQ1ZDk4M2VjMTFjZmU0NGMxOTM0"><span style="font-weight: 400">Oh how much of human life is wasted waiting. Luckily, I’m not quite a human anymore. </span></p> <p class="cnM0MDI4ZGQyMDM1ZTRiN2JiZGM1NDY4NmM5NzQzYjNj">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4NGZhZTU2YzFlODQ5NjFhNWExNjMxMzBmODM0ZDJk"><span style="font-weight: 400">Now I don’t have much mana to spare. I want to start playing with my dungeon again but I can’t do much. What I can do is start absorbing materials and shaping the path outside my official dungeon. I’ve spread my dungeon territory all the way to the top and bottom of this valley along the path so there’s plenty of material to clean up. </span></p> <p class="cnM5OGYyN2I5NTI2YjRlN2ZiZTgyMDVjYzM1ZWU1MGRm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMxZGEzZWZlNjEwMTQ0ODliOTNkNjRlYThhYzA0Zjdh"><span style="font-weight: 400">I set about smoothing and enlarging the path down. Mundane work but it’s easy to do it while I’m thinking of other things. People who arrive should be settling down there in the valley. I don’t think I want too many people going up to the river. They might figure out I’m drawing water from it. I am constantly drawing a small amount water in advance to store but after that I will be relying on the river again. Hm. </span></p> <p class="cnNiMmU2ODMxYjM0NDQyY2ZiZmNlMTJjYzBiZTcxZGY2">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmM2NlMWY0MWE0MjRkZDhiOGFjNjg3M2ZkOWZkZDQz"><span style="font-weight: 400">First things first. Let’s block off the path up for now. Nobody really needs to go up there. Instead I’ll draw some of the river through a part of the dungeon others can't access, and let it create a waterfall coming out nearby. I’m going to let this waterfall create a small river and fall into a hole back into my dungeon. This should at least be enough for them to work with for a while. After that then they can negotiate with me on how they want various plumbing things to work. </span></p> <p class="cnMxOWViNTY1MDY1YzQwM2M4NTVkNDVlOWRlODM4N2Mx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3NjcxZGQ5YWZlOTRlMzY4MmQ4ZDI2OGNkOTMyNTNi"><span style="font-weight: 400">Next thing, I really don’t want to pay attention to absorb things. I can sort of do it unconsciously, but only while I’m inside the dungeon territory. It sort of feels like blinking. Once you’re conscious of it, it always feels sort of weird and gets a lot less smooth. It seems like something I can work out eventually, but it’s important enough for me to spend DP on. </span></p> <p class="cnMxYjNkNDc3ZDgxYjRlYjdhZjY4NjE1NmU1OTc5ZTg3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlZTc0YWU3MTIwYzRlYWI5NGJkOTFmNWUzNTE4MDJl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Dungeon Points : 15</span></p> <p class="cnM2YTcxYzMxNTZjNTRhNzc5Y2FhZGQ4MzRiZDViMDI0">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4NjBiODFmMWYzYjRlYTM4YTExZjIzMDhhMGY0YzNk"><strong>[Automated System] </strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> : 10 DP</span></p> <p class="cnNkMTkyYmY1ZTMxODRhMjNhOTYwNDBiYWI4MGE0NDRj">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM1MTVhYzc3NWQ4MTRkYjE5ZmQ1ZjgwMjNmNTAyMTMz"><span style="font-weight: 400">What the automated system does is that I can set some repetitive tasks for it. It’s sort of like a robot. It can’t really think for itself but all I need is for it to absorb things in certain areas when it can. This should stop water from overflowing when I’m away from the dungeon for a longer period of time. I also task it with reviving monsters. I’m not entirely sure how the whole soul and revival thing works yet because all my creatures are still alive. But either way, it’s good to be prepared. Wouldn’t want to wait too long and miss my chance to revive them. </span></p> <p class="cnMwYjY1MjVmMjJkZTQxNTJiZGU0MmRmNTY5ZWNiOWZm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmNjM3OGM2M2IzODQzMDVhMzJmNzBiNmRhZDRjMzIy"><span style="font-weight: 400">Honestly I would have learned this eventually. I could feel that my ability to multitask and do dungeon functions while not paying attention increase, but it’s important enough to invest in.</span></p> <p class="cnMyZWE3NWQ2NWE1NDQ3MTM5NjMzNWQwNzkxYmRkZWQ2">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM0NWIwZThmMTA4ODQ5ZGZiMzAxZGY3OGVlZWVlYjgy"><span style="font-weight: 400">Let’s see. What else can I do while waiting for the day to come. </span></p> <p class="cnMxMmRmYmVjY2RhODQ0NDk5ZWU4OGJjNDM4OTQ4YzRk">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlOWViZGI0MDcwNzRjOTZhODk1YTNkZDRhYmI4MjU2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Hm let’s take a look at how all the animals are doing. I mostly just let them do whatever they want with a few jobs here and there though.</span></p> <p class="cnMyYWU4OTA1ZDRlODQ5ODI5NzdhZTNkODU2ZmJjNDkz">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3YmE1NjY5NDExZDQzMWRhYjFjMjQxNzQzZGNkZDgy"><span style="font-weight: 400">Rabbits : There’s a lot of them. I think they might be reproducing? At least I don’t recall making so many of them. There isn’t much to say about them other than that. A few of them are getting quite big, and all of their hairs are nice and glossy though. I made sure to create a nice thick layer of dirt for the plants so there are plenty of burrows. They’re quick and can pop out from the ground to grab whatever is lying about. Never leave your carrots on the ground or you’ll be going without soon enough. Saeri had to learn <em>that</em> the hard way.&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="cnMxYTRjNmJhNGE2MTRlYTI5MDQ4YjA4NjNkMDdiMTUz">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzZTkzNjVkZDU5NjQzMDk4NGVkZjZlYmQyZDhlMGFj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Snakes: All still pretty small. None of them would even pose a threat to the bunnies. Are they all garden snakes or something? If they keep hunting bugs and mice I’m sure they’ll evolve eventually though. Keep working hard little noodles. </span></p> <p class="cnNmN2Y5ZjdiNTQ2YjQ2MjBhMDM1NDQzMGFlZWQxMGNl">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3YjE1YTAzYTAwZDRmMGRhZTdlNmRiMjc4ZWE1NjQw"><span style="font-weight: 400">Birds: My precious little scouts. They don’t seem to like being too far in the dungeon. It might be because there isn’t much room to fly in there. That’s fine though. I’ll make a nice high ceiling in one of the later levels. Maybe some trees outside now that I’ve spread my dungeon territory outside of this cave. For now they’re just messengers and spies. I can’t tell if they got faster or bigger, but their bird song is so nice sometimes that I don’t really care. </span></p> <p class="cnM4MDE1ZDIwYjM5NzQzMmRiYmRjYWJmMDZmODQxNDZm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMyY2QzZGZhNWRmMTQ0M2RiMTczNWY1YjlkNTMxYWJj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Bugs: Eeeeeh. I’m not going to look too closely at them. I’m sure they’re growing. Probably. I’m absolutely certain they’re multiplying though. Maybe I’ll drop a big ball of them on an intruder. Maybe I should ask them to find me a queen ant at least. </span></p> <p class="cnMwODRlODQyY2UyYzQxYjY4MGE0MWYzMjY3ZDgzMTVm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwNWZhNzE2MDQ4YzRhZGQ5MDBlMDYwZWYyNWVkYjZk"><span style="font-weight: 400">Cats : Now these kitties I can tell are growing. Physically most of the kittens are getting better. Flashpaw and Aziza especially are getting quite quick. I think they’re finally getting away from regular cats and getting closer to what this world calls monsters. Well, there’s this fat white cat with spots that kind of just lazes around at the entrance. I guess not every summon can be a win eh? </span></p> <p class="cnMxYWFlODVjYzNhOTRiMmNhYzAyY2U5YTkyNTQyNjc3"><span style="font-weight: 400">Plants: It seems the mana is really good for growing plants. They’re spreading and growing like weeds. They’re encroaching on the areas I set as walking paths, but it’s only a little. I’m sure when people come by to harvest them it’ll get better. I’ll ask the bunnies to keep the path clear though. </span></p> <p class="cnNkODc3MmQ1MWVkYjRhODE5MDE5MjEwZmQ1MDc2MTA1">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3NWVjNDgyOWJmMDQ5Zjk4NTE4Zjg2YzBiNWE5Nzgw"><span style="font-weight: 400">I guess I’ll just spend the next few days just playing with animals. Oh. I wonder if I can use the animal templates to make adorable animal ear hoodies for Saeri. </span></p> </div>

Oh how much of human life is wasted waiting. Luckily, I’m not quite a human anymore.   Now I don’t have much mana to spare. I want to start playing with my dungeon again but I can’t do much. What I can do is start absorbing materials and shaping the path outside my official dungeon. I’ve spread my dungeon territory all the way to the top and bottom of this valley along the path so there’s plenty of material to clean up.   I set about smoothing and enlarging the path down. Mundane work but it’s easy to do it while I’m thinking of other things. People who arrive should be settling down there in the valley. I don’t think I want too many people going up to the river. They might figure out I’m drawing water from it. I am constantly drawing a small amount water in advance to store but after that I will be relying on the river again. Hm.   First things first. Let’s block off the path up for now. Nobody really needs to go up there. Instead I’ll draw some of the river through a part of the dungeon others can't access, and let it create a waterfall coming out nearby. I’m going to let this waterfall create a small river and fall into a hole back into my dungeon. This should at least be enough for them to work with for a while. After that then they can negotiate with me on how they want various plumbing things to work.   Next thing, I really don’t want to pay attention to absorb things. I can sort of do it unconsciously, but only while I’m inside the dungeon territory. It sort of feels like blinking. Once you’re conscious of it, it always feels sort of weird and gets a lot less smooth. It seems like something I can work out eventually, but it’s important enough for me to spend DP on.   Dungeon Points : 15   **[Automated System]** : 10 DP   What the automated system does is that I can set some repetitive tasks for it. It’s sort of like a robot. It can’t really think for itself but all I need is for it to absorb things in certain areas when it can. This should stop water from overflowing when I’m away from the dungeon for a longer period of time. I also task it with reviving monsters. I’m not entirely sure how the whole soul and revival thing works yet because all my creatures are still alive. But either way, it’s good to be prepared. Wouldn’t want to wait too long and miss my chance to revive them.   Honestly I would have learned this eventually. I could feel that my ability to multitask and do dungeon functions while not paying attention increase, but it’s important enough to invest in.   Let’s see. What else can I do while waiting for the day to come.   Hm let’s take a look at how all the animals are doing. I mostly just let them do whatever they want with a few jobs here and there though.   Rabbits : There’s a lot of them. I think they might be reproducing? At least I don’t recall making so many of them. There isn’t much to say about them other than that. A few of them are getting quite big, and all of their hairs are nice and glossy though. I made sure to create a nice thick layer of dirt for the plants so there are plenty of burrows. They’re quick and can pop out from the ground to grab whatever is lying about. Never leave your carrots on the ground or you’ll be going without soon enough. Saeri had to learn *that* the hard way.    Snakes: All still pretty small. None of them would even pose a threat to the bunnies. Are they all garden snakes or something? If they keep hunting bugs and mice I’m sure they’ll evolve eventually though. Keep working hard little noodles.   Birds: My precious little scouts. They don’t seem to like being too far in the dungeon. It might be because there isn’t much room to fly in there. That’s fine though. I’ll make a nice high ceiling in one of the later levels. Maybe some trees outside now that I’ve spread my dungeon territory outside of this cave. For now they’re just messengers and spies. I can’t tell if they got faster or bigger, but their bird song is so nice sometimes that I don’t really care.   Bugs: Eeeeeh. I’m not going to look too closely at them. I’m sure they’re growing. Probably. I’m absolutely certain they’re multiplying though. Maybe I’ll drop a big ball of them on an intruder. Maybe I should ask them to find me a queen ant at least.   Cats : Now these kitties I can tell are growing. Physically most of the kittens are getting better. Flashpaw and Aziza especially are getting quite quick. I think they’re finally getting away from regular cats and getting closer to what this world calls monsters. Well, there’s this fat white cat with spots that kind of just lazes around at the entrance. I guess not every summon can be a win eh? Plants: It seems the mana is really good for growing plants. They’re spreading and growing like weeds. They’re encroaching on the areas I set as walking paths, but it’s only a little. I’m sure when people come by to harvest them it’ll get better. I’ll ask the bunnies to keep the path clear though.   I guess I’ll just spend the next few days just playing with animals. Oh. I wonder if I can use the animal templates to make adorable animal ear hoodies for Saeri.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMyNzYyNGNmMDVlOTRkZDhhNDNmMTA3ZGY3Y2Y4MTIx">Time flew by and before Shamir realized, he had already been training for a little over two years, he had finished the second part of the training in only thirteen months, during that time he had learned some other minor tierless spells, most of them were for survival purposes.</p> <p class="cnM2YjcyMmMzYjAwYTRhZTBhMGI4ZDk2ZTcwMTkyYWM5"> He now was being briefed by Asael on the third part of the training, which consisted, on first expanding his knowledge of magic and mana, and sundry subjects such as herbology, zoology, demonology, survival techniques, and some more, second, now he had to learn what his elementals affinities were and learning spells that imbued elemental magic, third he had to choose at least one field of specialty, as he was informed that a magician can not only depend on spells for it's his survival.</p> <p class="cnNhODUwZWU2MjY3NjRkZjBhYjlkZDY1YzU0MGY5ZDcw">As Asael was briefing Shamir, he said: "But before choosing your specialty field of study, you should first learn you elemental affinities, for that we can use the affinity tester located in the study room, this is of utmost importance as if you choose a specialty which is incompatible with your affinities it would be asking for trouble, as an example if your attribute towards darkness is cero and your highest is light and still choose to specialize in let's say curses, of course, there are curses based on the light attribute as there are with every other element, but the number of curses that are based on light element attribute is extremely scarce, therefore the range of action of your specialty will become limited."</p> <p class="cnM2OTU4YTBhMWY2MzRmYTFiY2NiMzE3YjRkZDEwNDdk">"I see, Finally!! I will learn my element affinity, I wonder which will it be?, well I will find out soon enough", said Shamir with excitement, as he began to follow the yellow orb of light that was Asael towards the study room.</p> <p class="cnMzZDdjMWIzMDNjZDQ4ZjE5NTBkOGIxZGQ4ZjJmZjVh">When they arrived at the study room Shamir, found it was quite a simple room, it only had a desk and chair made of carved wood, a wood table, and some other miscellaneous items, at the center of the table, rested a transparent crystal sphere the size of a head, it was transparent.</p> <p class="cnNjZWI0YTJmYzA3ZTRlNzZiZjNlZTNlOTI5ZjE1NGVi">Asael then said: "Go grab the crystal sphere, it's an affinity cristal, you should know how it works".</p> <p class="cnM4ZTgwMTI2M2QwZjQzYzg4MWIyMzVkZGRiNjY0Mzgw">As Shamir approached the affinity tester, he felt the excitement on the marvelous spells he would use.</p> <p class="cnNiMThjNDFiYWZlYjQxMzhiODU4NTg3NDBlMmM5YjAz">Once he reached the affinity tester, he put his hand on the crystal sphere and recited in his head: "Alright this is the affinity tester, this works by infusing mana into the sphere, then the sphere will deconstruct the infused mana and test it for its affinity towards each element, this will be done in order beginning with fire, water, earth, wind, lightning, light, and darkness, when the sphere it's testing the affinity towards each element, it will show the result as a numerical value from 0 to 100, that is the end of the test."</p> <p class="cnNhMjk3ZWRlNDYwMjQ2ZjJhNjViMzMyOTYzNjhjM2E4">When he finished reciting his knowledge of the affinity tester he infused his mana into the sphere until it was filled with it, then he removed his hand, took a step back and while making a hand movement he chanted "Begin", then the mana inside the sphere began to deconstruct, the mana began to change its transparent color for a fiery red color, but not all the mana transformed some remained transparent, only around half of the sphere changed to that color, then the numerical value "69" appeared on the surface of the sphere. </p> <p class="cnNjMTY5MGNkODA2MjRjYmY5ZDY2Y2U3NDQ0NjJjYTBk">Shamir made a happy expression when he saw the value for it wasn't a crap value, it wasn't the best, it was an "ok" value.</p> <p class="cnM2MDg0ZjAyZTE1YTQ2MDE5ZmNmMzA5YmQ4M2E4Y2Rm">Then the red mana inside the tester changed colors back to the transparent color of mana and then began to change color again but this time to a deep blue until it reached just about half of the tester, then the value "61" was shown to Shamir, when he saw this he was still good, he knew his affinity towards each element would vary and that some could be good and some bad, but a "61" affinity as the lowest was still better than a "20" affinity.</p> <p class="cnM0NTViOTE0ZGFjNTRhNTA4YjlmMWI3ODM5ZDExNGRm">Then the process continued changing the colors of the mana to a white color for wind, with a result of "79", green for earth with a result of "89", Lightning "94", once Shamir saw the values for those elements his breath became ragged because he never thought his affinities would be higher than 80 but he now had not one but two affinities higher, but he hadn't yet recovered from his roller coaster of emotions when he saw the value for his light affinity and nearly fainted, the tester showed the number "99", with a ragged breath and staring intensely to the tester with a look of sheer disbelief, he stared even after the tester showed him the result for his darkness affinity of "87". </p> <p class="cnMwMjIwYzc1NTE1ZjRjMTE4Mzg5ZDAwMGZiODBmMjNi">Shamir stood a while absorbed in his thoughts full until he regained enough of his composure to ask with a trembling voice a single question to Asael: "Asael how can this be?"</p> <p class="cnM5ZGNkM2UyNzM2NDQyNjViYTY2ZmEwODUwY2IzZmQw">Then Asael with a calm voice responded: " Well Shamir, as I stated when I first integrated with you, the reason why you were chosen for this system its because you have the innate talents requirements set by the creator".</p> <p class="cnNkMWM0Nzk2NWU0ZjRiZDBhNGY4Yzc4ZTk2NDc2Zjc0">The answer from Asael just made the roller coaster of Shamir emotions to resurface and saying " Then that means I'm a genius? Asael Answer what were the requirements set by your creator?"</p> <p class="cnM5ZmY5YjhhNThlZDQ3Y2Y5YzcxOTM1NzQ2Yjg3ZDRh">Just as Shamir finished asking, Asael responded with a calm voice: "the requirements were a child older than eight but younger than fifteen, with a mana reserve of high quality, and with affinities towards the elements with at least one above 90 and none below 60"</p> <p class="cnMwOTdjYWQyY2Q2ZTRkYmQ5YzdkMWU2N2QxMjg0MmVj">When Shamir heard this he although still with an unstable breath but more composed said: " I see"</p> <p class="cnNiN2IyNzdmNzJkYjRhMWM5MjIwNzYxMDNjOTUwNTQx">The reason why Shamir had lost his cool was that the scarcity of mages with a level 90 affinities, he had read that only one of every 100 mages had an affinity above 90, and while this was not an impediment to become a great mage, it stood true that a higher affinity made things easier.</p> </div>

Time flew by and before Shamir realized, he had already been training for a little over two years, he had finished the second part of the training in only thirteen months, during that time he had learned some other minor tierless spells, most of them were for survival purposes. He now was being briefed by Asael on the third part of the training, which consisted, on first expanding his knowledge of magic and mana, and sundry subjects such as herbology, zoology, demonology, survival techniques, and some more, second, now he had to learn what his elementals affinities were and learning spells that imbued elemental magic, third he had to choose at least one field of specialty, as he was informed that a magician can not only depend on spells for it's his survival. As Asael was briefing Shamir, he said: "But before choosing your specialty field of study, you should first learn you elemental affinities, for that we can use the affinity tester located in the study room, this is of utmost importance as if you choose a specialty which is incompatible with your affinities it would be asking for trouble, as an example if your attribute towards darkness is cero and your highest is light and still choose to specialize in let's say curses, of course, there are curses based on the light attribute as there are with every other element, but the number of curses that are based on light element attribute is extremely scarce, therefore the range of action of your specialty will become limited." "I see, Finally!! I will learn my element affinity, I wonder which will it be?, well I will find out soon enough", said Shamir with excitement, as he began to follow the yellow orb of light that was Asael towards the study room. When they arrived at the study room Shamir, found it was quite a simple room, it only had a desk and chair made of carved wood, a wood table, and some other miscellaneous items, at the center of the table, rested a transparent crystal sphere the size of a head, it was transparent. Asael then said: "Go grab the crystal sphere, it's an affinity cristal, you should know how it works". As Shamir approached the affinity tester, he felt the excitement on the marvelous spells he would use. Once he reached the affinity tester, he put his hand on the crystal sphere and recited in his head: "Alright this is the affinity tester, this works by infusing mana into the sphere, then the sphere will deconstruct the infused mana and test it for its affinity towards each element, this will be done in order beginning with fire, water, earth, wind, lightning, light, and darkness, when the sphere it's testing the affinity towards each element, it will show the result as a numerical value from 0 to 100, that is the end of the test." When he finished reciting his knowledge of the affinity tester he infused his mana into the sphere until it was filled with it, then he removed his hand, took a step back and while making a hand movement he chanted "Begin", then the mana inside the sphere began to deconstruct, the mana began to change its transparent color for a fiery red color, but not all the mana transformed some remained transparent, only around half of the sphere changed to that color, then the numerical value "69" appeared on the surface of the sphere. Shamir made a happy expression when he saw the value for it wasn't a crap value, it wasn't the best, it was an "ok" value. Then the red mana inside the tester changed colors back to the transparent color of mana and then began to change color again but this time to a deep blue until it reached just about half of the tester, then the value "61" was shown to Shamir, when he saw this he was still good, he knew his affinity towards each element would vary and that some could be good and some bad, but a "61" affinity as the lowest was still better than a "20" affinity. Then the process continued changing the colors of the mana to a white color for wind, with a result of "79", green for earth with a result of "89", Lightning "94", once Shamir saw the values for those elements his breath became ragged because he never thought his affinities would be higher than 80 but he now had not one but two affinities higher, but he hadn't yet recovered from his roller coaster of emotions when he saw the value for his light affinity and nearly fainted, the tester showed the number "99", with a ragged breath and staring intensely to the tester with a look of sheer disbelief, he stared even after the tester showed him the result for his darkness affinity of "87". Shamir stood a while absorbed in his thoughts full until he regained enough of his composure to ask with a trembling voice a single question to Asael: "Asael how can this be?" Then Asael with a calm voice responded: " Well Shamir, as I stated when I first integrated with you, the reason why you were chosen for this system its because you have the innate talents requirements set by the creator". The answer from Asael just made the roller coaster of Shamir emotions to resurface and saying " Then that means I'm a genius? Asael Answer what were the requirements set by your creator?" Just as Shamir finished asking, Asael responded with a calm voice: "the requirements were a child older than eight but younger than fifteen, with a mana reserve of high quality, and with affinities towards the elements with at least one above 90 and none below 60" When Shamir heard this he although still with an unstable breath but more composed said: " I see" The reason why Shamir had lost his cool was that the scarcity of mages with a level 90 affinities, he had read that only one of every 100 mages had an affinity above 90, and while this was not an impediment to become a great mage, it stood true that a higher affinity made things easier.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM2NjNiZmQxODBmMzQ4NDZiNDQ0YzQ4OGQ3Yjc5NTgw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"><strong>Chapter 471: [ The Winner in the End… is who? (2) ]</strong></span></p> <p class="cnM4ZTdjMzU2YTI4NDQ0N2M5NTA5OWU2YTZkMDcwM2E1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“HA HA HA HA HA!!” Along with the booming thunder, suddenly a maniacal laughter echoed in the entire dimension. The laughter was shrill but filled with determination and even a touch of madness. As the laughter reached the ears of Hanjin, it seemed completely brutal.</span></p> <p class="cnNkMGNjOTU1YjdiZTRkODE4YjBhNmY4Y2VhZDNjZTAx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Allen was holding his head back as he laughed and laughed. It was the laughter of no regrets, a laughter filled with lofty sentiment, a laughter filled with a stubbornness that soared to the heavens! </span></p> <p class="cnMyOGFkODVhOGRkZTRkNTA5OWQyNDZkM2VjN2RiZDk4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The sky was thick with black clouds, and lightning fell down like rain, shaking Heaven and Earth. And Allen was in the middle of it all, head thrown back as the brutal sound of his laughter rose up into the face of the Heavens.</span></p> <p class="cnNjZTE5MTc1NGI5ZjRiYjhhNmJjYWRjZThhNTg0Zjlj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“HA HAHAHAHAHA!!!” The color of Allen’s hair began to change. It was no longer silver, but now gray with black stripes. His facial features appeared even demonic as another pair of horns appeared from the sides of his head, pointing upward. Now, he has two pairs of horns growing from his head, a pair pointing in front while another pair was pointing upward. His stature was tall and thin as before, but his aura was now completely different.</span></p> <p class="cnNlN2VkN2RmYmUxOTRlZjM4ZDMwYTI5NTg5ODU3NWY1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">ROOOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!! As Allen roared, his hair grew longer and longer, soon reaching his lower back. The tempest around him grew in intensity, causing Allen to slowly float up in the midst of the hurricane.</span></p> <p class="cnM3NTc4OGQ3NmNhODRiODY5YzY2MDE1YzEzMTRlNGY3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Bang! Boom! Bangg!!</span></p> <p class="cnM4OTk2YTNiOTQ2YTQyMmY4NDYwNmU5NzlmOWI0YWFj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Lightning and thunder fell down to circulate around him, causing the hurricane to turn into a lightning storm, shocking to Heaven and Earth. The intense killing intent, boiling murderous desire, immediately erupted from Allen. It roiled, emanating out in all directions.</span></p> <p class="cnM2OWJkY2FjNzE5YzQ2MTU5NzQ4YjRmYWM3NzUxMmRh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The 'Cursed' Allen was set free!</span></p> <p class="cnM5YjM2ZmI2NzlmYjQ3ODViZTcwZDBhNjE0YjUwYTcx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Along with his freedom, killing intent poured like a fountain, sending Allen’s mind into complete chaos. </span></p> <p class="cnM1ZTU3NzgxY2U1MzQ1ZDNiNDRiOGMxMTRlODVkNWYx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Kill!</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZDQxY2JjNzY4ODQyMjRiMGU3MTQ3ZTgwYWQ1OTYy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Slaughter!</span></p> <p class="cnMyZTllNzQwZjg3YjQ3MTY5MmRhOWRmMjZmOWE0M2I1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Destroy everything! </span></p> <p class="cnMxODZlYjdiZjY1MzRhYTc4ZjE0NTg3NGMwNzEwOWYz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Stomp everything like ants!</span></p> <p class="cnNmNjViYTJhZTBmZjQzZWU4YjcwZWIyY2QxZGI4MjBm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Slice every living being...!!</span></p> <p class="cnNiNDQ0NjAxYmJjMTRjYzE5MjQxZWUzNTQ2ZDNjNzA0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Mow down every creature in the world...!</span></p> <p class="cnM4NDkyMDk0NDliNzRjNGQ5YjU0OTBlZDY1MjljMGRj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">It crushed his Core, sent his soul into insanity, staining it with terrifying frenzy!</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZjcyNTNhZGRkZDQ0ZTc4YzE3MWNlYWZkZmRjODE3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The insanity transformed into world-shaking killing dementia. It toppled Allen’s usual thinking ability—melted his mind into nothingness and filling him with a devilish will. It turned into a self-destructive desire, which in turn caused his power to climb upward.</span></p> <p class="cnM2ZjQ1ZGE5M2MyNDQ4YzRiNzY3MDNkMjA1Yzk0Y2Vi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!</span></p> <p class="cnMxMGRkYjBjZmYxZTRmZTliMzA5OTQ2ODEwOTY5Njcx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Allen’s laughter was filled with insanity. It echoed through the air…</span></p> <p class="cnNmOWVhN2I2OWYzYTQzODZiNTJmY2YzYTU3ZGJmZTNi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The sight of it caused Hanjin’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. His mind filled with roaring.</span></p> <p class="cnM5Njc3OTEwNGU5NjQzZThiYWMxNTgzYTU5OWUyMWFm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">… A chill….!?</span></p> <p class="cnM5NDU1MWZkYTAzNTRkYjA4Y2Q2ZTI4NGRhNzVjZjA0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">What was that…!?</span></p> <p class="cnNmMzU2NTUxMjRmNTRiMzBhMmQwOGRiOTY0YTM5NjZm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Something is different about this youth…!!</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZDg3OWVmNzM1NzQ1Zjc4MzNkNmFhMzJjOTc5ZTIz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Even though his suffocating aura of making other creatures look at him in awe, like a born King, at this time is slowly dissipating. At this moment, Hanjin could sense a threatening degree of perfection from him.</span></p> <p class="cnNkZDM3ZDM2NDJjZjQwMjdiZmQzYzIwZDAwMjgxNzUw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“How could this be…? He… he….” </span></p> <p class="cnNlN2NmNDc3MTg2NTRiZGM5NWQwYTBkYWQ4MzE1NDY4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">It can’t be…</span></p> <p class="cnM2NjE0NjY0MzY4MDRjN2M5ZmViOTE5MDYzMWRhNjE5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">However, amidst the shock and terror, Hanjin’s eyes gleamed in thick killing intent! He then finally took a big breath and spewed out flames from its mouth that could not be controlled upon release as it was too powerful.</span></p> <p class="cnM2ZjMyYjczODY1ZjQwMjliZWZkNzhhZTRiNjdlODY4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">It wasn't something as plain as a flamethrower; no, this was as if a giant pillar of flame flew out of its mouth.</span></p> <p class="cnMwMTVlN2NkODQyZDRhMDQ5OTNlMGMwYzg1ZmFiM2E0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAR</span></p> <p class="cnM5MmZiNGMxMDcwMzRhZDA5YWNiNzI0MmFiNWUyMDY2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">However, despite Allen’s distance from the flames, he could still feel the heat and the created shock wave. It was an extremely hot, crimson flame breath. Flames hotter than even the surface of the sun shot towards the sky a horizontal pillar of flames.</span></p> <p class="cnMwMzg0ZTdhZmY4NTQ3MjdhNjk0ZWU0MTExOTA1ZGVm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Like a flash of light, it was imbued with concentrated magic power and fire energy, thick enough to possibly be able to burn someone’s eyes if they were to look directly at it. It simply isn’t comparable to the attacks by newbie dragons–this was a weapon that could easily destroy a country or two.</span></p> <p class="cnNkMWZiZThiYzhjYjQwMzg4NmE3MDEyOGZlNWQ3Nzk2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">That was slightly different compared to a cannon or a nuclear weapon. To be more precise –it was a ray of destruction—a flame pillar of destruction that spans several hundreds of meters, obliterating everything in its path.</span></p> <p class="cnMzMjdmY2NjYTZhNjQ3ZGM5MWMzMzRhNmQ2NGE3YjA5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The glowing crimson flame breath then continued flying towards him at a quick speed.</span></p> <p class="cnM4YzBkNzY3ZDQ0ZTQ2YTg4ZDliZTE3NTkyMGVjNWRk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The entire space exploded with a storm of crimson flames, reaching Allen instantly.</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZGIyOWNjNmVmYjRlNmFhYzBlM2NmNTM0ZmQxNzc0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Within the space of time of a few breaths, the thumping of a heartbeat could be heard, like thunder rattling out in all directions. As of this moment, it appeared as if there were a shocking magic power, heat and cold fighting back against the natural law of Heaven and Earth!</span></p> <p class="cnM1YWZhOTkyY2NkYzQ4Nzg5MGU1MDhhOTYxOWVhODlh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Extreme cold and extreme heat exploded up shockingly!!</span></p> <p class="cnMzZGFkMjA0MzA3NzQ1MTBiNzdmOTdlYjFlOTE4ZTkw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">As of this moment, every beat of Allen’s heart caused the tempest around him to pause, caused the air to vibrate, caused the land in the area to quake.</span></p> <p class="cnNiMDAyYzQ0YmI2YjQ1ZmJhNDczNmY1ODBkNjEwYjU4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"——This is the end," Allen muttered as he raised the sword, and paused.</span></p> <p class="cnM3NzI4NTc3OGUxNDQ1YTViZjM5M2M3YWY2NWFkMzVi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Surrounding him, a countless number of specks of light appeared. As if being absorbed by him, the thick silver colored flames on his body blazed even stronger and then as if they instructed to do so, they all rushed and converged onto the sword's blade like they were being sucked in.</span></p> <p class="cnNmZjg5NDg4ODUyZjQ4NTE5Nzk5MmM2ZGE3ODU5NTVl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Then, from behind him, a silhouette of a beautiful white bird spread her wings and let out a sheer cry as if announcing its presence into the sky.</span></p> <p class="cnNjZTFmYjllZmFhMzQ1MTE4NDE1NjU2ZTViMTRiNzNh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">CRYAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! </span></p> <p class="cnNmZWZhNjYwNmU1MjRjNGU5ZjJhMWE3MWI0MDA5MzUz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Taking a deep breath, the sword that Allen held was shooting streams of white lightning into the surroundings. Like machine gun fire, the continuous barrage gouged out the air as well as the earth underneath him.</span></p> <p class="cnM4NTQ1ZWNkMjM2ZTQ3N2U4YzNiNjM4YTAxZDhhNzY5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The surrounding temperature dropped and a white mist was floating around. It might be the effects of the Ice Phoenix magic power; small crystals of condensed water were floating in the air and were melting when it touched Allen’s skin.</span></p> <p class="cnM5NjkwMzJkMjBiMDQ5OGM5OWY0ZWQwOGNhYjA2NDM4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Each time the white flame fused with the sword, it caused the sword to turn bigger and malicious.</span></p> <p class="cnM4MDgzMDgwM2RiZjQ2Mzc4NGYzNTJlZmUzY2IzMmMw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The tip was thrust into the sky as if it was going to cut the entire world apart.</span></p> <p class="cnMxNjE1ZjBiNmVhMDQ0OTBiYzEyYmNmNmM5Yzk5OWJk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The attack that’s going to be shot now will be an incomparable destructive attack that will slice everything in view.</span></p> <p class="cnM2NDZiNzAzNmE5NTRjNTU5ZDVjNTZlOWIyZmFhM2Y3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Disappear, trash..........!” Allen coldly muttered and swung his sword glowing brightly in Hanjin’s direction. Only that action caused echoes of creaks at the surrounding space.</span></p> <p class="cnMyOTMyNWYyNDllZTQ0YzRiMjBkNjg4NTI3Nzg2ZWFm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">In an instant, light overflowed out of Rebellion-------as if the sword strike made by the blade was extending, it extended towards the sky.</span></p> <p class="cnMyNzc2N2MxZDRlMjQyMjliOTBlMzYzZDJkNmEwMzkz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">And then Rebellion's light easily sliced through the incoming pillar of flame that was burning violently, and passed towards the dumbfounded Hanjin, before going into the sky. When that happened, the wind that was blowing around ceased like it was a lie.</span></p> <p class="cnMyMzI2MDdhODA5NTRhM2Y5NjRlZTc3NTU4NTQ3NmMz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">An absolute and invincible single concentrated attack.</span></p> <p class="cnNkMGY2ODk2YzVmZjQyYjc4MzhiZjFkMDlkZjNlMWYx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">A combination attack of both two people of a single being— the night sky dyed red together with the sound of a giant explosion.</span></p> <p class="cnNiMWY0ZmFiZGFkNDQzODY4Mjk1MjBkNWZlZWU2NTYw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Splitting the cloud that was swirling around them, even space itself seemed to have sliced up as an over five meters tall tear in the space could be seen, revealing the face of the moon from the outside.</span></p> <p class="cnM4YTczNzg3MjBjZjRlZTZiZWFjZTE2MDMxMDE2OTll"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">*** ***</span></p> <p class="cnMwZThlY2I0YmU4YTQzODY4MTE0Nzg0NDNkNzUzYjNj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"> </span></p> <p class="cnNlNjQ3YTE0YzM4MjQ0M2RiOGIwM2FjMDQ2ZTEwYWVl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">On a distant mountaintop, a youth whose body was covered with black robe suddenly looked in a certain direction, frowning, muttering to himself: “So someone ascended…”</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZWMxOGU3NDAzOTQyMDRhYWFiNWY3MGNmOGYwN2Yx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">He then cast his gaze towards the man beside him, he scowled: “A new God had appeared, what do you want to do now…?”</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZTc3MTE4NDk1NDQxZDc4YzBkY2QwN2RmNWIxM2Nh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The man beside him ignored the youth’s anger and just look at the horizon with a brilliant smile. Satisfied, he muttered: “It’s not new—it’s welcome back…right…?”</span></p> <p class="cnNiMjc4MjQ0Mjk0OTQxZjhiZWM3NzBjMGRiYjYyNDg3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …??”</span></p> <p class="cnNiMTlhYTFlZjE2YTQzODI4ZThmYmRlOWJkYzVhMGRl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“He he, it has been a long time since 'he' had appeared so you aren’t able to remember this aura, brother Frey but this is really familiar that I would never forget…just where did 'he' had gone to all these years?”</span></p> <p class="cnNiYzRjMWViYTNkMTQwYjg5YzMwN2Q5ZDY3MDhhYzIw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“That doesn’t matter, Apollo, we had faked our death but we still don’t know what you were looking for!” Looking at his happy expression, Frey gritted his teeth in frustration.</span></p> <p class="cnNkMzllZWQ5YjA4OTQ1NDZiZmE0Yjc0NDk2OTY0YTYz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Brother Frey, relax… we will find it for sure, the thing that could turn this war upside down… the reason why the Christian Clan had suddenly disappeared into thin air—” Apollo smiled nonchalantly. “My Oracle can never be wrong…the truth on this matter must be related to this sudden Demon Invasion…</span></p> <p class="cnM0Zjc2NzA5ZmYxYzQwY2ViMmU4ZDRlYWIwY2VkMGQ2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Then, why did we not include Athena on this?! With her abnormal mind, she should be able to help us greatly!”</span></p> <p class="cnM3OGZlN2QyN2FjMjQyZWE5ZWEwM2Y5NDgyMDlmYTc2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“No,” Apollo shook his head. “Athena has her own path—I saw it on my oracle, she has a great role in all of this---!”</span></p> <p class="cnM2NWNlZjk3MmFhZDRmZjZhZWVjOWIyMjA1ZjViYzA0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Apollo, I can feel something hidden in your words. Just what is it, that you really after?”</span></p> <p class="cnMwOTdiZmY4YjZhZDRmNDE5NzA2ZWJiZjA2NGM5OWYw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Just what is Apollo really wanted?</span></p> <p class="cnM3MzZhMmU1NDgyYjQxZGFiMDliNzc0Yzg1Mzg3M2E0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Apollo didn’t answer Frey back and still kept his mysterious smile.</span></p> <p class="cnM0Yjc3YzNiOTA1MjRiMDM5YmEwMTdjZjY0MTAxY2Zj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Frey, do you think, there is good and evil in this war?”</span></p> <p class="cnNiN2I5NWY0ZTQ1ZTQ5NGI5N2EyY2MxNWE4N2RkZGQ3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Huh? Just what are you saying Apollo?”</span></p> <p class="cnMxYTIyNjMwMjg0NTQ0NDI5ZjQwY2FkNTYyYzY3Nzk2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“…no matter which side, all of them is neither good nor evil…”</span></p> <p class="cnNkODQ3MWVjZDJmYTRlYzE5OTRiMTFlYmUzYjIwNmRh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… we are all doing what we thought is right… saving the world? Destroying the world? Do you think all of those matters? Don’t be so naïve Frey…”</span></p> <p class="cnM0MmU5MjkzOGY4NDRiZmJhZWM5ZTYxYzg5Mzg1MTMx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Frey couldn’t understand what Apollo was saying. All he could do was furrowed his brows in confusion.</span></p> <p class="cnM2YzA0ZDQ0OTRmNjRlZjA5YjJlOWU2M2FlZjUzZjVm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Didn’t matter? Just what is he trying to say? If those didn’t matter, then what matters in this war?</span></p> <p class="cnMzYjE4YTc4MGIzYzQxMjM5NWJjNTBjNjk3MzYwNjEz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Does this God’s toy called world to exist eternally within a raging inferno, or will it diverge from its path and rise out of that inferno like a real phoenix?”</span></p> <p class="cnM3ZjRkMjUzYjVjZDRjYTFhYzkwNGI2YWUxNzM2YWZi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Everything… depends on what happens now!” Apollo, the normally taciturn man, suddenly smiled.</span></p> <p class="cnNhMjE5MTdlNGNmZjQ0OTA4NjM5NDZiYjUzODQ2Njlm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">It was a smile that contained an emotional sigh, but also, incredible ferocity!</span></p> <p class="cnM1ODEzNTUxZTk3YzRhZTFiZjRiZjA1ZTZhZGFjYWFh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Apparently, there were dark forces that had existed for unknown years in this world… that were slowly beginning to bare their fangs!</span></p> <p class="cnMwZTFlMzBlYTIxYjRiNmM5MWEwMGE4YWM0YjVmOGZj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"> “…and what I want is only one thing…” Apollo didn’t continue his words and turned around. He started walking towards the opposite direction of the Greek palace.</span></p> <p class="cnNlM2YyODZjNTdjMDRiM2NiYmNkOWE2YmU1NmE4YmJl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Looking at his back, Frey was rooted on his spot. He couldn’t understand anything that was Apollo was saying…</span></p> <p class="cnNjMjVjYjYxOGVjNzRmNDlhM2EzYWM1MzQ0MjYyMTk1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">*** ***</span></p> <p class="cnM2ZTI0MWU3OGNiNzQ1ODg5Y2JiMTIxYjBjNzY2ZjQy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Aside from them, there were also some others who noticed this phenomenon.</span></p> <p class="cnM0YjZjZDA4ZWUyMDRjM2Q5YWZiZDBkMTEwZjQ3YTQw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The ordinary common mortals just looked and revered, some prostrated and showed their piety… but there were also those who were shocked because of this.</span></p> <p class="cnM1NTY4OTc5MzlmMTQ3MDNhY2ZmZTEyN2YxMjk2M2I3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Most of this was some secluded Gods who choose to hide their selves from the world.</span></p> <p class="cnNlNWIwYTdlNjYxOTQ0MzY4NTczMWRhNzliM2M3ODdh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Who just ascended? </span></p> <p class="cnNhMTgzOTE3OGRiNjRhMjBhZDNiNjBkNzVjYmFhYTIz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">A human ascended to Godhood?</span></p> <p class="cnM3ZmJhNWEzYWE2MjQ1YmE5NzJiYTRhOGNiZmVkMDAx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">That’s impossible!</span></p> <p class="cnM3NTE2ZGIzYTJkNTRlMzliMWEwMjI5OTVmY2IxN2Uw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">They thought that a human managed to ascend but when they feel the aura coming from the light, all of this vanished.</span></p> <p class="cnNlZjkzMDA3ODM5ZDRmODg4MGViNzRhY2Y0OTU0MjY2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">A very familiar yet unfamiliar aura…</span></p> <p class="cnMyODEwNmYwMTFkNDQ2ZWJhZjdmM2I2OGFiNTgzMmFj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">A presence of an Ancient one…</span></p> <p class="cnMyMjZjNWY2ZjNmZjQ2MGM5NjlmYTA3YWJlZTM4NDll"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Did someone successfully revived and managed to regain his [ Divinity ]?</span></p> <p class="cnMxZjg3OTRmYjkxMDQ5ZjQ4MjNlNGM2YWQ3MWU5N2Qx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Who was it?</span></p> <p class="cnM1NTMyM2RjZTljMzRlZjU5OWNhMGVjMGJjYTY4Y2Ez"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">*** ***</span></p> </div>

**Chapter 471: [ The Winner in the End… is who? (2) ]** “HA HA HA HA HA!!” Along with the booming thunder, suddenly a maniacal laughter echoed in the entire dimension. The laughter was shrill but filled with determination and even a touch of madness. As the laughter reached the ears of Hanjin, it seemed completely brutal. Allen was holding his head back as he laughed and laughed. It was the laughter of no regrets, a laughter filled with lofty sentiment, a laughter filled with a stubbornness that soared to the heavens! The sky was thick with black clouds, and lightning fell down like rain, shaking Heaven and Earth. And Allen was in the middle of it all, head thrown back as the brutal sound of his laughter rose up into the face of the Heavens. “HA HAHAHAHAHA!!!” The color of Allen’s hair began to change. It was no longer silver, but now gray with black stripes. His facial features appeared even demonic as another pair of horns appeared from the sides of his head, pointing upward. Now, he has two pairs of horns growing from his head, a pair pointing in front while another pair was pointing upward. His stature was tall and thin as before, but his aura was now completely different. ROOOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!! As Allen roared, his hair grew longer and longer, soon reaching his lower back. The tempest around him grew in intensity, causing Allen to slowly float up in the midst of the hurricane. Bang! Boom! Bangg!! Lightning and thunder fell down to circulate around him, causing the hurricane to turn into a lightning storm, shocking to Heaven and Earth. The intense killing intent, boiling murderous desire, immediately erupted from Allen. It roiled, emanating out in all directions. The 'Cursed' Allen was set free! Along with his freedom, killing intent poured like a fountain, sending Allen’s mind into complete chaos. Kill! Slaughter! Destroy everything! Stomp everything like ants! Slice every living being...!! Mow down every creature in the world...! It crushed his Core, sent his soul into insanity, staining it with terrifying frenzy! The insanity transformed into world-shaking killing dementia. It toppled Allen’s usual thinking ability—melted his mind into nothingness and filling him with a devilish will. It turned into a self-destructive desire, which in turn caused his power to climb upward. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! Allen’s laughter was filled with insanity. It echoed through the air… The sight of it caused Hanjin’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. His mind filled with roaring. … A chill….!? What was that…!? Something is different about this youth…!! Even though his suffocating aura of making other creatures look at him in awe, like a born King, at this time is slowly dissipating. At this moment, Hanjin could sense a threatening degree of perfection from him. “How could this be…? He… he….” It can’t be… However, amidst the shock and terror, Hanjin’s eyes gleamed in thick killing intent! He then finally took a big breath and spewed out flames from its mouth that could not be controlled upon release as it was too powerful. It wasn't something as plain as a flamethrower; no, this was as if a giant pillar of flame flew out of its mouth. ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAR However, despite Allen’s distance from the flames, he could still feel the heat and the created shock wave. It was an extremely hot, crimson flame breath. Flames hotter than even the surface of the sun shot towards the sky a horizontal pillar of flames. Like a flash of light, it was imbued with concentrated magic power and fire energy, thick enough to possibly be able to burn someone’s eyes if they were to look directly at it. It simply isn’t comparable to the attacks by newbie dragons–this was a weapon that could easily destroy a country or two. That was slightly different compared to a cannon or a nuclear weapon. To be more precise –it was a ray of destruction—a flame pillar of destruction that spans several hundreds of meters, obliterating everything in its path. The glowing crimson flame breath then continued flying towards him at a quick speed. The entire space exploded with a storm of crimson flames, reaching Allen instantly. Within the space of time of a few breaths, the thumping of a heartbeat could be heard, like thunder rattling out in all directions. As of this moment, it appeared as if there were a shocking magic power, heat and cold fighting back against the natural law of Heaven and Earth! Extreme cold and extreme heat exploded up shockingly!! As of this moment, every beat of Allen’s heart caused the tempest around him to pause, caused the air to vibrate, caused the land in the area to quake. "——This is the end," Allen muttered as he raised the sword, and paused. Surrounding him, a countless number of specks of light appeared. As if being absorbed by him, the thick silver colored flames on his body blazed even stronger and then as if they instructed to do so, they all rushed and converged onto the sword's blade like they were being sucked in. Then, from behind him, a silhouette of a beautiful white bird spread her wings and let out a sheer cry as if announcing its presence into the sky. CRYAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! Taking a deep breath, the sword that Allen held was shooting streams of white lightning into the surroundings. Like machine gun fire, the continuous barrage gouged out the air as well as the earth underneath him. The surrounding temperature dropped and a white mist was floating around. It might be the effects of the Ice Phoenix magic power; small crystals of condensed water were floating in the air and were melting when it touched Allen’s skin. Each time the white flame fused with the sword, it caused the sword to turn bigger and malicious. The tip was thrust into the sky as if it was going to cut the entire world apart. The attack that’s going to be shot now will be an incomparable destructive attack that will slice everything in view. “Disappear, trash..........!” Allen coldly muttered and swung his sword glowing brightly in Hanjin’s direction. Only that action caused echoes of creaks at the surrounding space. In an instant, light overflowed out of Rebellion-------as if the sword strike made by the blade was extending, it extended towards the sky. And then Rebellion's light easily sliced through the incoming pillar of flame that was burning violently, and passed towards the dumbfounded Hanjin, before going into the sky. When that happened, the wind that was blowing around ceased like it was a lie. An absolute and invincible single concentrated attack. A combination attack of both two people of a single being— the night sky dyed red together with the sound of a giant explosion. Splitting the cloud that was swirling around them, even space itself seemed to have sliced up as an over five meters tall tear in the space could be seen, revealing the face of the moon from the outside. *** *** On a distant mountaintop, a youth whose body was covered with black robe suddenly looked in a certain direction, frowning, muttering to himself: “So someone ascended…” He then cast his gaze towards the man beside him, he scowled: “A new God had appeared, what do you want to do now…?” The man beside him ignored the youth’s anger and just look at the horizon with a brilliant smile. Satisfied, he muttered: “It’s not new—it’s welcome back…right…?” “… …??” “He he, it has been a long time since 'he' had appeared so you aren’t able to remember this aura, brother Frey but this is really familiar that I would never forget…just where did 'he' had gone to all these years?” “That doesn’t matter, Apollo, we had faked our death but we still don’t know what you were looking for!” Looking at his happy expression, Frey gritted his teeth in frustration. “Brother Frey, relax… we will find it for sure, the thing that could turn this war upside down… the reason why the Christian Clan had suddenly disappeared into thin air—” Apollo smiled nonchalantly. “My Oracle can never be wrong…the truth on this matter must be related to this sudden Demon Invasion… “Then, why did we not include Athena on this?! With her abnormal mind, she should be able to help us greatly!” “No,” Apollo shook his head. “Athena has her own path—I saw it on my oracle, she has a great role in all of this---!” “Apollo, I can feel something hidden in your words. Just what is it, that you really after?” Just what is Apollo really wanted? Apollo didn’t answer Frey back and still kept his mysterious smile. “Frey, do you think, there is good and evil in this war?” “Huh? Just what are you saying Apollo?” “…no matter which side, all of them is neither good nor evil…” “… we are all doing what we thought is right… saving the world? Destroying the world? Do you think all of those matters? Don’t be so naïve Frey…” Frey couldn’t understand what Apollo was saying. All he could do was furrowed his brows in confusion. Didn’t matter? Just what is he trying to say? If those didn’t matter, then what matters in this war? “Does this God’s toy called world to exist eternally within a raging inferno, or will it diverge from its path and rise out of that inferno like a real phoenix?” “Everything… depends on what happens now!” Apollo, the normally taciturn man, suddenly smiled. It was a smile that contained an emotional sigh, but also, incredible ferocity! Apparently, there were dark forces that had existed for unknown years in this world… that were slowly beginning to bare their fangs! “…and what I want is only one thing…” Apollo didn’t continue his words and turned around. He started walking towards the opposite direction of the Greek palace. Looking at his back, Frey was rooted on his spot. He couldn’t understand anything that was Apollo was saying… *** *** Aside from them, there were also some others who noticed this phenomenon. The ordinary common mortals just looked and revered, some prostrated and showed their piety… but there were also those who were shocked because of this. Most of this was some secluded Gods who choose to hide their selves from the world. Who just ascended? A human ascended to Godhood? That’s impossible! They thought that a human managed to ascend but when they feel the aura coming from the light, all of this vanished. A very familiar yet unfamiliar aura… A presence of an Ancient one… Did someone successfully revived and managed to regain his [ Divinity ]? Who was it? *** ***

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNjOGY0Y2QxNzUzZjQzZDFiNWE3ZGZhN2RjODc5YmE0"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ilmarinen sits at the table for quite some time, arm under his beak in thought; it took us a while to explain everything. “It’s been many tides since the last of the Fae passed. Or so everyone thought. There be at least one now though.” </span></p> <p class="cnMzOTYxN2I0NTAyMTQ3M2Y5NmVlMDhkZTg0MzA5OTEz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ilmarinen stares at Colt, he looks down to the table. “What’s with the sour face, lad? Yer Fae now! Should be a time of celebration, not mourning!” </span></p> <p class="cnM4NGNmNzdkZWM1NDQ5ZjQ4MDMyYjgzNDQ0OGE5NWQ1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Colt keeps his head down. “But I’m not human anymore, I’m... different.” He stands up from his chair and heads to the front door. </span></p> <p class="cnM2OTM1NGYzYjEzMzRmMTFhOWVhMzJhMDY2YmExMjg4"><span style="font-weight: 400">I move to stop him, but Ilmarinen grabs my arm and shakes his head. “He needs to figure this out alone, lad.” Staring at Colt as he walks out the door, there’s a slight shimmer in the air, and then he’s gone.</span></p> <p class="cnM5YjgwMzM3NTRhNzQ2MWU4M2VjOWQ5ZDVkOTA5M2Rh"><span style="font-weight: 400">Turning to Ilmarinen, he gestures at our bags, changing the subject. “Bring out everything ye collected, I wish to inspect it.” Opening up my backpack, I take out the mole crystal and the golem core. Ilmarinen’s eyes twinkle, especially at the golem core. </span></p> <p class="cnNjYjVjYjRlOGFhMzRlYTM5OGJkOWExYmEwMjdmNmMz"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I had naught thought about it, but these items give me ideas, once you have the metal, I shall make you an anchor the likes of which have never been seen before.” </span></p> <p class="cnNjYjJkMDJkMGVlYzQ2Y2Y4MTViM2I5OTE3M2VhNmEy"><span style="font-weight: 400">Taking out the other two potion bottles full of root sap, I show them to Ilmarinen. “Inspecting it just brought up question marks with The Construct, we can’t identify it.” </span></p> <p class="cnMxYTU3MGQ2MDdhNjQ0YjlhOTk0YWRkMmVhOWZjNTNh"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ilmarinen’s face turns to shock when even he apparently can’t Inspect it. “I may not be able to Inspect it either, but this here sap be emitting Fae magick. I’ve only experienced it once before in my life, but I would be hard pressed to forget the feeling.” </span></p> <p class="cnMzNTM3NWQ0NjJhMTQ3NDc4NTA3ODY5YzU0MjdiOGEw"><span style="font-weight: 400">Taking the bottle, I feel the magick inside as well, it feels similar to making contact with Colt. We’ll simply need to ask him later to Inspect it himself.</span></p> <p class="cnM5Y2ZmZGM1OTAwODQzM2I5MzhiYjZiYzA1ZGQzNGRj"><span style="font-weight: 400">------------</span></p> <p class="cnMwY2MwNjBmYTkxZDRiMWNhZWIzZWVhZDkwZGQyNjUx"><span style="font-weight: 400">Outside Ilmarinen’s house, Colt walks under the guise of a </span><strong>Glamour</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">. The streets are empty of all but bellowclaw lobsters, but in this case, even they can’t detect him. Simply walking, he takes whatever turns his feet bring him to. </span></p> <p class="cnNmNTk1NDFlMDc1YjQzMGI4MmI2MzM1ODNkY2E5NzQ4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Everything is different for Colt now, in a way no one else can understand. Every step he takes, he’s woefully aware of how soundless it is. His body is made of magick now, not just matter. It’s strangely light, yet still as solid as any other. </span></p> <p class="cnNlMTkyMWIxM2ZhNzQzYjFiNjc2ZWE4YmI3ZTRlNTIw"><span style="font-weight: 400">Taking a knife out of his pack, he makes a small cut on his finger. Light green ichor spills out before sealing back up. With HP and MP regenerations merged, the summative total gives him greatly enhanced total regen.</span></p> <p class="cnNlOTEyZTFlZGI0NjRlYzdhOWQ0ZmYxYjNlYjEzMjVj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Lost in thought, Colt finds himself in a field, the very same one that he and Lucas collected potion ingredients from earlier. Finding a rock in the field, he takes a seat and stares out across the landscape. </span></p> <p class="cnM4YzVmYTgzNTk2NzQ1YWQ5OTIxMTk4MzMyYmY5OTFi"><span style="font-weight: 400">He watches as various bugs move about the flowers and herbs, taking nectar and pollen along with them. If he pays attention to it, he can </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">feel</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> the plants around him, each one with its own unique signature. </span></p> <p class="cnNmOWY0MGQ1ZjA4NDQ2Yzc4NjBkZTJmNTRkZjNjMGEw"><span style="font-weight: 400">Looking down at his hands, he notes that they’re still </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">his</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> hands. The left hand is still slightly off color from the rest of his skin where he had to grow it back. He may be a bit paler, but the same scars are all in the same places on his body. Nothing has changed, but so has everything. </span></p> <p class="cnNiZWU1YWIwM2NhOTRhNTdiODE3ZTY3NzM3ZWJjYTgx"><span style="font-weight: 400">A flash of green sprouts from his hand, the plants around him swell in size, fed by his </span><strong>Fae Blessing</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">. It’s a significantly more potent version of his old </span><strong>Green Thumb</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">.</span></p> <p class="cnM3ODE2OTc0ZGFlYjQwNzdiYmEyOTdkMDkwN2NkODlk"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Why did this have to happen to me? I didn’t ask for this.” Colt brings his knees to his chest and rests his head on them. Tears fill his eyes as the wind blows past him. Where he should feel a slight chill, there’s nothing. His body has no temperature to speak of. </span></p> <p class="cnNmYWNiMDM1MzQyYTQxNWRiYTRjZmZkNTU1NjQ3OWY2"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Quit all the moping, it’s unbecoming of the Fair Folk.” Colt snaps his head up in shock as he senses a presence that was not there seconds ago. The snappy voice cuts him from his train of thought. </span></p> <p class="cnNmYmEwY2NmY2NhNTRjMjZiMTIxNGE2M2FiM2RjNWEw"><span style="font-weight: 400">Looking up, there’s a man standing in front of him. His skin is pale, hair a gentle lavender, and his eyes are a deep, piercing purple. </span></p> <p class="cnNmZjM4MDYxNmRmNTQwYjM5ODQxNjMyYWI1YTM1YmIz"><span style="font-weight: 400">A pit of anger grows in Colt’s stomach. “You did this to me, didn’t you?” His voice is quiet, but seething with rage. </span></p> <p class="cnM1ZmFlMDcxZjhlZTQ2M2Y4MGViMjFiZWU3NjFmMjEw"><span style="font-weight: 400">The other Fae responds. “I may have been present, but your Fate is entirely in your hands, as The Construct wishes it to be.” </span></p> <p class="cnNmZjZkYTlmNTU4MjQzOWQ4MjY5MGY5NWIxMTIwYjdk"><span style="font-weight: 400">Colt stares at him, tears in his eyes. “So you’re saying it was my Fate to become Fae?” The man shakes his head slightly.</span></p> <p class="cnMyMTIzOWE3Mjk4NjRlOGJhYmVhNDY3MjU0MTQ2Y2U5"><span style="font-weight: 400">“It was simply one of the many possible branches of Fate you could have followed. Had you not become Mana Burnt and imbibed the magetongue brew, this would not have happened. How you made it into the Fae Forest, however, is beyond even my knowledge. I simply became aware of your entrance and investigated from afar. The Faerie Circle chose you in that moment when you laid under the Grand Tree. The process is irreversible.” </span></p> <p class="cnNlYjJjZDBmYzcyMjQzMjdhOTMyMzYwMTg2Y2MyMzdk"><span style="font-weight: 400">Colt’s stomach drops at this revelation, there’s no going back. He stares the other Fae directly in the eyes, refusing to break contact. “...Can you help me understand?” The lavender man’s lips quirks into a smile. </span></p> <p class="cnM5ZTFmNmVhMTI0ZDQ1ZTg4MmI3YjQ5ZWI2ZTI2Mzkx"><span style="font-weight: 400">“For the only other of my kind in this world? Of course. But you must not tell anyone of my existence. Being Fae is dangerous in the wrong circles, especially when you have debts unsettled.” </span></p> <p class="cnM1MWVjNjBmZDAxNjQ1NmRiY2QyODhlZjUzOTIyMTgw"><span style="font-weight: 400">Looking the man over once more, Colt notes the number of scars present on his body, they all have a slight purple tint to them. “What is your name? I’m Colton Kaine.” The Fae takes a slight bow. </span></p> <p class="cnMyYmY5MGQ1ODA4ZTQ1MzdiMWVlYTRhZWJiMmY3YWM4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“My name is Pasivier Heliothyst, former Last of The Fae. Pleased to meet you, Colton Kaine.”</span></p> <p class="cnM3MWZlNjNlNWMxNTRhYjk5MTkzMGQ2ZDA4YWJiYWIz"><span style="font-weight: 400">“What is your first question for me, Colton?” </span></p> <p class="cnM3OTMxMmNhYjY1MjQzYzFhZDRhYmZkMDc0MzdiZTQy"><span style="font-weight: 400">Colt looks at him for a moment. “Just Colt is fine. And I’m not sure, I guess it would be, what are we, how did this happen?”</span></p> <p class="cnNlZWVkYzg1YTIzOTRkMDNhOTFiNTNlODNmODhjYjc1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Pasivier smiles. “A fine first question, the answer varies, however. You took what our people would have called the Ancient Way to become Fae. The process was believed to have been refined over the years, but I believe there was a certain loss of quality in exchange for number of Fae. You are a Fae of the earth, I am a Fae of the stars.” </span></p> <p class="cnMzNGYxZjIzM2I0NzRiNTVhN2I1MjVkODg5NjY0NDg5"><span style="font-weight: 400">In his eyes, Colt sees the power of the stars held within this man. Pasivier continues after taking in Colt’s expression. “I envy you, with your ties to the earth. It is a powerful magick. Tell me, what is your resource?” </span></p> <p class="cnM1YTMwOTM1MmMwNjQ3N2M4ZmEwYzQ4MTY1YmRlNmM3"><span style="font-weight: 400">Colt thinks for a moment but decides honesty is best. “Wild Magick.” Pasivier turns a slight shade of purple at this. </span></p> <p class="cnNkZTViZjY4Y2M5OTQ4MjRiYWE1NWI5ODkxOTg3ZWNl"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Truly? Wild Magick? But that- No it does not matter, I believe you. As an exchange, I shall tell you my magick, perhaps I can even pass on some knowledge. I am a performer of Celestial Magick, the magick of the stars and the sky. Wild Magick is considered to be the most powerful of the Fae magicks. However, it is an incredibly difficult magick to control. We shall practice that in time. For now, I believe we have more to discuss.” </span></p> <p class="cnMyOTkzYzMyNGUyOTRjMTQ4NDU3NjQ2OGJiZjM5M2U1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Colt stares at himself again. “I wish I could change time, and turn back, I’m not </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">me</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> anymore.” Pasivier looks truly offended by this declaration. </span></p> <p class="cnNmYmNkMzEwOWJmOTQwMDliMjE2MzFlZmZhZWExYzM3"><span style="font-weight: 400">“How could you not be </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">more</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> you? The Fae magick might have transformed your body, but the process involved is the refining of your truest self. You are more </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">you</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> than you ever were in your short, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">mortal</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> life.” </span></p> <p class="cnM1MDdiZGFmYzNjNDQ3NWY5YWYwZTM1YmUwMzEwZmYx"><span style="font-weight: 400">A shock runs through Colt at these words. Feeling deep inside himself for the essence of who he is, he realizes the truth in Pasivier’s statement. Every part of him is still </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">his</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">. His mind is still his own. With a flick of his hand, large tendrils of vines sprout up, breaking the ground away. The magick is still his as well, even if it’s changed. </span></p> <p class="cnM3MWViNmYwMjMwMTRjMzc5YmQyYmU3YWU4MmNlMDVh"><span style="font-weight: 400">Everything may have changed, but in the end, it's still </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">him</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">. Reassured, he stands up. “Show me the ways of the Fair Folk.” Pasivier’s smile is ear to ear now. </span></p> <p class="cnNkNjNmMmQzNTMzNDQ1ZmJhYzA5MWI4MzBiMjU5YjY4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I was waiting for that.”</span></p> <p class="cnNhYTIwZWUzZmI2MjRjNGFiZDgzYTdkZDYwYjI0N2Y0"><span style="font-weight: 400">Hours passed in minutes while Pasivier instructs Colt on all things Fae. He gains several levels in </span><strong>Glamour</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> as well as his nature and earth spells. Pasivier even manages to teach Colt a celestial spell, </span><strong>Stardust</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">. It’s the intro spell to </span><strong>Astrokinesis</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> but has its uses for distraction and even has minor healing properties if used correctly.</span></p> <p class="cnM0ODg5ZGZmNGE5YzQwZDE5MDM4MWFjMWQzZmVmZjBi"><span style="font-weight: 400">Colt’s head is throbbing by the time Pasivier considers them done for the day. Maintaining control of his Wild Magick takes an immense amount of mental effort. Not to mention the crash course on everything to expect from his Magickal Anatomy. </span></p> <p class="cnM4NTQwNmQ4NWNkNTQzOTA5OTMwY2RiNDUwMmMyMGIz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Apparently, using too much of his Wild Magick will drain his physical body as well. As long as he has even a single point of Wild Magick, he will never die. Pasivier warns him, however, that the recovery will be painful. </span></p> <p class="cnMwM2EzOGYwM2IzMzRhYTc4OWE3MWM5ZDM3MjExYzNm"><span style="font-weight: 400">Walking back to Ilmarinen’s house, Pasivier disappears in a </span><strong>Glamour</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">, assuring Colt that he will find him again at a later date. As he steps out of the field, he feels an object slip into his hand. </span></p> <p class="cnM1YzU3YWExNWRhYTQ5N2E4OWViNDc3NTEwZmZjYTA5"><span style="font-weight: 400">Looking at it, he finds a smooth purple crystal with glowing glyphs moving across the surface and a strange light within. Inspecting it gives him no results, but he slips it into his pocket anyway. </span></p> <p class="cnM0NGY1ZDQxOTliYjQ0YmQ5NzhlNmYxZDQzYzA4NDMw"><span style="font-weight: 400">-----------</span></p> <p class="cnNkYWI0NmZhMjRjYzQ1NTk5N2Q2MzUwNTQwZWU4NzMw"><span style="font-weight: 400">The door opens back up and I look up from where I was waiting at the table, flipping through the Basics of Fire tome, but not really paying any attention. I stand up immediately as Colt steps in. His familiar grin is back on his face, his posture exuding confidence. </span></p> <p class="cnM1NzEyYjczZWNmMjQyZWJiMTdlZjFjZmZjODA4ZGU5"><span style="font-weight: 400">My face is alight with a smile seeing my best friend back to his normal self. “You’re back! What happened?” He smirks at me. </span></p> <p class="cnNmYzBkYWNmZmI3ZDRlZjQ5OTc1NzIyNjBlYmYzN2Zm"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Fae’s secret. Let’s just say I came to terms with these changes.” He flashes one of his hands toward me, sparks of light fly out. </span></p> <p class="cnM0MzYzY2I3NGEwNzRkNzM5NjE3YmE0NjQxMWUyMjll"><span style="font-weight: 400">Some of them land on me, I flinch for a moment before I realize they feel </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">good</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">. “Woah! What was that?” </span></p> <p class="cnMxYTQ1OGM0YTYyMjQ5NmRhNDJmZWJjNWZkNDUxOWI5"><span style="font-weight: 400">“It’s Fae magick, I figured out how to do it, it apparently has some minor healing abilities! Otherwise, it’s just a showy spell. It’s called </span><strong>Stardust</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">.”</span></p> <p class="cnM2NzliOGE1NTdiMzRlMGM5ODUwMzEyOGNiNzRlODY1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ilmarinen walks back into the room, hearing the commotion. He takes one look at Colt. “Good to see yer back to yerself, now make dinner.” Colt looks annoyed for a moment but sighs and smiles to himself, moving to the kitchen. </span></p> <p class="cnNmNDk1MWU3NDVkYjQ5NTlhNWE5ODBhNjBjZjFmOTM5"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ilmarinen sets a hot ingot of metal on an anvil and begins hammering it. When I look over, I realize he’s handling the white-hot ingot by hand. “Doesn’t that </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">hurt</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">?” </span></p> <p class="cnNhNmIwZDdiZmVhNzQ3MGY5ZDIxNTBiNTI2ZTA1ZGQx"><span style="font-weight: 400">He stares at me. “Nay, lad, I wouldn’t be handling it if it did, now would I?” He turns back to his work, ignoring me now. ‘Stupid octopus gets moody when he’s hungry.’ Bored with sitting around, I move into the kitchen to help out Colt. </span></p> <p class="cnM0OGY5YWMwMWNiODRkM2E4NDEwMjQ5ZTlkYWQ0MTYz"><span style="font-weight: 400">He hums to himself while he moves around the kitchen with a certain grace I had never noticed with him before. It seems him becoming Fae did change some things, like his heavy farmer’s steps.</span></p> <p class="cnNhMTE4ZTgyM2IyZDQ3MjdhMjZjYmY4YzA5NWY2MmI3"><span style="font-weight: 400">Colt notices me watching him practically dance around the kitchen and blushes. Trying to avoid showing my shock, I smile. His blush is green. “Oh… Hi.” Colt stares at me. </span></p> <p class="cnM0NTgwYjBhNzg0OTQ2ZTJiYjcwZDVkODI5MTMzYWJl"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I wanted to help out with the whole cooking thing.” He looks shocked himself now. </span></p> <p class="cnM4YzRmOThiOGZlZjRjMTM5YjUzMTM5ZDE3YzllNjE2"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Oh, well you can uh, chop these vegetables for me.” Setting to work, we idly chatter while preparing food, it’s nice to have everything feel normal again after Colt’s transformation. </span></p> <p class="cnNlNTIyZDBjYjA0YzQ1ODM4NmRmYjhlNzY0ZTI4NzFl"><span style="font-weight: 400">The dinner is ready so Colt prepares everything on plates, bringing them out to the table. It’s some kind of fish again, it looks and smells delicious. When we sit down, I truly take in the aromas of the food. </span></p> <p class="cnNlZTBmMDM1ZWIyNzQ5YTY4MTYyNTM4ODhlMDVhYTUy"><span style="font-weight: 400">The fish is cooked and seasoned to perfection, the vegetables have been boiled and seasoned as well on the side, they look rich in flavor and heavily appetizing too. </span></p> <p class="cnNiMDA2NDIxYzJiZDQ0YjQ4MjMyMzgyMjVhNzdhNjU4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Taking my first bite of the fish, it melts in my mouth. The flavor is absolutely divine. From across the table, Ilmarinen grumbles a bit. “Something’s off about the vegetables, the seasoning is fine but there be something I cannot place me arm on. The fish is delicious though, thank you, Colt.” </span></p> <p class="cnM0ZTdlNmEyNWQ1NDRkMjNhNmU5Y2ZjNjMyNjgwMjI2"><span style="font-weight: 400">He mutters his thanks while my heart sinks. ‘I prepared the vegetables.’</span></p> <p class="cnNiMjI4NDczYzIxNTRjZGFhYmI3YzFlODFiNTFkZDMz"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Why does all food I touch turn bland?!” Ilmarinen and Colt stare at me, but return to eating, only finishing some of their vegetables.</span></p> <p class="cnM2OGEwZjYxYzQzNTQxYWY4ZjI4NTk2NDNjNzVhMWUx"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I believe it be time for me to see the two of ye duel. I want to assess yer skills as an Anchorist, Lucas. As for Colt, I must admit I am excited to see a Fae in action. It’s been many tides since I last saw Fae magick.” </span></p> <p class="cnM2MTBiMzZkMjIwMjQ4ZjY5OWUwM2JhOTAwOTFhOGUy"><span style="font-weight: 400">We stare at each other, then at Ilmarinen. His look tells us we can’t say no. We grudgingly follow him into a room of the house we haven’t seen before. It’s a very plain room, simple brick walls, and smooth stone flooring. “This be my training room, everything is enchanted. I would like to see either of ye break this stone, should be impossible at your current strength.” </span></p> <p class="cnM2ZGI4MmMxOTEyNDQ2Njg4NjdlNWIwZDRlN2RjOTNj"><span style="font-weight: 400">At Ilmarinen’s comment, I take a stance and stare at Colt. “I want ye to go full force on each other, this training room possesses certain enchantments that will allow it.” </span></p> <p class="cnMzZGVjMDRiZDQwYzQxY2M4MjlhZWRlM2QzMzRhZWRl"><span style="font-weight: 400">A quick check of my conditions in my status shows that I am currently “Protected”. Nodding to Colt, we agree to trust what Ilmarinen says. </span><strong>Plotting</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> a </span><strong>Course</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">, I sprint towards Colt at high speed, anchor held up and ready to smash him. </span></p> <p class="cnMyNTllMDFmNGM4YTQ0MDM5YmYzMTkzNTM2NjljNzE3"><span style="font-weight: 400">A shimmer in the air is all I see before Colt disappears. I swing at empty air, hitting nothing. Taking a guess based on how well I know my friend, I fire a volley of </span><strong>Mana Darts</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> back and to my left. </span></p> <p class="cnMwMGE3NDNkZTk1MDQzNzlhZmRiYzU0MTc4Mjk4YWMy"><span style="font-weight: 400">A grunt of pain emits from the air, telling me that my shot landed. Deciding to surprise Colt once more, I use a new spell I’ve been practicing from the Basics of Fire tome. “</span><strong>Flame Swathe!</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">” A jet of fire shoots out from my hand, hitting the area where I assumed Colt would be. </span></p> <p class="cnNhOTJjMjI0MDdhYzQzMzc4M2FjOWMzNjk5MzVlYTFm"><span style="font-weight: 400">Just as I shoot this, however, a fist connects with my ribs, sending me flying into the wall. “</span><strong>Glamours</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> are more than just visual, Lucas.” Colt smirks at me, his hand coated in stone and thorny vines. </span></p> <p class="cnM0ZjRjOTY4ZDU3YTRhYzY5MjBkNThkODUxYjA3M2Y1"><span style="font-weight: 400">His hit </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">hurt</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">, but a check of my HP shows that I am completely full. ‘Protected, huh?’ Letting go of my inhibitions, I feel any restrictions I was holding to my movements fall away. </span></p> <p class="cnM0YzI1ZmMzNDZlYjRhNDJiMzZiOGUyMmI1NTk4Yjc5"><span style="font-weight: 400">Pouring MP into as many knots as my legs can handle, I </span><strong>Plot</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> another </span><strong>Course</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">. My body blurs as I launch at Colt with a </span><strong>Crashing Wake</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">. His eyes widen in surprise as my anchor connects, delivering a </span><strong>Devastating Impact</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> to his stomach. </span></p> <p class="cnMzY2Y0ZjY3MTJmYzQ0ZDY5MzY1YTc4MmQzNTFhNTE4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Having caught him by surprise with my speed, he was unable to affect me with another </span><strong>Glamour</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> in time to dodge. His body crashes into the wall from the force. Standing up again, he grunts. </span></p> <p class="cnMwNDVjNjk1YTBmMjRlNjk5YjYzNDYwODQ1OWEyMTg5"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Okay, so we’re really playing hardball then, huh? Try this on for size.” He holds a hand out, it glows green as spires of stone launch up from the ground at me, I back up, dodging each expertly, using my Ballasted Body to move at odd angles with perfect balance. </span></p> <p class="cnMwYTI0NWU4MzMwMDRiOWY5OTY5ODc2NTAzY2QzYWQ3"><span style="font-weight: 400">As I move backward, however, I feel my body touch a mass behind me. Thorny vines entangle my body, constricting tightly on me. </span></p> <p class="cnNlODJmMmU2MGU4YTRlYTc4MGZkNjZkYmY0MDRlNjJk"><span style="font-weight: 400">Struggling to free myself, I shift every way possible, scratching myself on the thorns in the process. My anger builds in my stomach. Reaching inside myself, I focus that anger, willing myself a way out of this. </span></p> <p class="cnM1YWMyZTAwYjQxZDQ0MzU5YjQzOGM2OWViOWM5MzBi"><span style="font-weight: 400">The answer comes in the form of words echoing in my mind. “</span><strong>Marlinspike!</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">” A thin watery cone stabs and slices around my body, cutting through the </span><strong>Gaia’s Grasp</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> with ease.</span></p> <p class="cnM4MmNiMWVjMGUwYjQyYTA4NDE0NTkzM2FiY2ZkOGU0"><span style="font-weight: 400">Landing on the ground, I grin at Colt. I charge him once more, my body blurs. He’s ready for me this time. From my side, I realize too late that it was another </span><strong>Glamour</strong><span style="font-weight: 400">. </span></p> <p class="cnMxZWE2ZTQ3ZTZkYTQ0MDY5OTk3OTZjMDhhNGIwZjA3"><span style="font-weight: 400">Colt roars as a </span><strong>Fist of Gaia</strong><span style="font-weight: 400"> smashes me into the ground. This time, Ilmarinen calls the fight, declaring me the loser. Apparently, without the Protection of his training room, that attack would have been fatal. </span></p> <p class="cnMzNjQ1MzBlYTkzYjRjNzQ4M2JmODFjODUwN2ZjMGYx"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Now bow and shake hands the both of ye.” We follow his instructions and do so. My anger at the fight dissipates in seconds, I’m simply happy to see Colt feeling better about himself now, even if he is apparently much stronger than me. </span></p> <p class="cnNjYjg4YTQ2MGU4ZjRiZWY4MDgxOWM2Mzc5MzcxZjAz"><span style="font-weight: 400">There is a level of embarrassment at losing, however, but I brush that off. Grinning at him, I slap him on the back. “You’ve gotten so much stronger now! You’re a badass!” </span></p> <p class="cnMxMmM2Nzg4YjNkMDQ4OGM4YjlhYWVlYTU1ZDBjMzZi"><span style="font-weight: 400">He blushes a bit at the compliment. “You caught me off guard several times there too. How did you move so </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">fast</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">? I felt like I got hit by a freight train!” </span></p> <p class="cnMzYmYxNjJlNmQ4ZTQxMmVhODE4MDM1NmNiOWQxZjA4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Yes yes yer both very impressive, now go wash off, ye smell vile.” Our moods sour slightly at Ilmarinen’s words until we give ourselves a sniff. ‘It’s not </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">that</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> bad. ...Maybe a little bad. Ilmarinen must have some kind of smelling Perk like me.’</span></p> <p class="cnM1NWIxOTBjYzdlNTQzMjRhN2MxOTY4N2M1ZDJiMTU2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Colt calls dibs on first shower this time, so I know it’ll be a while until he’s done. Ilmarinen remains in the training room with me. “Ye have a talent with the anchor, but yer form is poor.” Nodding, I take his advice to heart. </span></p> <p class="cnM5OTdlZmUyNzMwZDRkMWNhMGNlYTM3Yjc2MjcwODhl"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Will you show me?” He grumbles a bit but steps out of the room. Returning with his anchor, he takes a stance, holding the weapon in slightly different places as well as shifting his feet differently than I’m used to. </span></p> <p class="cnNiYTU5MDY0NDNiODQwZGNiMDBhYWQ4M2ViMjJmNTNh"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Ballasted Body helps an Anchorist immensely with handling the weight, but stable footing such as this will do ye wonders.” Mimicking his stance, I notice an immediate improvement. </span></p> <p class="cnM2NGUzMmNhOTZkNTQ0Y2Q4ODIzMjE0YTJjOTBjMjQ4"><span style="font-weight: 400">My anchor feels far easier to hold, and I can shift my weight better to hit with it as well. After taking a few practice swings, The Construct alerts me of my gains from both the spar and Ilmarinen’s teachings.</span></p> <p class="cnM0MDgyYjg3ZWEzOTRmZjE5MTZmOWYwZDQzMWM1ODU1"><strong>Level up! For use of a related perk as well as continued practice with the anchor, your Talent: Fledgling Anchorist has reached (20/50)!</strong></p> <p class="cnMzOWY0N2FkZjBlODRhZjA4ZmFhMjNiNTJjMzg3ZWU3"><strong>For reaching your fourth Talent milestone in Fledgling Anchorist, you have been awarded applicable stat points to Strength, Endurance, Dexterity, Willpower and + 120 XP. In addition, you have been granted the Perk: Ebb and Flow</strong></p> <p class="cnNmY2U2MTg4YjA0ZTQ0NzE5Zjc1ODFlMjBkOWVkNDA1"><strong>Skill level ups have occurred, check the Skills menu for further details!</strong></p> <p class="cnM3NTA4ODZlYWE0NjQ3ZjhiYzJlMjE0MDIwYTQ0NWZm"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Ilmarinen what does the Perk Ebb and Flow do?” </span></p> <p class="cnM5MWViZjE4YmNlNzRkY2NiNWUzMWFjYWM5ZGMyNzU4"><span style="font-weight: 400">He chuckles to himself. “Oh to be young again. Try it yerself, allow yer body to move with the Ebb and the Flow of the tides.”</span></p> <p class="cnNhN2Y5MWMxNjcxNDRjMjRhMDhiM2Y2MzlmYjJhYjlm"><span style="font-weight: 400">Moving back into my stance, I move around, finding my body seems to flow now, and backing up feels far more stable and graceful than it did minutes earlier during the spar. Feeling my mana as well, something seems </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">different</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> about my mana vessels. Checking the Perks menu, I’m given my answer.</span></p> <p class="cnNlZWM0NGE3NTY1YzQ5Mzg4MmExNzY3NTI2OTliNDNl"><strong>Perks:</strong></p> <p class="cnMzMzU4YzUzZTk1ZjQ5ZDZiZjBhZTQ1NDJiNmU5OWZk"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Ebb and Flow</span></em></p> <p class="cnM5NWI4NWQ2ZmZlZTQ1ZTVhNDg2MDE5OTc2YzgyZTcx"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Description: Your body now rides the tides of life, allowing you to Ebb and Flow seamlessly through the battlefield. Dexterity increased by 1. +1 Dexterity per level up.</span></em></p> <p class="cnNlM2RkOGRmZTU2NDRhMTVhNjhlMWEzY2I5NDI1NGFh"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Neural-Magic Vessels</span></em></p> <p class="cnM3ZjQ3MDM3YjMwNTQ3ZDJhZjIyNjkyMGY1OTMyOGNi"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Description: Your nerves and neurons have merged with your mana vessels. Mana now flows down your neural pathways, granting increased magical power, speed, instinct, and memory. Intelligence increased by 1. +1 Intelligence per level.</span></em></p> <p class="cnNhZGViOGI0ODM1NDQ3NTQ4YzA4MDk3MGU1Mzc3ZTRi"><span style="font-weight: 400">‘Both of these perks seem incredibly powerful!’ Turning to Ilmarinen, I thank him for his instructions. </span></p> <p class="cnNiMWIwNDUwYTFiZTQ1YTc5MDQ0NWExMGUwZWI2ZTE1"><span style="font-weight: 400">We go through forms once more, everything flowing far more easily now. Even Ilmarinen seems impressed by my sudden skillfulness. By the time we finidh, Colt is done with his shower. </span></p> <p class="cnNjYjc4MWQ0ZDcyZTQyNzhiNGFjYjNjMTY0YTNhYWMx"><span style="font-weight: 400">He steps out of a cloud of steam, smiling and heading to the bedroom. “Your turn.” Taking the chance happily, I grab another set of clothes, setting them in the enchanted shelves of the bathroom. </span></p> <p class="cnM2ZTAwZDNlN2MyOTQ4ZGY5Y2ZhZTA5NmY1MTFiYWMw"><span style="font-weight: 400">The steaming hot water immediately helps to relax my tense muscles. After spending a long time simply enjoying the heat and washing, I step out of the bathroom, feeling like a new man. </span></p> <p class="cnMyZTAyYWRjOGIyOTQ2OWY4YTJmOTkwNDcyN2JhZTUx"><span style="font-weight: 400">Climbing into bed, I lay down, tomorrow will be another busy day. Colt and I need to make more potions before we head back out to the forest to collect more materials for our quests. The second my head hits the pillow I’m out like a light.</span></p> </div>

Ilmarinen sits at the table for quite some time, arm under his beak in thought; it took us a while to explain everything. “It’s been many tides since the last of the Fae passed. Or so everyone thought. There be at least one now though.” Ilmarinen stares at Colt, he looks down to the table. “What’s with the sour face, lad? Yer Fae now! Should be a time of celebration, not mourning!” Colt keeps his head down. “But I’m not human anymore, I’m... different.” He stands up from his chair and heads to the front door. I move to stop him, but Ilmarinen grabs my arm and shakes his head. “He needs to figure this out alone, lad.” Staring at Colt as he walks out the door, there’s a slight shimmer in the air, and then he’s gone. Turning to Ilmarinen, he gestures at our bags, changing the subject. “Bring out everything ye collected, I wish to inspect it.” Opening up my backpack, I take out the mole crystal and the golem core. Ilmarinen’s eyes twinkle, especially at the golem core. “I had naught thought about it, but these items give me ideas, once you have the metal, I shall make you an anchor the likes of which have never been seen before.” Taking out the other two potion bottles full of root sap, I show them to Ilmarinen. “Inspecting it just brought up question marks with The Construct, we can’t identify it.” Ilmarinen’s face turns to shock when even he apparently can’t Inspect it. “I may not be able to Inspect it either, but this here sap be emitting Fae magick. I’ve only experienced it once before in my life, but I would be hard pressed to forget the feeling.” Taking the bottle, I feel the magick inside as well, it feels similar to making contact with Colt. We’ll simply need to ask him later to Inspect it himself. ------------ Outside Ilmarinen’s house, Colt walks under the guise of a **Glamour**. The streets are empty of all but bellowclaw lobsters, but in this case, even they can’t detect him. Simply walking, he takes whatever turns his feet bring him to. Everything is different for Colt now, in a way no one else can understand. Every step he takes, he’s woefully aware of how soundless it is. His body is made of magick now, not just matter. It’s strangely light, yet still as solid as any other. Taking a knife out of his pack, he makes a small cut on his finger. Light green ichor spills out before sealing back up. With HP and MP regenerations merged, the summative total gives him greatly enhanced total regen. Lost in thought, Colt finds himself in a field, the very same one that he and Lucas collected potion ingredients from earlier. Finding a rock in the field, he takes a seat and stares out across the landscape. He watches as various bugs move about the flowers and herbs, taking nectar and pollen along with them. If he pays attention to it, he can *feel* the plants around him, each one with its own unique signature. Looking down at his hands, he notes that they’re still *his* hands. The left hand is still slightly off color from the rest of his skin where he had to grow it back. He may be a bit paler, but the same scars are all in the same places on his body. Nothing has changed, but so has everything. A flash of green sprouts from his hand, the plants around him swell in size, fed by his **Fae Blessing**. It’s a significantly more potent version of his old **Green Thumb**. “Why did this have to happen to me? I didn’t ask for this.” Colt brings his knees to his chest and rests his head on them. Tears fill his eyes as the wind blows past him. Where he should feel a slight chill, there’s nothing. His body has no temperature to speak of. “Quit all the moping, it’s unbecoming of the Fair Folk.” Colt snaps his head up in shock as he senses a presence that was not there seconds ago. The snappy voice cuts him from his train of thought. Looking up, there’s a man standing in front of him. His skin is pale, hair a gentle lavender, and his eyes are a deep, piercing purple. A pit of anger grows in Colt’s stomach. “You did this to me, didn’t you?” His voice is quiet, but seething with rage. The other Fae responds. “I may have been present, but your Fate is entirely in your hands, as The Construct wishes it to be.” Colt stares at him, tears in his eyes. “So you’re saying it was my Fate to become Fae?” The man shakes his head slightly. “It was simply one of the many possible branches of Fate you could have followed. Had you not become Mana Burnt and imbibed the magetongue brew, this would not have happened. How you made it into the Fae Forest, however, is beyond even my knowledge. I simply became aware of your entrance and investigated from afar. The Faerie Circle chose you in that moment when you laid under the Grand Tree. The process is irreversible.” Colt’s stomach drops at this revelation, there’s no going back. He stares the other Fae directly in the eyes, refusing to break contact. “...Can you help me understand?” The lavender man’s lips quirks into a smile. “For the only other of my kind in this world? Of course. But you must not tell anyone of my existence. Being Fae is dangerous in the wrong circles, especially when you have debts unsettled.” Looking the man over once more, Colt notes the number of scars present on his body, they all have a slight purple tint to them. “What is your name? I’m Colton Kaine.” The Fae takes a slight bow. “My name is Pasivier Heliothyst, former Last of The Fae. Pleased to meet you, Colton Kaine.” “What is your first question for me, Colton?” Colt looks at him for a moment. “Just Colt is fine. And I’m not sure, I guess it would be, what are we, how did this happen?” Pasivier smiles. “A fine first question, the answer varies, however. You took what our people would have called the Ancient Way to become Fae. The process was believed to have been refined over the years, but I believe there was a certain loss of quality in exchange for number of Fae. You are a Fae of the earth, I am a Fae of the stars.” In his eyes, Colt sees the power of the stars held within this man. Pasivier continues after taking in Colt’s expression. “I envy you, with your ties to the earth. It is a powerful magick. Tell me, what is your resource?” Colt thinks for a moment but decides honesty is best. “Wild Magick.” Pasivier turns a slight shade of purple at this. “Truly? Wild Magick? But that- No it does not matter, I believe you. As an exchange, I shall tell you my magick, perhaps I can even pass on some knowledge. I am a performer of Celestial Magick, the magick of the stars and the sky. Wild Magick is considered to be the most powerful of the Fae magicks. However, it is an incredibly difficult magick to control. We shall practice that in time. For now, I believe we have more to discuss.” Colt stares at himself again. “I wish I could change time, and turn back, I’m not *me* anymore.” Pasivier looks truly offended by this declaration. “How could you not be *more* you? The Fae magick might have transformed your body, but the process involved is the refining of your truest self. You are more *you* than you ever were in your short, *mortal* life.” A shock runs through Colt at these words. Feeling deep inside himself for the essence of who he is, he realizes the truth in Pasivier’s statement. Every part of him is still *his*. His mind is still his own. With a flick of his hand, large tendrils of vines sprout up, breaking the ground away. The magick is still his as well, even if it’s changed. Everything may have changed, but in the end, it's still *him*. Reassured, he stands up. “Show me the ways of the Fair Folk.” Pasivier’s smile is ear to ear now. “I was waiting for that.” Hours passed in minutes while Pasivier instructs Colt on all things Fae. He gains several levels in **Glamour** as well as his nature and earth spells. Pasivier even manages to teach Colt a celestial spell, **Stardust**. It’s the intro spell to **Astrokinesis** but has its uses for distraction and even has minor healing properties if used correctly. Colt’s head is throbbing by the time Pasivier considers them done for the day. Maintaining control of his Wild Magick takes an immense amount of mental effort. Not to mention the crash course on everything to expect from his Magickal Anatomy. Apparently, using too much of his Wild Magick will drain his physical body as well. As long as he has even a single point of Wild Magick, he will never die. Pasivier warns him, however, that the recovery will be painful. Walking back to Ilmarinen’s house, Pasivier disappears in a **Glamour**, assuring Colt that he will find him again at a later date. As he steps out of the field, he feels an object slip into his hand. Looking at it, he finds a smooth purple crystal with glowing glyphs moving across the surface and a strange light within. Inspecting it gives him no results, but he slips it into his pocket anyway. ----------- The door opens back up and I look up from where I was waiting at the table, flipping through the Basics of Fire tome, but not really paying any attention. I stand up immediately as Colt steps in. His familiar grin is back on his face, his posture exuding confidence. My face is alight with a smile seeing my best friend back to his normal self. “You’re back! What happened?” He smirks at me. “Fae’s secret. Let’s just say I came to terms with these changes.” He flashes one of his hands toward me, sparks of light fly out. Some of them land on me, I flinch for a moment before I realize they feel *good*. “Woah! What was that?” “It’s Fae magick, I figured out how to do it, it apparently has some minor healing abilities! Otherwise, it’s just a showy spell. It’s called **Stardust**.” Ilmarinen walks back into the room, hearing the commotion. He takes one look at Colt. “Good to see yer back to yerself, now make dinner.” Colt looks annoyed for a moment but sighs and smiles to himself, moving to the kitchen. Ilmarinen sets a hot ingot of metal on an anvil and begins hammering it. When I look over, I realize he’s handling the white-hot ingot by hand. “Doesn’t that *hurt*?” He stares at me. “Nay, lad, I wouldn’t be handling it if it did, now would I?” He turns back to his work, ignoring me now. ‘Stupid octopus gets moody when he’s hungry.’ Bored with sitting around, I move into the kitchen to help out Colt. He hums to himself while he moves around the kitchen with a certain grace I had never noticed with him before. It seems him becoming Fae did change some things, like his heavy farmer’s steps. Colt notices me watching him practically dance around the kitchen and blushes. Trying to avoid showing my shock, I smile. His blush is green. “Oh… Hi.” Colt stares at me. “I wanted to help out with the whole cooking thing.” He looks shocked himself now. “Oh, well you can uh, chop these vegetables for me.” Setting to work, we idly chatter while preparing food, it’s nice to have everything feel normal again after Colt’s transformation. The dinner is ready so Colt prepares everything on plates, bringing them out to the table. It’s some kind of fish again, it looks and smells delicious. When we sit down, I truly take in the aromas of the food. The fish is cooked and seasoned to perfection, the vegetables have been boiled and seasoned as well on the side, they look rich in flavor and heavily appetizing too. Taking my first bite of the fish, it melts in my mouth. The flavor is absolutely divine. From across the table, Ilmarinen grumbles a bit. “Something’s off about the vegetables, the seasoning is fine but there be something I cannot place me arm on. The fish is delicious though, thank you, Colt.” He mutters his thanks while my heart sinks. ‘I prepared the vegetables.’ “Why does all food I touch turn bland?!” Ilmarinen and Colt stare at me, but return to eating, only finishing some of their vegetables. “I believe it be time for me to see the two of ye duel. I want to assess yer skills as an Anchorist, Lucas. As for Colt, I must admit I am excited to see a Fae in action. It’s been many tides since I last saw Fae magick.” We stare at each other, then at Ilmarinen. His look tells us we can’t say no. We grudgingly follow him into a room of the house we haven’t seen before. It’s a very plain room, simple brick walls, and smooth stone flooring. “This be my training room, everything is enchanted. I would like to see either of ye break this stone, should be impossible at your current strength.” At Ilmarinen’s comment, I take a stance and stare at Colt. “I want ye to go full force on each other, this training room possesses certain enchantments that will allow it.” A quick check of my conditions in my status shows that I am currently “Protected”. Nodding to Colt, we agree to trust what Ilmarinen says. **Plotting** a **Course**, I sprint towards Colt at high speed, anchor held up and ready to smash him. A shimmer in the air is all I see before Colt disappears. I swing at empty air, hitting nothing. Taking a guess based on how well I know my friend, I fire a volley of **Mana Darts** back and to my left. A grunt of pain emits from the air, telling me that my shot landed. Deciding to surprise Colt once more, I use a new spell I’ve been practicing from the Basics of Fire tome. “**Flame Swathe!**” A jet of fire shoots out from my hand, hitting the area where I assumed Colt would be. Just as I shoot this, however, a fist connects with my ribs, sending me flying into the wall. “**Glamours** are more than just visual, Lucas.” Colt smirks at me, his hand coated in stone and thorny vines. His hit *hurt*, but a check of my HP shows that I am completely full. ‘Protected, huh?’ Letting go of my inhibitions, I feel any restrictions I was holding to my movements fall away. Pouring MP into as many knots as my legs can handle, I **Plot** another **Course**. My body blurs as I launch at Colt with a **Crashing Wake**. His eyes widen in surprise as my anchor connects, delivering a **Devastating Impact** to his stomach. Having caught him by surprise with my speed, he was unable to affect me with another **Glamour** in time to dodge. His body crashes into the wall from the force. Standing up again, he grunts. “Okay, so we’re really playing hardball then, huh? Try this on for size.” He holds a hand out, it glows green as spires of stone launch up from the ground at me, I back up, dodging each expertly, using my Ballasted Body to move at odd angles with perfect balance. As I move backward, however, I feel my body touch a mass behind me. Thorny vines entangle my body, constricting tightly on me. Struggling to free myself, I shift every way possible, scratching myself on the thorns in the process. My anger builds in my stomach. Reaching inside myself, I focus that anger, willing myself a way out of this. The answer comes in the form of words echoing in my mind. “**Marlinspike!**” A thin watery cone stabs and slices around my body, cutting through the **Gaia’s Grasp** with ease. Landing on the ground, I grin at Colt. I charge him once more, my body blurs. He’s ready for me this time. From my side, I realize too late that it was another **Glamour**. Colt roars as a **Fist of Gaia** smashes me into the ground. This time, Ilmarinen calls the fight, declaring me the loser. Apparently, without the Protection of his training room, that attack would have been fatal. “Now bow and shake hands the both of ye.” We follow his instructions and do so. My anger at the fight dissipates in seconds, I’m simply happy to see Colt feeling better about himself now, even if he is apparently much stronger than me. There is a level of embarrassment at losing, however, but I brush that off. Grinning at him, I slap him on the back. “You’ve gotten so much stronger now! You’re a badass!” He blushes a bit at the compliment. “You caught me off guard several times there too. How did you move so *fast*? I felt like I got hit by a freight train!” “Yes yes yer both very impressive, now go wash off, ye smell vile.” Our moods sour slightly at Ilmarinen’s words until we give ourselves a sniff. ‘It’s not *that* bad. ...Maybe a little bad. Ilmarinen must have some kind of smelling Perk like me.’ Colt calls dibs on first shower this time, so I know it’ll be a while until he’s done. Ilmarinen remains in the training room with me. “Ye have a talent with the anchor, but yer form is poor.” Nodding, I take his advice to heart. “Will you show me?” He grumbles a bit but steps out of the room. Returning with his anchor, he takes a stance, holding the weapon in slightly different places as well as shifting his feet differently than I’m used to. “Ballasted Body helps an Anchorist immensely with handling the weight, but stable footing such as this will do ye wonders.” Mimicking his stance, I notice an immediate improvement. My anchor feels far easier to hold, and I can shift my weight better to hit with it as well. After taking a few practice swings, The Construct alerts me of my gains from both the spar and Ilmarinen’s teachings. **Level up! For use of a related perk as well as continued practice with the anchor, your Talent: Fledgling Anchorist has reached (20/50)!** **For reaching your fourth Talent milestone in Fledgling Anchorist, you have been awarded applicable stat points to Strength, Endurance, Dexterity, Willpower and + 120 XP. In addition, you have been granted the Perk: Ebb and Flow** **Skill level ups have occurred, check the Skills menu for further details!** “Ilmarinen what does the Perk Ebb and Flow do?” He chuckles to himself. “Oh to be young again. Try it yerself, allow yer body to move with the Ebb and the Flow of the tides.” Moving back into my stance, I move around, finding my body seems to flow now, and backing up feels far more stable and graceful than it did minutes earlier during the spar. Feeling my mana as well, something seems *different* about my mana vessels. Checking the Perks menu, I’m given my answer. **Perks:** *Ebb and Flow* *Description: Your body now rides the tides of life, allowing you to Ebb and Flow seamlessly through the battlefield. Dexterity increased by 1. +1 Dexterity per level up.* *Neural-Magic Vessels* *Description: Your nerves and neurons have merged with your mana vessels. Mana now flows down your neural pathways, granting increased magical power, speed, instinct, and memory. Intelligence increased by 1. +1 Intelligence per level.* ‘Both of these perks seem incredibly powerful!’ Turning to Ilmarinen, I thank him for his instructions. We go through forms once more, everything flowing far more easily now. Even Ilmarinen seems impressed by my sudden skillfulness. By the time we finidh, Colt is done with his shower. He steps out of a cloud of steam, smiling and heading to the bedroom. “Your turn.” Taking the chance happily, I grab another set of clothes, setting them in the enchanted shelves of the bathroom. The steaming hot water immediately helps to relax my tense muscles. After spending a long time simply enjoying the heat and washing, I step out of the bathroom, feeling like a new man. Climbing into bed, I lay down, tomorrow will be another busy day. Colt and I need to make more potions before we head back out to the forest to collect more materials for our quests. The second my head hits the pillow I’m out like a light.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNhYmFiZjE3OWViZDQ1NzI4YWY5MzY3MjM5Y2FmOTRm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"><strong>Chapter 472: [ Last Trial of Humanity ]</strong></span></p> <p class="cnNmNDYwNjcxMzFlNDRhOGE4Zjg2MzY1NTFiZjNmZjll"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“This aura…” One white dressed young girl among them let out an expression of surprise.</span></p> <p class="cnM1ZDMyOTdiZDIwMDQ2M2NhNDgzZjRiOTgwZWYyZGEx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“I only know one God who had this strange aura…” The young girl one faintly smiled after a particular face appeared inside his mind. Then that smile turned into a cold smile.</span></p> <p class="cnMzM2IzMGU5MGFmMDQ5YjRhMmRhNDAwNjZhMWI3NWVl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Humph!” Looking in that direction, the frosty expression on the white dressed young woman’s face didn’t warm in the slightest: “‘Fool’ this time, you would never be able to escape from me…”</span></p> <p class="cnMwMDFhMjBiZGIzYzRkYmZiYjQyZWUyMzE0YjMwOTI2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">After muttering this, her whole body began to glow and shot towards the direction of the pillar of light.</span></p> <p class="cnM4MjhlZDIwMDIwNDRhYjA4NjIyMmNiMmQ5N2IzYzE5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">*** ***</span></p> <p class="cnNhYjA5MGFhZWI0ZDRjY2Q5ODRhYjc5ODlkODUxZTEw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">As Allen and Hanjin started the finale of their battle, something strange happened in the world of the Celestials.</span></p> <p class="cnNiMmZjZWQ4MzIwNjRhMDhhMjgyNWMyMjBjYWMxMmZl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Feeling the strange ripples in the world’s magic power, the youthful face of Athena finally revealed a smile.</span></p> <p class="cnNmMDYyZTc0ZWNjNzRhMTQ4YWM5ZDdlYWRjZmYyNGZh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">At this moment, there is only one word appeared inside her mind; [ Ascension ].</span></p> <p class="cnM0OWExMThiODJmNjQ5NzdiZjk1Y2YzYzRlMzBmMWZh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Someone out there finally ascended from being an ordinary deity into a higher plane of existence; [ Godhood ]!</span></p> <p class="cnM3MzIxMjgzY2Y0ZTQ2ZGI5MzU1ZTM5MjhhMzAyMDQz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The first step of being a True God, commonly known as the Mid God.</span></p> <p class="cnM0OGVlNWNkMmJkYjQ0NDNiNDExMWJhZGNkYzg3MWU5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">It was a strange fluctuation so Athena was certain that it was still the first step of the process of reaching the Mid God Realm and wasn't real ascension. But the power exhibited was still equivalent to that of a real Mid God.</span></p> <p class="cnNlNGU5YzYyZDk2ZTQ0NWU5ZDUwZTVlZDdjMzNkODA4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">It was still not consolidated enough to consider a real Mid God but with this kind of power, she was sure that it was just a matter of time.</span></p> <p class="cnM3ZjVkMTQzODdlNTRiZWNiMWJiZjcyOTYwOTZjNGMz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">And most of all she had an idea of someone who could have this achievement…</span></p> <p class="cnM2NGE1OTFmNGU5NjQ0MWY4NDQ4YWNmYzc0NjJiNTMy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Solomon…” Athena’s lips curled upwards.</span></p> <p class="cnNmNDY2ZTY2ZDJmOTRiOGFiM2U3N2M3NDIyODAxZGZj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">In a luxurious room within a familiar temple, Athena looked at the girl sitting across from her. “Did you feel it as well?” she asked.</span></p> <p class="cnNiYzU5NTgxMzkzNTQ3MjRiZmVhMDc1YTc2ZDlmZjIw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">It was a petite girl in a white colored robe.</span></p> <p class="cnNlNTRhZGRhOGZjZDRjN2JiMzE0YTBlZTRiNzg3ZWJm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">She has arranged facial features that looked like a delicately made doll but since both her eyes were covered with a wide eye patch, it’s impossible to see her eyes.</span></p> <p class="cnNhNjBkNTllODJhMjQ0YTNhYmUyMjlkZjRjYjA5NGIw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">With that outfit and both her eyes closed, she gives off a mysterious impression to people who see her. It’s a young woman that has an otherworldly appearance that does not seem real.</span></p> <p class="cnNhYmI4NTE1NWFiMTQzZGZiMzgzMDRkZWExNjY0Y2M5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“I had seen him, you don’t need to ask me with that as I know what he was doing right now…”</span></p> <p class="cnNiZTdlM2JhNGQzMzRkNDI4MGE0ZjcyNWZhMzYzMjI2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Athena smiled faintly at the girl. “Is that so… actually Clotho, I called you here… because of him…”</span></p> <p class="cnMzODNmZDU2YWEwZjRkMzU4ZDY4YTRjYjc1ZmUyYWEw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …”</span></p> <p class="cnM0ZjgwMDU3ZjMzYzRmYjE4MDM2MmUwMWNlNTE5N2Q0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“What do you think of him…?”</span></p> <p class="cnMzNzBkZjA4ODMzNTQ2ZGU4ZTc2YmI2YTgyY2Q4ZjBk"><br> </p> <p class="cnNiNDU0OWEwMTc0ODQ3YTliOTg2YTk5YzgxNGE3Y2Iw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The girl, Clotho raised her head and look forward. Although Athena can’t see her eyes but for some reason, she felt that Clotho was staring her giving her an uncomfortable feeling like she was being seen through naked in front of her.</span></p> <p class="cnNkMmQwNjQyODAxMzQ4ODJhZTI4NzcwOTUxYjExZGZm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Clotho—one of the Ladies of fate… the lady who can see the past of every being. Her sister was Lachesis who can see the future and Athropos who can see Death. Together, they were called the ladies of fate or the Moerae sisters…</span></p> <p class="cnMzOWQyMzNiOTBmMjQ3YTJiZjQwMDA3NjE0NDc5YWQw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“If you want to know the future, then you should ask my sister Lachesis, not me…!” the black-haired beauty sitting across from Athena said up in a light, clear voice.</span></p> <p class="cnM4NWNlNmFmZGJjYjRmZjE4OGFlZGYzN2Q3MjVlNjE1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“That won’t do, Lachesis won’t tell me anything about it,” Athena smiled wryly. In regards to the future, the three sisters wouldn’t tell anything—only some vague prophecies. Sometimes, even her father, the High God Zeus would flip in anger due to them.</span></p> <p class="cnMyY2E0NWE0NTg5MDQ5NTU4N2E0N2IzZmJhZjc4MmNk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">They wouldn’t tell clearly what they know.</span></p> <p class="cnMxNGZhYjUxMGRmMTQ1YmRhMmZhYmZlNjBiMzAyYzEy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">In the legends, her father Zeus was their leader but in fact, that was just in name. After all, these three sisters were her father’s advisors, and nothing more. They advised him in right course but they would never tell what the future shows.</span></p> <p class="cnNmZjU3NTk0ZTA0MjRkYjI4ZmY5OTgwY2VkMzEzMjVk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Lachesis’s lips are sealed. </span></p> <p class="cnMxMzYyZDA2MWM5NDQ1YzA4Mjg1ZTI3NzY4ODM3YmZl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Athropos are just a mischievous brat.</span></p> <p class="cnNhOTA3MDIzMzZkNzRlNmU5MGI2NDBkYTRmY2I0ODJh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">But Clotho—“Clotho, among you three sisters, you are the closest to me. So, only you, I can ask these things.” Athena sighs. </span></p> <p class="cnM4NDcyOTRhNzE3ODRhM2Q4MjQxYWQxZGUyZmZjMDAw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“The Celestial Realm is facing a disaster, that was the only thing Lachesis told me. It seems like it was something to do with Mammon… but she told me that it wasn’t Virgil… Then, who was it? Right now, Virgil is the one carrying the most power in the Demon Legion. And this war, he was also the one who had started it… now, please Clotho, please clear my mind from all this confusion.”</span></p> <p class="cnMwNzllMTEwYjQ3YjRhOTFiM2ZmMmQyYzM2MmI4OTFj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …”</span></p> <p class="cnNkMWE1YjU5OGMwNTQ1YWViYzRjOTZkZDEwZjBiMzVh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“And the one you feel right now… Solomon, is he the one I am waiting for…?”</span></p> <p class="cnM2MTEyNDNmZTExZDRhYTE4M2MzYWFkNTBhYmJhM2I5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Clotho was silent for a moment before she let out a sigh. She extended her hand and grabbed Athena’s pale hands. she gripped her hand tighter as she said, “Athena, you know full well the repercussions of me telling you all of these things right now as it were like telling the future itself.”</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZjA2YTg5MDA2ZTRjZTliNDY4NDljY2IyZmRkNmVl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …” Suddenly, a trace of disappointment rose inside Athena’s heart.</span></p> <p class="cnM5NzFmOGY5OTU5MzRhZWNiZTZjMTRmZDAwNmNlOWM3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Future, only my sister can see it but she didn’t tell you because she understands that it would bring you no good. I can see the past and I can tell it to you without a problem, but my other sisters have their own difficulties. So please don’t blame them…”</span></p> <p class="cnM5NTE4YWVhMjFmMzQ3ZDI4YWZkMWNkYjc3YWZlMDcz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Haa, it’s not like I blame them or anything. I just feel bad. This is related to the wellbeing of our world and yet…”</span></p> <p class="cnMxOGVkNzliNWExYTQ4Mjc5OTdkNGM0NjViM2I3MjQ1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Athena, you are a good Goddess… everything has its own purpose. And even if you knew it beforehand and do something about it, fate will get angry at you and will certainly get back at you in the worst possible manner—even us, ladies of fate can’t go against it. We can not control the string as it has its own will… I apologize…”</span></p> <p class="cnM4NWIyMDU5MjIxOTQzNzA4OGNhNjExYTY2MGFhOTdl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …” Athena bit her lip in helplessness. So as I expected... </span></p> <p class="cnMzYzMyYjU3YWQyZDQwZWZiZjE1YzJlMTE1NGJjMDVl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“However, I need to warn you about something…” As Athena was disappointed about the lack of answers, Clotho suddenly raised her head and said something Athena couldn’t believe.</span></p> <p class="cnNiZjgwYzkzMGU5MTRmODQ5NTUxNDc3YWUzZWQ5MTJm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“That man… as a friend, let me give you a warning—just like what you wanted, he can be the savior and protector…”</span></p> <p class="cnNmM2RjNmU2YTQyZDQ2NWE5ZWRkOTAyN2MyYTlkMGUz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Really!?” Athena’s eyes widened in shock. However, happiness can be seen through it.</span></p> <p class="cnNhNDQwMjEyOTEzMDRmNmZiODQ3MzBiOTU2MDlhNTFl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“However, just like black is the opposite of white and vice versa—that man can be the greatest destroyer you can ever imagine…”</span></p> <p class="cnM5Y2UzNzIyYzdlNjRlMGFiNWEwOThjNGE4MmQxMDdi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“What?! What are you saying, Clotho!!” Athena slams her hand on the table and the entire temple shook.</span></p> <p class="cnNiMmU5ZWI4M2NjODQyNDY5NTViYzE5OWU5ZmM1ZTEx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Athena, that man… Solomon is a God…”</span></p> <p class="cnMwYjQ2Zjg4NGNhOTQyNTU4NjlmMzRhZTk1NTFjYmM3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“…what?”</span></p> <p class="cnNmNjM1Yzc3YjE2YzQxNzQ5YWJkYThlNjYzOWY5YzQ3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Just like you and me, as well as the others, Solomon is originally a God…”</span></p> <p class="cnNhZGExYmU3OGRhZjQ1MTE4ZjNlYjE4MmMzYzg5NGY4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Athena stared blankly. It looked as though Clotho was serious. “What do you mean, Clotho? Speak honestly, what are you talking about!!” Athena gritted her teeth.</span></p> <p class="cnM4NzBhMTc1NWE3YTQ0Yzk4MzE5OGE3MmZjMTg3NDk3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“You should blame your father for this, Athena… Zeus had done something he shouldn’t do…” Clotho sigh as she looks at the blue sky as if she was reminiscing the past. “That was also the reason why we left Olympus and removed ourselves completely from the everyday concerns of the Celestial Realms and no longer kept on being Zeus advisor—”</span></p> <p class="cnNiMzRlNTk3M2UyMDQwM2RhMDQxNjJhYjgzYjBhY2Ex"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Zeus cursed a God to become a mortal. He was then chosen to become Judah, the overseer of fate that leads to humanity’s salvation from their sins and Solomon—the mortal wise king.”</span></p> <p class="cnNjNDM1MWE4MDM5MTRjZWVhOGQ0ZGNhMzc2ZjQ2OGY4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Zeus cursed Solomon?! Why?!” Athena’s mind short-circuited from the revelation.</span></p> <p class="cnMwOWY2MWFiZDc2MzRmYzQ5ZGNiNDA0OTUzNWY2ZmY0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“My dear Athena, are you not curious as to why Solomon, despite being a great sinner reincarnated, and then still favored by the heavens…? Like an actor of a play, a protagonist of some story…?”</span></p> <p class="cnM3ZjlmNjA2MzdiOTQxMzY5NGM0MDIyZGJkZDZiMmFl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“His life revolved in many stories, settings, climax, events, many people, and gods…”</span></p> <p class="cnMxMTRlNGIyODk0MTQ1MDI4NzllMDRjZTIyZTU4NTVk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …”</span></p> <p class="cnM1ZjYxMjY3NmU1NzQ5OTI4NmE5MWFhYjJkYTQ5MjEw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Because he was…” Clotho sigh. </span></p> <p class="cnNmMGVkYTk5YzY2ODQ5ZDE4MDBkZWRmYzMyZjVjN2Vi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“…!!!?”</span></p> <p class="cnNjYTEyMWMwYmViZjQzN2I5NTI3Y2VmM2FiNGZiZDgz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“I can tell you this as it has no real repercussions. What the Celestial Realm was facing right now, not an invasion, nor some tyrant's conquest. But none other than… The Final Judgment… Even the True God doesn’t have an option, no matter how he loved the mortal world, the Final Judgment will always occur—Armageddon, Apocalypse, Ragnarok—in any kind of myth, the end of the world was always present. It always occurs. That is inevitable!”</span></p> <p class="cnNkZTZmZTBjMWUzMzRhNTQ4MDQ3MjQ2OTQ5ZDhiMGY5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“It’s not the will of God… nor was it the True God… It’s the Will of Heavens—The Law of Nature that even the True God couldn’t interfere." </span></p> <p class="cnM3OTZhMzQ5ZjJlYzRkMDRiMWJhYmNhODhiMDlmZTdm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"The Crucifixion of Christ, the sacrifice of the Son of God was the True God’s way to save the world and humanity—but it only managed to postpone the Final Judgment; [ The End of the World ].”</span></p> <p class="cnM4NGNiYmM2NTQxNjQwYzNiM2M1YzgzZmMyY2ZkOTZk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“What are you talking about, Clotho! That is…”</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZDE0YjRlMTAwNjQxYzNhOGRiMmRlMTQ4MjM0M2Mx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Absurd, right? I know what you feel but this the truth of the world, the fate of all living beings, my dear Athena,” Clotho shook her head in silence. And then she continued, “The Fate of all is one big game—sometimes, it needed an end to start again. And the reset button is the Final Judgment…”</span></p> <p class="cnM2ZmMxOTk2ZDU5MTQ5MzE5NjBiZWIzNTNkNjBiOWVh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">There is no game without an end, beginning without an ending...!!</span></p> <p class="cnNkYTQ0YWY5ZWI2ZjRmZDc5OGM1MDU4MzNmNzBmYzAx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">All things die, end and return to the starting point!</span></p> <p class="cnNiNTNhYzA5OGZjMDRlNWVhZjJjZmRjNTBhMTk2Mzkz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Athena’s brow was slightly furrowed, and though her face was as beautiful as ever, it contained a hint of unpleasantness. Her eyes flickered as she thought, “What was this—what is this truth…!” She wanted to treat it as nonsense but it was Clotho who said it to her.</span></p> <p class="cnNmZWE2NGZmM2MzYjQ4MGQ4MTk0MGM4NDdmZjYwNWE1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Clotho, aside from her personality and character, the Ladies of Fate would never lie…!</span></p> <p class="cnMyMWEwM2QyNTEyNzRhODVhOWY0Zjc5ZDMzOTVkYWQ2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Then, is this truth…?</span></p> <p class="cnMyNDIyNmU3NTMwNTQ0ODU4NzVmMzljNzdmNjNmYzQy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“How is Solomon related to this…?” Athena frowned. Her fist clenched tightly and mind a wrecked mess.</span></p> <p class="cnM1ZTIyOGRmM2NiMjRhZTc4YjhiZDdiZDc2Zjc0YzFh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Clotho stared at Athena, and after a long time, she finally answered, “Solomon is greatly related to this…”</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZGMyMWIwNTM3MjRjNGE4NGVlN2NlNDZmMmVmNGZj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“How?” Athena frowned.</span></p> <p class="cnMyZDQyMThiOGVmNjRhZDA5MTNlY2I0NzY4MDZmMDNh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… He is a ‘sign’—a sealed fate unbeknownst to the world.”</span></p> <p class="cnNjNjliZTAzZmEwYjRmNjZhYTRkZjdhYThhYTZlMDcz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“…???”</span></p> <p class="cnMwYTk5MGExMjE1MjQ5MTM4ODU2NjIwOWFiNjdhNzFi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“This is only the beginning of his harsh fate as he holds the key to determine the fate of this world…”</span></p> <p class="cnNlYzJjNTNjMDA3MDQzNTJiZTQ2OTExNzI2MzdkYjBi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Speak less riddle, Clotho!!” Athena snarled. Her eyes started emitting out a dangerous glint. Even though her magic power had slumped, her eyes that belonged to the goddess of war could still see through people's heart. Feeling condemns from Clotho, she immediately corrected her posture and faced her.</span></p> <p class="cnNhZjgyOTVkZDZhYTQ0YTk5ZTNhYmM2ZWJmNzE2NjM4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Suddenly, a gust of wind came in.</span></p> <p class="cnNmNDg3N2ZmNzkwOTRhYzY5YjAzZjk2MjM3ZjdlMDE2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The spring breeze blew on their faces and flower petals flew unto the inside of the temple. Enjoying this breeze, with her black hair loose, Clotho let her thoughts materialize into words.</span></p> <p class="cnM3ZGViYzFjOTVlZTQ3MjA4MzFjZDlhNDFiMDI5MjEw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“——[Last Trial of Humanity]——that is what Solomon is…”</span></p> </div>

**Chapter 472: [ Last Trial of Humanity ]** “This aura…” One white dressed young girl among them let out an expression of surprise. “I only know one God who had this strange aura…” The young girl one faintly smiled after a particular face appeared inside his mind. Then that smile turned into a cold smile. “Humph!” Looking in that direction, the frosty expression on the white dressed young woman’s face didn’t warm in the slightest: “‘Fool’ this time, you would never be able to escape from me…” After muttering this, her whole body began to glow and shot towards the direction of the pillar of light. *** *** As Allen and Hanjin started the finale of their battle, something strange happened in the world of the Celestials. Feeling the strange ripples in the world’s magic power, the youthful face of Athena finally revealed a smile. At this moment, there is only one word appeared inside her mind; [ Ascension ]. Someone out there finally ascended from being an ordinary deity into a higher plane of existence; [ Godhood ]! The first step of being a True God, commonly known as the Mid God. It was a strange fluctuation so Athena was certain that it was still the first step of the process of reaching the Mid God Realm and wasn't real ascension. But the power exhibited was still equivalent to that of a real Mid God. It was still not consolidated enough to consider a real Mid God but with this kind of power, she was sure that it was just a matter of time. And most of all she had an idea of someone who could have this achievement… “Solomon…” Athena’s lips curled upwards. In a luxurious room within a familiar temple, Athena looked at the girl sitting across from her. “Did you feel it as well?” she asked. It was a petite girl in a white colored robe. She has arranged facial features that looked like a delicately made doll but since both her eyes were covered with a wide eye patch, it’s impossible to see her eyes. With that outfit and both her eyes closed, she gives off a mysterious impression to people who see her. It’s a young woman that has an otherworldly appearance that does not seem real. “I had seen him, you don’t need to ask me with that as I know what he was doing right now…” Athena smiled faintly at the girl. “Is that so… actually Clotho, I called you here… because of him…” “… …” “What do you think of him…?” The girl, Clotho raised her head and look forward. Although Athena can’t see her eyes but for some reason, she felt that Clotho was staring her giving her an uncomfortable feeling like she was being seen through naked in front of her. Clotho—one of the Ladies of fate… the lady who can see the past of every being. Her sister was Lachesis who can see the future and Athropos who can see Death. Together, they were called the ladies of fate or the Moerae sisters… “If you want to know the future, then you should ask my sister Lachesis, not me…!” the black-haired beauty sitting across from Athena said up in a light, clear voice. “That won’t do, Lachesis won’t tell me anything about it,” Athena smiled wryly. In regards to the future, the three sisters wouldn’t tell anything—only some vague prophecies. Sometimes, even her father, the High God Zeus would flip in anger due to them. They wouldn’t tell clearly what they know. In the legends, her father Zeus was their leader but in fact, that was just in name. After all, these three sisters were her father’s advisors, and nothing more. They advised him in right course but they would never tell what the future shows. Lachesis’s lips are sealed. Athropos are just a mischievous brat. But Clotho—“Clotho, among you three sisters, you are the closest to me. So, only you, I can ask these things.” Athena sighs. “The Celestial Realm is facing a disaster, that was the only thing Lachesis told me. It seems like it was something to do with Mammon… but she told me that it wasn’t Virgil… Then, who was it? Right now, Virgil is the one carrying the most power in the Demon Legion. And this war, he was also the one who had started it… now, please Clotho, please clear my mind from all this confusion.” “… …” “And the one you feel right now… Solomon, is he the one I am waiting for…?” Clotho was silent for a moment before she let out a sigh. She extended her hand and grabbed Athena’s pale hands. she gripped her hand tighter as she said, “Athena, you know full well the repercussions of me telling you all of these things right now as it were like telling the future itself.” “… …” Suddenly, a trace of disappointment rose inside Athena’s heart. “Future, only my sister can see it but she didn’t tell you because she understands that it would bring you no good. I can see the past and I can tell it to you without a problem, but my other sisters have their own difficulties. So please don’t blame them…” “Haa, it’s not like I blame them or anything. I just feel bad. This is related to the wellbeing of our world and yet…” “Athena, you are a good Goddess… everything has its own purpose. And even if you knew it beforehand and do something about it, fate will get angry at you and will certainly get back at you in the worst possible manner—even us, ladies of fate can’t go against it. We can not control the string as it has its own will… I apologize…” “… …” Athena bit her lip in helplessness. So as I expected... “However, I need to warn you about something…” As Athena was disappointed about the lack of answers, Clotho suddenly raised her head and said something Athena couldn’t believe. “That man… as a friend, let me give you a warning—just like what you wanted, he can be the savior and protector…” “Really!?” Athena’s eyes widened in shock. However, happiness can be seen through it. “However, just like black is the opposite of white and vice versa—that man can be the greatest destroyer you can ever imagine…” “What?! What are you saying, Clotho!!” Athena slams her hand on the table and the entire temple shook. “Athena, that man… Solomon is a God…” “…what?” “Just like you and me, as well as the others, Solomon is originally a God…” Athena stared blankly. It looked as though Clotho was serious. “What do you mean, Clotho? Speak honestly, what are you talking about!!” Athena gritted her teeth. “You should blame your father for this, Athena… Zeus had done something he shouldn’t do…” Clotho sigh as she looks at the blue sky as if she was reminiscing the past. “That was also the reason why we left Olympus and removed ourselves completely from the everyday concerns of the Celestial Realms and no longer kept on being Zeus advisor—” “Zeus cursed a God to become a mortal. He was then chosen to become Judah, the overseer of fate that leads to humanity’s salvation from their sins and Solomon—the mortal wise king.” “Zeus cursed Solomon?! Why?!” Athena’s mind short-circuited from the revelation. “My dear Athena, are you not curious as to why Solomon, despite being a great sinner reincarnated, and then still favored by the heavens…? Like an actor of a play, a protagonist of some story…?” “His life revolved in many stories, settings, climax, events, many people, and gods…” “… …” “Because he was…” Clotho sigh. “…!!!?” “I can tell you this as it has no real repercussions. What the Celestial Realm was facing right now, not an invasion, nor some tyrant's conquest. But none other than… The Final Judgment… Even the True God doesn’t have an option, no matter how he loved the mortal world, the Final Judgment will always occur—Armageddon, Apocalypse, Ragnarok—in any kind of myth, the end of the world was always present. It always occurs. That is inevitable!” “It’s not the will of God… nor was it the True God… It’s the Will of Heavens—The Law of Nature that even the True God couldn’t interfere." "The Crucifixion of Christ, the sacrifice of the Son of God was the True God’s way to save the world and humanity—but it only managed to postpone the Final Judgment; [ The End of the World ].” “What are you talking about, Clotho! That is…” “Absurd, right? I know what you feel but this the truth of the world, the fate of all living beings, my dear Athena,” Clotho shook her head in silence. And then she continued, “The Fate of all is one big game—sometimes, it needed an end to start again. And the reset button is the Final Judgment…” There is no game without an end, beginning without an ending...!! All things die, end and return to the starting point! Athena’s brow was slightly furrowed, and though her face was as beautiful as ever, it contained a hint of unpleasantness. Her eyes flickered as she thought, “What was this—what is this truth…!” She wanted to treat it as nonsense but it was Clotho who said it to her. Clotho, aside from her personality and character, the Ladies of Fate would never lie…! Then, is this truth…? “How is Solomon related to this…?” Athena frowned. Her fist clenched tightly and mind a wrecked mess. Clotho stared at Athena, and after a long time, she finally answered, “Solomon is greatly related to this…” “How?” Athena frowned. “… He is a ‘sign’—a sealed fate unbeknownst to the world.” “…???” “This is only the beginning of his harsh fate as he holds the key to determine the fate of this world…” “Speak less riddle, Clotho!!” Athena snarled. Her eyes started emitting out a dangerous glint. Even though her magic power had slumped, her eyes that belonged to the goddess of war could still see through people's heart. Feeling condemns from Clotho, she immediately corrected her posture and faced her. Suddenly, a gust of wind came in. The spring breeze blew on their faces and flower petals flew unto the inside of the temple. Enjoying this breeze, with her black hair loose, Clotho let her thoughts materialize into words. “——[Last Trial of Humanity]——that is what Solomon is…”

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNkYWZlNmEwZDkzNzRlY2Y5YzliYWM3OWI4ZWQyZmJm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"><strong>Chapter 473: [ Forgotten Identity ]</strong></span></p> <p class="cnNhNWEyMjI3NTcwZjQ1NDlhYWI1NmI2MDgxYTY4NjAw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“[Last Trial of Humanity]??”</span></p> <p class="cnM2MWJlNzMzMTJiMjQxNWE4Mjc3YTc0OGQzZmI2ODJl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Ah, he is—A God chosen by the One True God to bear fate the burden of humankind. He was the final product who has flown into tens of millions of history. The True God’s final attempt to fight the Final Judgment!”</span></p> <p class="cnNjYjAxODJhZTIyNTQyZjQ4NDgxNjFkMTgyZGY5OTBi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“He bears that kind of fate…!!?” Athena’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. She didn’t know of this!</span></p> <p class="cnM2ZTk3ODFmY2NjMjQ3ZDBiODU0NmZiODdjODQwZGMy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“However, just like what I had told you before, my dear Athena. That man can also be the greatest nightmare the world had ever seen…!” Clotho muttered with a sigh.</span></p> <p class="cnNhMDdjZjFkMzk5NTRkNGE5Njc0ZWI5YzM0M2Y0ZThm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Why?! If what you said was the truth, then isn’t the True God give him the fate of survival…?!”</span></p> <p class="cnM4YzU2Njc4MGMzMzQ3N2ViYTRjOWQyMGU5NzgzMzRl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“That is right but also wrong…” Clotho hesitated for a moment before finally as if making a decision, showed a determined expression. She faced Athena, and said, “Athena, what you hear right now must not be spoken to anyone else or else it would cause a calamity…”</span></p> <p class="cnNkYWZlOTQ1Yzc5MTQ5OWU4YmRhZDZjOTljZGRlODk2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“…!!?”</span></p> <p class="cnMwMzBkMWFjZjc5YjQ3YmM4N2QzMGJlMGQzMTVlY2M2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Do you understand—you must not speak it to anyone else…” Clotho said softly. "I will only tell it to you as I trust you,"</span></p> <p class="cnNlYWE2OWI3MTNmMjQzNTdiYmM1Njg4NWM3NTY3NTQz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Athena frowned but she was a wise person, the Goddess of Wisdom and War. She immediately calms herself and nodded, “Yes, I understand, Clotho… please tell me, what is Solomon…”</span></p> <p class="cnNjNjI4YTlhZGZiYjQ5MGQ5NjVhNmIxMDZmMDkyMzk3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Solomon is the strongest Candidate of the Final Judgment.”</span></p> <p class="cnNjOGMyZTJlMWM0NDQ0MTY5N2Q3ZTYwNDZiZTBiMGE3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">".......? Candidate of the Final Judgment?"</span></p> <p class="cnNhNDRkMmFiZjhhZDQ4YTA4OWZiMDY3YzgxMzZlMzU5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"Yes. And I'm sure he will be eligible to inherit this kind of fate. I'm not referring to his power, but his soul. The Trial of Humanity—that is why he can be a protector but also can be the destroyer that reset everything in this world…"</span></p> <p class="cnNlOTM0NDE2ZjY5ODQ5NjY5YWQ0MzQzMWI3N2IwNThm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“What is this Candidate of the Final Judgment?”</span></p> <p class="cnMxOGVjMDdiNWZmMzQ0NjBiNjhkOTI1MTBmNjllMjhk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“That is something I cannot say…”</span></p> <p class="cnM0NDFmMTNmOTk1YTRiZTliZWE1NGQwN2MzYWMyNjU3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Clotho!!”</span></p> <p class="cnM2NWEzOWM5ZjNjOTRmOThiODg5ODQzOThkMTMzN2Yw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Athena, I really can’t say….”</span></p> <p class="cnNlN2JkYThjYzQ3MTQ3MTI5MWY2YzNmMzM0M2ViMjRh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Athena kept staring at Clotho, and then finally, after carefully considering her choice of words, along with sharp eyes, she asked with a tone filled with anxiousness and vigilance. “Clotho, you said that Solomon was a God… who is he…? No, who was he...?”</span></p> <p class="cnNiNTJiNzhmMzZhYzRjZmU4ZGRjYWMzYzUyMzlkYTY2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Do you remember the story about how Prometheus tricked Zeus to stole the fire and give it to the mortals?”</span></p> <p class="cnM2NDU4NzM2Yzc2YzQwNDdhZjM2NTlmNzg0YTRhYzI5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Eh? Yeah… If I’m not mistaken, Prometheus was then punished because of it. He was chained to a rock and got his liver eaten by an eagle, am I right?”</span></p> <p class="cnNkMWY2NTM1NjdhYzRkNmNiNGNkZTRjNmIzN2Q3MTE3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Yeah…” Clotho cast a lonely look. “Prometheus, or should I say—Loki of the Norse God, gave humanity wisdom and fire… this angered Zeus.”</span></p> <p class="cnMxOThhYmFhMTIzODQ5OGQ4ZTZiYmNjMWIyOGNiZDVh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“What is this got to do with Promethe—?!!!! You, don’t tell me, you mean…” Athena’s eyes widened in shock. Disbelief and horror flashed across her beautiful eyes as she couldn’t believe what she had just thought. And this realization as then confirmed.</span></p> <p class="cnM3ZWY0MzVjMzQzOTRjZmNiMjI0NThmMWNhYWYyZWQ3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Clotho nodded her head in confirmation to the realization that had dawned upon Athena. “His brother—Epimetheus, the ‘Fool’…”</span></p> <p class="cnM1MTk3ODRiNjNjMDQyZjNiMWFjYmM4ZGVlOTRjYzE5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Epimetheus tried to change the mind of Zeus, asking for his pardon centuries after centuries but you should know about your father. Inflexible and egoistic. Angered, he throws the ‘Fool’ into the mortal world, stealing all of his memories and divinities, sealing it up for eternity as a punishment!”</span></p> <p class="cnMxMDNjMzMyYjM2NTQyODY4YTljM2M2ZmE0MzBhYzJh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Cursing a God to be a Mortal—that was a sin that couldn’t be forgiven because that is playing with fate. And it shouldn’t have succeeded as a mortal, the divine essence of a god is just too much… it was like putting all the water from a sea into a small glass. The mortal would perish along with the soul of the God if it was done—however, it succeeded.” Clotho sighs. </span></p> <p class="cnMwYWY1MzI3ODRmODRkMGU5M2EwMTg1NzllNjZhNGM2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“…? How? A god becoming a mortal through reincarnation? That is impossible!”</span></p> <p class="cnMxMTE0ZmRkMGY5MDQ4Mzk4NGI2ODQ1NDMyNGI2N2Ey"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Indeed, but the One True God was already starting his plan at that time, preparing everything. Before Zeus cooled down his mind and wanted to take back everything, the One True God noticed Epimetheus and put his plan into action-using Epimetheus as a catalyst—millions of years of preparation until he became the true—[Last Trial of Humanity]”</span></p> <p class="cnM3YzY1NjIwODU0ZjRjY2FiNzM1NTA5MmQ1MjcxZmM2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“…!!!?” What is this…?! isn’t this too much of a coincidence…?!</span></p> <p class="cnNlYTM2ZWJhOGYzMjQ3ZDE5MDM3MjM4OTUxOTM0YmU3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Clotho sighed. “…But also because of this, everything about Epimetheus had been forgotten, and he turned into a real mortal. He couldn’t be a God because; a mortal is needed to resist the Final Judgment.”</span></p> <p class="cnNlMzc4ZjQwMjUwZjRhOTQ4ZDk3NjBmZDg2MzZiODJj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Then, Clotho suddenly lets out a sigh. “However, who would have expected, Pandora cried and opened the jar in revenge, causing the evil of the world to break out and affected the entire world. The thing that was now known as ‘The Fell’, a fragment of Mark of Cain, the Original Sin, washed out into the world of mortals. This is one of the cause as to why Solomon has a chance of being infected by the ‘Mark of Cain’ when this kind of thing should have never appeared in the world—”</span></p> <p class="cnNkZDA4NDRiYWZlZDQ3MDY4N2JmMWY5MGIyN2FhNGQ2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Furthermore, this had also led to the first awakening of the Final Judgment—in which, God gave his son as a sacrifice, leading to the event that had happened in Golgotha!”</span></p> <p class="cnMzN2JmZDUwNGZhZjRlN2JiNGE1MmU4NjIxOGE4NjY3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Sacrificing his beloved son to save humanity from the Fell that Pandora had released… the One True God has no choice but to do it, as the one he had chosen has yet to be prepared. A temporary solution was necessary… to patch everything up…until the right moment comes!</span></p> <p class="cnNmMjVmMmUyMjlkZDRmZjQ5MTdlNWZlNWE3MjA3ZGRm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"—is this really what had happened…?"</span></p> <p class="cnM1MDI0NDhlMGJiYzQzZjFiODYwMDUyNTgyZDI3ZTI5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Asserted.</span></p> <p class="cnNhMTIzZDI1YWI2NzQ5YTZhNjIzYjhiNTE1MzRiZmNi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Her tone and eyes did not allow any denial or confirmation. She was already convinced but it was more of a disbelief still coloring her mind. It was the revelation she couldn’t take. Her eyes looked like it contained a creepy light.</span></p> <p class="cnM3OTdmNTU2N2MxMzQ3ZWM4Y2NhYzljZjMyZGQ2Yzkw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">But Clotho did not appear to be afraid, and easily took over without any discoloration.</span></p> <p class="cnNjOTAxY2M2NTllNDQ1YTI4YWJhODMxNzc5NmUwZjZh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Ah, Solomon is Epimetheus—or should it be, the empty shell of once known as Epimetheus.”</span></p> <p class="cnNiZWU3ODJiNTA3ZTRkOTZhOGUzOTk0OTU1NGViNTE5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Since then, only a few information about Epimetheus existed in the world—he had long been disappeared in the Celestial Realm.”</span></p> <p class="cnNjYmZkZTBhNWIyNzRhNGFiNzQ1ZDk3YTM2ZWE2MWY3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Why him?” Even though it was concluded like this, Athena’s face still did not light up.</span></p> <p class="cnM1NmViNjk2ZDdmOTQ1NDQ5N2Q1OTI5NjVmOGNhMGY1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Closing her sad eyes that were gazing at the flower petals floating from outside.</span></p> <p class="cnM0NTJkNWRmZTZlODRmZDI5Njc0NzZlZDkwMmJhOTM1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Is it just because he was discarded? Conveniently picked up like a puppy on the roadside? Is that the only thing that made him bear this burden…?” At this moment, Athena didn’t know whether she should be feeling sorry or pity at Epimetheus who, just because of her father’s mistakes done in a whim, had been driven out from his real existence. Stolen from everything and then, in the end, ended with being burdened by the fate of all living being…</span></p> <p class="cnNkNDJlZmMyNmFiMDRjNWM4NjNkY2MxN2ZjNTQ2M2Jj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Was he lucky?</span></p> <p class="cnM0YzI4NzE5NjUwODQ4NjFhYjRjNWJlZTFhMWE5OWY5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Was he fortunate?</span></p> <p class="cnM0NDdmMTlmMjE0MzRlYjliYzZiMTZhMGU3MjRkZWJh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">… Was he not?</span></p> <p class="cnNjYTNjMzcxNTZjNDQyZTE4YzZmY2I3YTk2M2Q1ZDdh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“The One True God needed someone indeed. And it can be someone else… however; Epimetheus was the best candidate there is…”</span></p> <p class="cnMxMDQ5YTA4MjNmMDRiYjRhY2Q3ZDY5NTAzZDY1ZDZl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Why!!” Athena gritted her teeth. She didn’t what she was feeling… Frustration? Pity? Sympathy?</span></p> <p class="cnM0Njc4NzE4N2RmNTRhZjBhZDg3YjZkZTNkODRlMGIy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Because he is the…‘Fool’…”</span></p> <p class="cnNhYzcyMTI5MTgxMTQwZTY5MTliY2VlMmZjOWYxOWEx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… What?”</span></p> <p class="cnMwYmEwODU2MDdhYTQ0NThhNWNjYWE5ZTQzYjc1OWVl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Affected by his brother’s karma and destiny, he had also become someone with a strange fate.”</span></p> <p class="cnM0NDAzMTIyMTEyYTQ4MmM5MDRlOWI3YzIzOGU3ODBi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“You should know who was the real Prometheus—Adam, the first creation, and first son of the One True God—Fooling everyone and manifesting many personas: Such as Loki, the Norse God of Trickery, and most of all—Lucifer, the Morning Star—Angel turned, God, Fallen and Demon.”</span></p> <p class="cnM2NjA5MjZhYmU1ODQ4ODk5YTk0ZDE3ZTg1NjBhZGE0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“He had come into many reincarnations, giving him many aspects…”</span></p> <p class="cnNmZDQxZjJlZjY4YjQzNGI5YjAwMjJhNmRhMWY1MDIx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“And because of that, Epimetheus as his brother was branded by his strange destiny and fate. He had become the ‘Fool’ contrary to his genius brother—!”</span></p> <p class="cnM0MDFkMWVlMWFiYzQzY2JhZDE3NmNjODdmMWIxYjli"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“So what if he is—it doesn’t justify him being the sacrificial lamb!!”</span></p> <p class="cnNjNTc4YTNkYTk2YjQ0ZGQ5MmQ2NGEwODYwYmJmYzA2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Do you still not realize it—Athena?” Clotho frowned. “He is the <strong>[Fool]</strong>!!”</span></p> <p class="cnNmNDg4YTZkYmQ2ODQ1Y2Q4NzgxMDUyYzkxZWE2MmU0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“So wha—eh? Th, th, that fool…?!!” Athena’s gaze trembled as she immediately realized what is Clotho talking about. “You mean ‘<strong>that’</strong> meaning…?”</span></p> <p class="cnNhZjBiYjA1YmQzZDQxMTViMGMzZDYyZDc4MWVmMWVm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Clotho nodded her head. “One of the 78 Tarot Cards—or should it be called, Card of Destiny, Arcana of the Archaic Library recorded in the <strong>[Akashic Records]</strong>…”</span></p> <p class="cnM4ODYyYTk5MzEwOTRmMmI5ZjU5YTVkMTVlOGRiZGNj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“They are the cards that were the materialization of Destiny, Fate, and Life in the entire universe. The essences of the <strong>[Akashic Records]</strong>, the one that holds all knowledge since the beginning of time—and one of the 22 Major Arcana—was the [The Fool] and Epimetheus had it.”</span></p> <p class="cnM1MjZjOGVjODRjNDQxYmVhMzI3OWQwNTUwNzM5OWYy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …”</span></p> <p class="cnNiMWIyMGU5MmI1NzRhN2M5ZmNhNzliZjZjYTFhOTgw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“…Considered as the most powerful card:<strong> [The Fool]</strong> represented a new beginning—and, consequently, an end. There was also one other aspect of him, and that is because he was the ‘Fool’, he can be anything—fate couldn’t dictate! The ‘Fool’ possesses greater potential than any being… because of this, Epimetheus was one of the best candidates to become the [Last Trial of Humanity]—similar to his former wife; <strong>[Pandora]</strong> the Keeper of Chances,”</span></p> <p class="cnMzYTUyNzljNTA3MzQ3MmJiYjdlMTY3ZjZlNTRkZmFi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Do you understand now…Athena?” She shook her head, a sigh letting out from her mouth.</span></p> <p class="cnNlZWI1MWFlNzU5ZTQ5YjNhNDRhNGMxZGQ5NjAwMmQ2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …”</span></p> <p class="cnM0N2EzYWVkYmQyMTQ1NDU5NzQ2NTI1NjVhODQyMDQ0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Solomon is not just a regular being, a god or a demon—He is someone whose fate couldn’t be read or dictates. Virgil is also one of its proof—during the process, Solomon falls in love with his niece unknowingly, Hela—his brother’s daughter. Prometheus was angered and throws him to Hell, but there, the <strong>‘Fell’ </strong>that Pandora had released had managed to corrupt him, heralding the birth of two people—now both of them became the center of these all. Not just simply being center, but the one started the war that had led to the quickening of the Final judgment’s arrival…!”</span></p> <p class="cnMwZTliMWM1MjM1YTQyNjlhM2I1MmM5MzhlNWNhYWU0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"Giving it an assumption that Fate can't be stopped...Destiny cannot be controlled..."</span></p> <p class="cnNjYjM1ZTIxNjAwZjQwOWQ4YzFlNGY5YTk1OGEwNjAy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“One wanted to conquer all and protect himself, another was traveling to protect his loved ones…”</span></p> <p class="cnM0OTkzYmMzYzRkZjQ2MGNiNTU5NzI3ZDViOGEwYmQy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">One was selfish and the other was sentimental…</span></p> <p class="cnMyN2ZiMTJmNGUxYTQyNTg4Y2Y2Y2I4NDRjNGQ4Njhj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">—But both of them caused the Celestial Realm to tremble to its core and now, was heralding the birth of the Final Judgment…</span></p> <p class="cnMxMTYxYTAwMjUyYTQ4MDZhMGYzMjIwYTc5OWQ5YTVi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Then what should I do? Clotho…” Athena gazed abstractedly at Clotho and asked.</span></p> <p class="cnMwMWI0YTU5MDhlNTRmMzI5YzAxMGNmYmYxODdlNGRi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Nothing Athena… Solomon’s fate is his own to bear, even us Ladies of Fate couldn’t read him clearly, what we only certain is that he can be the one who will destroy everything or the one who can protect everything.”</span></p> <p class="cnMwZmI4MGViNDE5MDQ4MjZiNjczYTM5YWE1N2YyMmM1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“This is the final test—you can’t do anything…no one can’t do anything!”</span></p> <p class="cnMyNWUzNjE4NTc0NjQyMmFhZTdkMjk4MDViOWM4MzRi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Let nature takes its course…”</span></p> <p class="cnNjY2UxZTQzN2U3ZDQ2NTg4NGU3NjhkNzg1NjE2OTMw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Athena gritted her teeth in frustration. “Then what about me? What should I do after hearing this all…?”</span></p> <p class="cnNiMDM4MTYxMGVlNjQ4MDE4MmNhYjdhZDAzYzVhMDEy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“This is what you wanted Athena… I had warned you before but you insisted…now, you can only find the path you needed to walk on starting now—but please do remember, the choice you make from now on, will affect everything… no matter how small it is.” Clotho’s gaze was gentle and her voice was soft, like the ringing of numerous bells.</span></p> <p class="cnNlMjBhOGFlN2VmZjQ1YTk4ZmQ1NTliMGNkMmQyOTcw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“My actions will affect everything…?” Athena was confused. “Was this beyond my control?”</span></p> <p class="cnM3ZDE4YTJjMDg1MzQ3Nzg4ODE3OTg0OWQ4MzFmOTYx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“…who knows, but affected or not, it all depends on your heart,” Clotho responded. “All I can tell you right now is that, just like Solomon, and all his actions up until now, Fate can be changed and altered. Then, why can’t it do the same … for the future?”</span></p> <p class="cnNlMzYzNjQ5YTdmMzQ2NDlhNjdkZjRiZTUwZDcyZWE5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …”</span></p> <p class="cnM1NTEyODg2ZTBmNTQyNDVhN2YwNzg2YTYyMzlhZmIw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"The gear had already started turning... the notion that it wouldn't be stopped anymore, that Fate is impossible to be changed, is already broken by several people now... Solomon is one, and you can be one as well..."</span></p> <p class="cnNhMzYxODkzODQ5ZjRjOWZhMWM1NmExMDdiNzMwYTQz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …”</span></p> <p class="cnM5NTQzYmYzMDExMjRjM2E4NjFjZGU4MDExYzhlOTcw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"Broaden your mind, the future isn’t something that is irreversible… it’s not set in stone…”</span></p> <p class="cnM4MzkxNzY5YzI0NzQ1OGQ5YmMxNGNhYzUzZmM3OTlh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">*** ***</span></p> </div>

**Chapter 473: [ Forgotten Identity ]** “[Last Trial of Humanity]??” “Ah, he is—A God chosen by the One True God to bear fate the burden of humankind. He was the final product who has flown into tens of millions of history. The True God’s final attempt to fight the Final Judgment!” “He bears that kind of fate…!!?” Athena’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. She didn’t know of this! “However, just like what I had told you before, my dear Athena. That man can also be the greatest nightmare the world had ever seen…!” Clotho muttered with a sigh. “Why?! If what you said was the truth, then isn’t the True God give him the fate of survival…?!” “That is right but also wrong…” Clotho hesitated for a moment before finally as if making a decision, showed a determined expression. She faced Athena, and said, “Athena, what you hear right now must not be spoken to anyone else or else it would cause a calamity…” “…!!?” “Do you understand—you must not speak it to anyone else…” Clotho said softly. "I will only tell it to you as I trust you," Athena frowned but she was a wise person, the Goddess of Wisdom and War. She immediately calms herself and nodded, “Yes, I understand, Clotho… please tell me, what is Solomon…” “Solomon is the strongest Candidate of the Final Judgment.” ".......? Candidate of the Final Judgment?" "Yes. And I'm sure he will be eligible to inherit this kind of fate. I'm not referring to his power, but his soul. The Trial of Humanity—that is why he can be a protector but also can be the destroyer that reset everything in this world…" “What is this Candidate of the Final Judgment?” “That is something I cannot say…” “Clotho!!” “Athena, I really can’t say….” Athena kept staring at Clotho, and then finally, after carefully considering her choice of words, along with sharp eyes, she asked with a tone filled with anxiousness and vigilance. “Clotho, you said that Solomon was a God… who is he…? No, who was he...?” “Do you remember the story about how Prometheus tricked Zeus to stole the fire and give it to the mortals?” “Eh? Yeah… If I’m not mistaken, Prometheus was then punished because of it. He was chained to a rock and got his liver eaten by an eagle, am I right?” “Yeah…” Clotho cast a lonely look. “Prometheus, or should I say—Loki of the Norse God, gave humanity wisdom and fire… this angered Zeus.” “What is this got to do with Promethe—?!!!! You, don’t tell me, you mean…” Athena’s eyes widened in shock. Disbelief and horror flashed across her beautiful eyes as she couldn’t believe what she had just thought. And this realization as then confirmed. Clotho nodded her head in confirmation to the realization that had dawned upon Athena. “His brother—Epimetheus, the ‘Fool’…” “Epimetheus tried to change the mind of Zeus, asking for his pardon centuries after centuries but you should know about your father. Inflexible and egoistic. Angered, he throws the ‘Fool’ into the mortal world, stealing all of his memories and divinities, sealing it up for eternity as a punishment!” “Cursing a God to be a Mortal—that was a sin that couldn’t be forgiven because that is playing with fate. And it shouldn’t have succeeded as a mortal, the divine essence of a god is just too much… it was like putting all the water from a sea into a small glass. The mortal would perish along with the soul of the God if it was done—however, it succeeded.” Clotho sighs. “…? How? A god becoming a mortal through reincarnation? That is impossible!” “Indeed, but the One True God was already starting his plan at that time, preparing everything. Before Zeus cooled down his mind and wanted to take back everything, the One True God noticed Epimetheus and put his plan into action-using Epimetheus as a catalyst—millions of years of preparation until he became the true—[Last Trial of Humanity]” “…!!!?” What is this…?! isn’t this too much of a coincidence…?! Clotho sighed. “…But also because of this, everything about Epimetheus had been forgotten, and he turned into a real mortal. He couldn’t be a God because; a mortal is needed to resist the Final Judgment.” Then, Clotho suddenly lets out a sigh. “However, who would have expected, Pandora cried and opened the jar in revenge, causing the evil of the world to break out and affected the entire world. The thing that was now known as ‘The Fell’, a fragment of Mark of Cain, the Original Sin, washed out into the world of mortals. This is one of the cause as to why Solomon has a chance of being infected by the ‘Mark of Cain’ when this kind of thing should have never appeared in the world—” “Furthermore, this had also led to the first awakening of the Final Judgment—in which, God gave his son as a sacrifice, leading to the event that had happened in Golgotha!” Sacrificing his beloved son to save humanity from the Fell that Pandora had released… the One True God has no choice but to do it, as the one he had chosen has yet to be prepared. A temporary solution was necessary… to patch everything up…until the right moment comes! "—is this really what had happened…?" Asserted. Her tone and eyes did not allow any denial or confirmation. She was already convinced but it was more of a disbelief still coloring her mind. It was the revelation she couldn’t take. Her eyes looked like it contained a creepy light. But Clotho did not appear to be afraid, and easily took over without any discoloration. “Ah, Solomon is Epimetheus—or should it be, the empty shell of once known as Epimetheus.” “Since then, only a few information about Epimetheus existed in the world—he had long been disappeared in the Celestial Realm.” “Why him?” Even though it was concluded like this, Athena’s face still did not light up. Closing her sad eyes that were gazing at the flower petals floating from outside. “Is it just because he was discarded? Conveniently picked up like a puppy on the roadside? Is that the only thing that made him bear this burden…?” At this moment, Athena didn’t know whether she should be feeling sorry or pity at Epimetheus who, just because of her father’s mistakes done in a whim, had been driven out from his real existence. Stolen from everything and then, in the end, ended with being burdened by the fate of all living being… Was he lucky? Was he fortunate? … Was he not? “The One True God needed someone indeed. And it can be someone else… however; Epimetheus was the best candidate there is…” “Why!!” Athena gritted her teeth. She didn’t what she was feeling… Frustration? Pity? Sympathy? “Because he is the…‘Fool’…” “… What?” “Affected by his brother’s karma and destiny, he had also become someone with a strange fate.” “You should know who was the real Prometheus—Adam, the first creation, and first son of the One True God—Fooling everyone and manifesting many personas: Such as Loki, the Norse God of Trickery, and most of all—Lucifer, the Morning Star—Angel turned, God, Fallen and Demon.” “He had come into many reincarnations, giving him many aspects…” “And because of that, Epimetheus as his brother was branded by his strange destiny and fate. He had become the ‘Fool’ contrary to his genius brother—!” “So what if he is—it doesn’t justify him being the sacrificial lamb!!” “Do you still not realize it—Athena?” Clotho frowned. “He is the **[Fool]**!!” “So wha—eh? Th, th, that fool…?!!” Athena’s gaze trembled as she immediately realized what is Clotho talking about. “You mean ‘**that’** meaning…?” Clotho nodded her head. “One of the 78 Tarot Cards—or should it be called, Card of Destiny, Arcana of the Archaic Library recorded in the **[Akashic Records]**…” “They are the cards that were the materialization of Destiny, Fate, and Life in the entire universe. The essences of the **[Akashic Records]**, the one that holds all knowledge since the beginning of time—and one of the 22 Major Arcana—was the [The Fool] and Epimetheus had it.” “… …” “…Considered as the most powerful card: **[The Fool]** represented a new beginning—and, consequently, an end. There was also one other aspect of him, and that is because he was the ‘Fool’, he can be anything—fate couldn’t dictate! The ‘Fool’ possesses greater potential than any being… because of this, Epimetheus was one of the best candidates to become the [Last Trial of Humanity]—similar to his former wife; **[Pandora]** the Keeper of Chances,” “Do you understand now…Athena?” She shook her head, a sigh letting out from her mouth. “… …” “Solomon is not just a regular being, a god or a demon—He is someone whose fate couldn’t be read or dictates. Virgil is also one of its proof—during the process, Solomon falls in love with his niece unknowingly, Hela—his brother’s daughter. Prometheus was angered and throws him to Hell, but there, the **‘Fell’** that Pandora had released had managed to corrupt him, heralding the birth of two people—now both of them became the center of these all. Not just simply being center, but the one started the war that had led to the quickening of the Final judgment’s arrival…!” "Giving it an assumption that Fate can't be stopped...Destiny cannot be controlled..." “One wanted to conquer all and protect himself, another was traveling to protect his loved ones…” One was selfish and the other was sentimental… —But both of them caused the Celestial Realm to tremble to its core and now, was heralding the birth of the Final Judgment… “Then what should I do? Clotho…” Athena gazed abstractedly at Clotho and asked. “Nothing Athena… Solomon’s fate is his own to bear, even us Ladies of Fate couldn’t read him clearly, what we only certain is that he can be the one who will destroy everything or the one who can protect everything.” “This is the final test—you can’t do anything…no one can’t do anything!” “Let nature takes its course…” Athena gritted her teeth in frustration. “Then what about me? What should I do after hearing this all…?” “This is what you wanted Athena… I had warned you before but you insisted…now, you can only find the path you needed to walk on starting now—but please do remember, the choice you make from now on, will affect everything… no matter how small it is.” Clotho’s gaze was gentle and her voice was soft, like the ringing of numerous bells. “My actions will affect everything…?” Athena was confused. “Was this beyond my control?” “…who knows, but affected or not, it all depends on your heart,” Clotho responded. “All I can tell you right now is that, just like Solomon, and all his actions up until now, Fate can be changed and altered. Then, why can’t it do the same … for the future?” “… …” "The gear had already started turning... the notion that it wouldn't be stopped anymore, that Fate is impossible to be changed, is already broken by several people now... Solomon is one, and you can be one as well..." “… …” "Broaden your mind, the future isn’t something that is irreversible… it’s not set in stone…” *** ***

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNkNjI5NDk5ZGNkNzQ4MzhhYTYwNDAyZjY5ZGVkMzcz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"><strong>Chapter 79: [ Homesickness…? ]</strong></span></p> <p class="cnNjMmI5M2QwZWZlZTQ5MDI5ZjRlZmM4YzZiZmEyY2Y0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Amila has always known about Dragon Slayers – although currently they were already extinct and had disappeared from the surface of the world but from Amila’s time when she was still active, the Dragon Slayer Clan was extremely famous. Of course, before they had become a taboo existence!</span></p> <p class="cnM3ZTNiZTM1OWZjZTRkODc5YjVhN2Y4ZTA1ZjgwOTI2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Most Dragon Slayers had a Dragon Partner and even some married their partners – that is, if they had become able to turn into a human. </span></p> <p class="cnMyYmJiMjJlNGJjMzQzNDk4ZDFhMjJjY2U3MWY2YWQ0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Only the strongest Dragon has that ability.</span></p> <p class="cnMyYWU4MTY3NDRhNzQzOThiZjkwNzNjODE0NDBiNWUy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Dragon Slayers never treated Dragons as tools – they were family or trusted partner. But too bad, the Black Dragon King despised humans. </span></p> <p class="cnNhNTcyNzQzYWM0MjRlN2RiNDkyNzFhYmU0NTdkYzhh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Thus, leading to their extinction.</span></p> <p class="cnMwMTE1Mjg3NzUwMjQ5NGRhODA0YTcwMTQyYWZiZDEx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">She too would probably be hunted if this was known by the Black Dragon King – but she wasn’t afraid of it.</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZWJhNDRkNGQ2YTRiNjRiNjVmMTU4MDdhYzczYjkw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Dragons never scared of death. Probably for upstarts Dragons but for Amila who had live for who knows how many decades and centuries already, life was nothing to them. </span></p> <p class="cnNiMzU5ZjMxODlkYzQ5NTE4MzkzZjNjYTRjMjdjMzcx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The only thing that she was afraid of was being imprisoned in this place for eternity…</span></p> <p class="cnM3NmIzYmMzZjMwYjQ0OTViNDBkYmU2ZGEzMGRkMzQ2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">And in addition, Amila had a sudden premonition the moment she saw Rain for the first time.</span></p> <p class="cnMxYWMwYjY0MjEwZTQ1NGM4ZjA3OGMwMTU2ZmFiNzMx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">As the last Dragon Slayer in existence… he wasn’t bound to be a simple man!</span></p> <p class="cnM3MGY2YjFiNDBhYzRlODI5YzJiZmM4ZTI5Y2VhNDMx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Probably in the future, he would write history by himself and defeat the Black Dragon King!</span></p> <p class="cnNkODk2YThhYmUzYTQxYjlhNDljMzI0YzIzMmE4NzBi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">... And Amila wanted to see that!</span></p> <p class="cnMxYzM4NzU0OWExMTQ4NzM4OWNlOTAwZDg3MDZiMmYx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">That point where History will be rewritten!</span></p> <p class="cnM0NDU2ZWU2ZTY1MTQwOTY5Yzg0NjU2OTk0ODI1MzIw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">*** ***</span></p> <p class="cnMwMjQ5ZjM4MDI2NjQ4MjlhZGNlOTAxYzVhZmRkNzYz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"> </span></p> <p class="cnM4NjU0NjlhZTQwNzQ1YzI4N2U3NGI4Nzc1N2Q2MWM2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain stood up and slowly walked towards the Princess and the others.</span></p> <p class="cnM1NmNiNTg2MGZiMjRiZDg4NmJmMjIzNWJhYWQxNjJl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Behind him was the Snow Dragon.</span></p> <p class="cnM1YjBiODk2NjJiYTQyNDY5NjZiOTc0NmY1NzcxMDhm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Seeing that it wasn’t hostile, the crowd started to lower their guard.</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZWFiNzA3ZjE1NzQ2MjY5ZWEzOGRlOTk0YWM0NDg4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Rain, what happened…?” The princess asked in doubt.</span></p> <p class="cnMyZjdlOGYwOGZjMzRlYmM5NmQzZjk4YzZhYjUyODZm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“It’s nothing. I talked with the Snow Dragon and find out that we’re actually compatible with each other…” Rain replied with a bright smile. </span></p> <p class="cnMwYWZjOTE2ZGJhNjQ3ZmNhMzY2OTFlYzJlMDQ2MDI4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Now, we are friends…”</span></p> <p class="cnNmZDc0NjgwZGVlMzQ1ZTA4MWE3NzJjYzU4OTY1ZTZl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Huh?” The princess widened their eyes in shock at that seemingly simple answer.</span></p> <p class="cnNjMGM1MGVlMzU4YjQ2OWU4YmEwZTM4OTM5ZjU1ZmEw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The heck did he just say?!</span></p> <p class="cnNlY2M2NWZhNWY3ZDRmZGZiMTlmY2RiNzFlMjc2NWRj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Is that even logical…!?</span></p> <p class="cnMwZTM3NzQxMDhmYTRkMjU4YmY5OWY3ZmVlMDRhNGYz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Just what the heck happened!?”</span></p> <p class="cnNmYzExODhmZWM2ZjQxZjJhNjZjNzhiNzc3ZDY4MDg0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain shrugs and scooted towards Zarda and the others, completely ignoring her.</span></p> <p class="cnNlOWE2ZWZiOTAyZDRiM2U5YjcwYjI0YTczMzdmN2E4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"><em>‘V’</em> Rain flashed a V-sign at Lafetti when he saw her and the group looking at him dumbfounded.</span></p> <p class="cnMxYzJmMGNkMzg2YTQ3NWI4NTk1MmZjY2IyNzU2YzBl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Seeing this, Zarda can’t help but shook her head in helplessness. A wry smile suffused her lip.</span></p> <p class="cnMwYTI4MmRhMjk5MDRjNTNiMjhiMmU2ZGYwYzEwMzg1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">What an incredible guy…</span></p> <p class="cnNjYjdlYTM2ZjNjMjQ2ZjRhNjQyZGJhNjEyNGU1M2I0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">A proud looked appeared on her face and along with Alba who seemed to be observing the Snow Dragon from head to toe, anyone can see the pride leaking in her eyes.</span></p> <p class="cnNhYjc0YTZjNDEyZTQxMDk5ODM4NGQwNmRlYTM1YTI1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“And so, what now,” Princess sighed and since she couldn’t digest what had happened until now, she sent a questioning look at Rain.</span></p> <p class="cnNlMDVmYWRjZDcyNjQyNzVhOWJjZTJjZWM2ODNjYmQx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain shrugs, “Snow Dragon said that you can go and take the artifacts inside here though as for the Excalibur --although she wasn’t sure but it should be at the deepest part of this ruins…”</span></p> <p class="cnM0MWE5NDY1ZTc3NDRhMjhhYjFiYmYzYWQxMzczMDRh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Really!!?” Hearing the holy sword’s location, Princess Leticia’s excitement surged up! Although the artifacts in this hall seem to be good but what she came here was, after all, the legendary holy sword Excalibur!</span></p> <p class="cnNjNWZjMjU0ZDM2OTRhNzFhYWFhZGMwYzkxZWE0ZmFl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">For it to be here, really! Although she had expected this – No, she had hoped but there was still, after all, no proof. </span></p> <p class="cnM1NTc4N2I2OGFmNDQxMDdhODg0ZWVkNTUwZDY4Zjk1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">But now that the Holy sword existence was really confirmed, Princess Leticia turned even more excited!</span></p> <p class="cnM5Mjk4ZjcwODQyNjQyMWY5NmIzODdiZjYwYmIwZGNm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Just one more step!</span></p> <p class="cnMxOTJjOGM1MzcxZTRiODI4NGM2NWJhMzVhZjFjNGFj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">One more step and she will be able to acquire the holy sword!!</span></p> <p class="cnM1NWI0ZjI3MzRmMjQwZWU5OGZkOWYzY2QyNjc1OGUy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">However, what Rain said instant poured cold water on her excitement.</span></p> <p class="cnNhY2Q4ZWNlYWIxZTQ5YTk4ZjFmZTg4NTYwNGNlYzRl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“From what Amila had said, behind this room, a shadow Dragon was waiting.”</span></p> <p class="cnM1OWI5ODA5MzMxODRjNWE5MzdmOGI4ZTQ2NWUwMmI4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Another Dragon!!?” The group was startled.</span></p> <p class="cnNjNzMyYzYzNjYxNzQ5N2U5OWM1NGFhMTI2MmQwMjc2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Their attention then turned towards Amila who was looking at them indifferently.</span></p> <p class="cnMwNTFmZGMzZTA1MTQ1Njg4Mjk1NDUyODA3Yzc4NTZl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Are you sure?!”</span></p> <p class="cnNhMGJmZGJkMzRlYjRkMDBhOTMyZGE2ZWY4MDc3MWYz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Un.” Rain nodded in response.</span></p> <p class="cnMyYjlmYjhhMzBiMTRlNGM5YTU0YWEyMjUxMTFjMzFm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The princess bit her lips in frustration and looked back at her subordinates. Fighting a dragon in this state was certainly a suicide.</span></p> <p class="cnM2YjI0ZWQ3NGNkNjQ0MzE4MWZlMGI3ODAyNzU4NDVh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">But the Holy Sword is just the right behind them!</span></p> <p class="cnM2NmM1MDllOTgxNDQ2MWZhMGI2Mjc3Nzg0NTM3ZjJm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Should they go back first and gathered another fighting group…?</span></p> <p class="cnNiOWZiY2Q1MTlhNjQ3OWRiMzI1ODllYzkyMjM5YjI5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Still, that method was time-consuming since it was a long road until here!</span></p> <p class="cnM1ODdmM2Y5ZmMzNjRjNGM5ZTM2MzA0Njk3NGFjZWNl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Princess Leticia then raised her head and looked at the Snow Dragon. </span></p> <p class="cnMyY2M4NTA5NTVjNDQ5ZjRiYTg3NzA5MTkxZTZjMTM2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Rain, can this Dragon help us…?”</span></p> <p class="cnMyNTI1YmIyZDAxMTQ1MmY5MDJlOGFmNTc3MDM1YmVk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">If there’s another Dragon by their side, their chances of winning would certainly go up even with just their number.</span></p> <p class="cnNkOTYwZDYzOGZkZjQxNGFiYzZhMzM1NTQ4N2VkYTk4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain turned his head and looked at Amila.</span></p> <p class="cnMwMTk2MWMxZDRkNzQzYThhZGQ1OGIxYjVhYTAwOTMw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Where you go, I will go. I can’t have you dying now, after all…”</span></p> <p class="cnM3M2FjMGUwZjliMzRjZmViYzk5ZTRiYTZmZjVjNmEx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“In the first place, can’t we just talk with that Dragon? Maybe it’s quite reasonable… like you?” Rain suddenly thought.</span></p> <p class="cnM2MzFlYzA3ZWI4MjQ0M2NhN2JjODY4MzNjMTM1OWQz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">But Amila shook her head. “Did you forget about the Black Dragon King?”</span></p> <p class="cnNjODRhZjVhOWEzNDQxNzQ5YjQ0ZGMyM2NiNGZiNDMy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Ah!” Rain smiled bitterly.</span></p> <p class="cnM2N2MxZGQxZjVjMzQ1ZjFhODM5MTYzYzNjN2Q3NDI3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Shadow Dragons can be said to be a close relative to Dark Dragons and their King was none other than the Black Dragon King.” Amila said with a mischievous tone. </span></p> <p class="cnMyNjA3YTYxYTUxNjRhZjNhMTVkZTQ5NGY1MTQzOTU1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… Then do you still think they would care about human circumstances? And in addition, the moment he saw you, you will certainly be targeted and be killed for sure. You’re still too weak and you can’t even control your own Dragon Aura –it’s leaking you know~”</span></p> <p class="cnMzZDZjMGIyMzMxYzRmNjc4MzZmYzkzYzMwNDIyOWZh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …”</span></p> <p class="cnNmMjMxZGMzOWE2MzRlNmNhZjhjMGI2YTIyOTkzZGM0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“He would surely notice it.”</span></p> <p class="cnNiZDk4MmFjZjAyNzQxZDE4MWM0Njc5Y2JiMDYxYmZm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">She has a point…</span></p> <p class="cnM4NjllNTQ1M2FhYjQxNzE4YTk4ZDgwMjE1ZmE4NGU4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Still, a Shadow Dragon… huh… Rain couldn’t eat Amila or even taste her flesh – Although it was quite regrettable but after all, she was now his partner. </span></p> <p class="cnMwYTI5ZWE3ZjdlNzQ5NjBiNDllYzM4Y2ZkNTc5ZmEw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">But Shadow Dragon’s flesh… just what’s its flavor, I wonder…? Rain’s lips turned into a bad grin.</span></p> <p class="cnM4Nzc3N2YxZjQzMzRkMGU4MzRmMjU1OTcyZTBkMDg2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">What kind of abilities would he acquire –?</span></p> <p class="cnNjOTdlNWZjYWVhOTQ0OThiOTQyMGViNTE4OWQxYmNi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">It’s decided! Let’s kill it!!</span></p> <p class="cnNhZjg1Y2FjMzEzMjRhNzA4ZWYxOTYyYzAwYWIwMGVm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Amila will help us…” Rain grins.</span></p> <p class="cnNjNTIxYTEzNzA1ZTQwZDhhNGIyNzVkMDc3NTJmZDM5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">This words excited the crowd and the princess once again felt hope!</span></p> <p class="cnM5NjAwODhmMmEwYjQzNmU4NjZmMmE2MjlmMzg4NDgx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">After a short moment of discussion, the group decided to stay for a moment longer and rest. Although they can go now but they wanted to be in their best condition when they fight!</span></p> <p class="cnM1NmNmNWQ4MzcyNDRlOGI4MWU0ZTg4ODI0YTgyODRk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">According to Celis appraisal, the black cloak’s name was [ Night Fury ] – a magical item that increased the wearer’s agility and Dexterity by 40% and enables the user to use the skills; [ Shadow Step ] and [ Dark Bind ].</span></p> <p class="cnNiMTg1ZTQ5YWIwMDQxMjBhMTAzYTFiMGFmZmRhNTIx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Double-handed Axe was called [ Raging Flame ] – A magical Axe that increased the User’s strength by 20% and can generate flames that cover the Axe Blade. It gives the user skills: [ Flame Storm ] and [ Flame Burst ].</span></p> <p class="cnMwNDYyYmIwOWJiZjQ5MTRiYzVlYWZmNjNlYmFmOGQz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">And lastly the Magical Bow; [ Sarafi’s Elegant Bow ] – A magical Bow once owned by a famous Elf Warrior; Sarafi. It generates arrows that contain the power of nature. It has skills; [ Hawkeye ] and [ Rapid Shot ].</span></p> <p class="cnNjNjA0YmIxNWZiOTQ1ODlhYzRmNGVhNDZhM2JkYWZi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">All three were high-level artifacts!</span></p> <p class="cnNiMTQwMDM3Mzc0MzQxMGVhYTM4MGU4MjU5ZGY5YTVh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain took [ Night Fury ] while Drova took [ Raging Flame ]. The bow went towards the princess group. Stagna didn’t want to change her new bow.</span></p> <p class="cnNjYmYwMmM3NGI1ODRlZjBiNzA5OTI4MzBkYzFhZjdk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Although there was some dissatisfaction but since Rain was the one who had truly acquired it, even the princess couldn’t say anything. </span></p> <p class="cnM0ZDgxYmE3MTU1MjQ0NTZhMzdmYzQxM2Q4OWRhNmY5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Besides, with Snow Dragon; Amila, who would dare voice out their complains!?</span></p> <p class="cnM0ODNhZDE3YjZhMjQ1YjJiOWE2NDcwYzUyYTZhMjVh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">In the far corner of the hall, a chest was found. Inside were a couple of gems and rare ores.</span></p> <p class="cnNkOTZkM2QzNjE5NzQwNjI4YWFkNmZmMTBkOWU2NGFh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Of course, this was also divided into two groups. Since it was not gold and silver and instead gems and ores, Zarda and the others obviously wanted it. They can make many things using this!</span></p> <p class="cnNkMTRhZTEyZWQwNDRiYTRiZGY5MmRlOGI2MWM5NGUy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">*** ***</span></p> <p class="cnNjYmNmYzg4ZTFmNjRkYzU4YjQ4ZWZiNjBiYjViMGMz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"> </span></p> <p class="cnM1OGZlNWI3OTFjYjQ5ZTk4ZjE3YTUwYWE4Y2M2NDUz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The crowd advance towards the deepest part of the ruins.</span></p> <p class="cnM3YmUzNTZjNDZmOTRkNzRiYmZlZGZlYWJkMGY5NWM5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Along the way, they had found many treasures – Magical artifacts and also expensive looking masterpieces of arts.</span></p> <p class="cnMyNDJmYmQ4OWFmNzQwZjZhMWY1YjAyYjVjMWYwYTRj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"><em>The creator of this Dungeon – it should be Arturia… right?</em></span></p> <p class="cnMzMzliM2Q2NDM2NDQxMmZhODFmZTg0MDA3MDRlNzhl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">However, Rain had thought of this before but he just doesn’t have any proof. Still, was the Hero Arturia – <em>a person from Earth…?</em></span></p> <p class="cnM2OTAyYjhlYTNlZTRmNTg5NTAyMzE3NjVmZjUwNGNk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">But it doesn’t add up… This place is certainly made to look like a Dungeon from a Game. <em>But, that Hero was from Ancient times, right…?</em></span></p> <p class="cnMxZWNiYzdkZmQ5MDRhMDc5ZjczNjFkMjU4NGI5ZDIw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Earth shouldn’t have developed that far yet – in terms of Game with Dungeons… or had it?</span></p> <p class="cnM1MWE2ODA2NDAxMzQ4Mzk4ZGQyMWYxNzQyNTg1ZWVi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain was extremely confused. What he only knows is that Arturia has a high chance of being a resident of Earth who is summoned into this world, just like him.</span></p> <p class="cnM5MDg4YjhiOTFmYjQ3MDJhOWVjMGFjYzEwMmRjZDhk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">He had even seen a complete look-alike of the Norwegian Expressionist artist Edvard Munch’s masterpiece; The Scream, plastered along the walls of the corridor.</span></p> <p class="cnMyMjhmYWY4Nzk4NTRmODZhYzk0OGMwODdhYjE0YTJi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Even Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers were present.</span></p> <p class="cnMyOTBmN2M3MWJiOTRmMmU4N2I3MWYxYTA3YThiYmI1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Just why did that person put these paintings in this kind of ruins…?</span></p> <p class="cnNjMThjMDcyMTc5ZDRkNDZiZGViYzgyYzg4ZmI0MGJi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">What is she trying to express…?</span></p> <p class="cnNmY2E4Njg3M2IwMDQwODI4YjQ1MWNmNjNjYjJhOTc0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Hobby? Style? Was it all for that…?</span></p> <p class="cnNjYTYyZjMzZTZiYjRlOGI5Mjk3OTZlYjUxNDY4YzMx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">… Or… had she felt longing… for the home, she couldn’t return to…?</span></p> <p class="cnMxMzBkNjY0MjIxOTQyOWZiYjEzNjUyYzZkZDFmODM4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Then, does it mean that the moment you stepped into this world, you would never be able to return back to Earth…?</span></p> <p class="cnM2YjQyODYyZTI2MjQxZDk5YjVhYTRlMjBmZDI0ZWZj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain's eyebrows furrowed.</span></p> </div>

**Chapter 79: [ Homesickness…? ]** Amila has always known about Dragon Slayers – although currently they were already extinct and had disappeared from the surface of the world but from Amila’s time when she was still active, the Dragon Slayer Clan was extremely famous. Of course, before they had become a taboo existence! Most Dragon Slayers had a Dragon Partner and even some married their partners – that is, if they had become able to turn into a human. Only the strongest Dragon has that ability. Dragon Slayers never treated Dragons as tools – they were family or trusted partner. But too bad, the Black Dragon King despised humans. Thus, leading to their extinction. She too would probably be hunted if this was known by the Black Dragon King – but she wasn’t afraid of it. Dragons never scared of death. Probably for upstarts Dragons but for Amila who had live for who knows how many decades and centuries already, life was nothing to them. The only thing that she was afraid of was being imprisoned in this place for eternity… And in addition, Amila had a sudden premonition the moment she saw Rain for the first time. As the last Dragon Slayer in existence… he wasn’t bound to be a simple man! Probably in the future, he would write history by himself and defeat the Black Dragon King! ... And Amila wanted to see that! That point where History will be rewritten! *** *** Rain stood up and slowly walked towards the Princess and the others. Behind him was the Snow Dragon. Seeing that it wasn’t hostile, the crowd started to lower their guard. “Rain, what happened…?” The princess asked in doubt. “It’s nothing. I talked with the Snow Dragon and find out that we’re actually compatible with each other…” Rain replied with a bright smile. “Now, we are friends…” “Huh?” The princess widened their eyes in shock at that seemingly simple answer. The heck did he just say?! Is that even logical…!? “Just what the heck happened!?” Rain shrugs and scooted towards Zarda and the others, completely ignoring her. *‘V’* Rain flashed a V-sign at Lafetti when he saw her and the group looking at him dumbfounded. Seeing this, Zarda can’t help but shook her head in helplessness. A wry smile suffused her lip. What an incredible guy… A proud looked appeared on her face and along with Alba who seemed to be observing the Snow Dragon from head to toe, anyone can see the pride leaking in her eyes. “And so, what now,” Princess sighed and since she couldn’t digest what had happened until now, she sent a questioning look at Rain. Rain shrugs, “Snow Dragon said that you can go and take the artifacts inside here though as for the Excalibur --although she wasn’t sure but it should be at the deepest part of this ruins…” “Really!!?” Hearing the holy sword’s location, Princess Leticia’s excitement surged up! Although the artifacts in this hall seem to be good but what she came here was, after all, the legendary holy sword Excalibur! For it to be here, really! Although she had expected this – No, she had hoped but there was still, after all, no proof. But now that the Holy sword existence was really confirmed, Princess Leticia turned even more excited! Just one more step! One more step and she will be able to acquire the holy sword!! However, what Rain said instant poured cold water on her excitement. “From what Amila had said, behind this room, a shadow Dragon was waiting.” “Another Dragon!!?” The group was startled. Their attention then turned towards Amila who was looking at them indifferently. “Are you sure?!” “Un.” Rain nodded in response. The princess bit her lips in frustration and looked back at her subordinates. Fighting a dragon in this state was certainly a suicide. But the Holy Sword is just the right behind them! Should they go back first and gathered another fighting group…? Still, that method was time-consuming since it was a long road until here! Princess Leticia then raised her head and looked at the Snow Dragon. “Rain, can this Dragon help us…?” If there’s another Dragon by their side, their chances of winning would certainly go up even with just their number. Rain turned his head and looked at Amila. “Where you go, I will go. I can’t have you dying now, after all…” “In the first place, can’t we just talk with that Dragon? Maybe it’s quite reasonable… like you?” Rain suddenly thought. But Amila shook her head. “Did you forget about the Black Dragon King?” “Ah!” Rain smiled bitterly. “Shadow Dragons can be said to be a close relative to Dark Dragons and their King was none other than the Black Dragon King.” Amila said with a mischievous tone. “… Then do you still think they would care about human circumstances? And in addition, the moment he saw you, you will certainly be targeted and be killed for sure. You’re still too weak and you can’t even control your own Dragon Aura –it’s leaking you know~” “… …” “He would surely notice it.” She has a point… Still, a Shadow Dragon… huh… Rain couldn’t eat Amila or even taste her flesh – Although it was quite regrettable but after all, she was now his partner. But Shadow Dragon’s flesh… just what’s its flavor, I wonder…? Rain’s lips turned into a bad grin. What kind of abilities would he acquire –? It’s decided! Let’s kill it!! “Amila will help us…” Rain grins. This words excited the crowd and the princess once again felt hope! After a short moment of discussion, the group decided to stay for a moment longer and rest. Although they can go now but they wanted to be in their best condition when they fight! According to Celis appraisal, the black cloak’s name was [ Night Fury ] – a magical item that increased the wearer’s agility and Dexterity by 40% and enables the user to use the skills; [ Shadow Step ] and [ Dark Bind ]. Double-handed Axe was called [ Raging Flame ] – A magical Axe that increased the User’s strength by 20% and can generate flames that cover the Axe Blade. It gives the user skills: [ Flame Storm ] and [ Flame Burst ]. And lastly the Magical Bow; [ Sarafi’s Elegant Bow ] – A magical Bow once owned by a famous Elf Warrior; Sarafi. It generates arrows that contain the power of nature. It has skills; [ Hawkeye ] and [ Rapid Shot ]. All three were high-level artifacts! Rain took [ Night Fury ] while Drova took [ Raging Flame ]. The bow went towards the princess group. Stagna didn’t want to change her new bow. Although there was some dissatisfaction but since Rain was the one who had truly acquired it, even the princess couldn’t say anything. Besides, with Snow Dragon; Amila, who would dare voice out their complains!? In the far corner of the hall, a chest was found. Inside were a couple of gems and rare ores. Of course, this was also divided into two groups. Since it was not gold and silver and instead gems and ores, Zarda and the others obviously wanted it. They can make many things using this! *** *** The crowd advance towards the deepest part of the ruins. Along the way, they had found many treasures – Magical artifacts and also expensive looking masterpieces of arts. *The creator of this Dungeon – it should be Arturia… right?* However, Rain had thought of this before but he just doesn’t have any proof. Still, was the Hero Arturia – *a person from Earth…?* But it doesn’t add up… This place is certainly made to look like a Dungeon from a Game. *But, that Hero was from Ancient times, right…?* Earth shouldn’t have developed that far yet – in terms of Game with Dungeons… or had it? Rain was extremely confused. What he only knows is that Arturia has a high chance of being a resident of Earth who is summoned into this world, just like him. He had even seen a complete look-alike of the Norwegian Expressionist artist Edvard Munch’s masterpiece; The Scream, plastered along the walls of the corridor. Even Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers were present. Just why did that person put these paintings in this kind of ruins…? What is she trying to express…? Hobby? Style? Was it all for that…? … Or… had she felt longing… for the home, she couldn’t return to…? Then, does it mean that the moment you stepped into this world, you would never be able to return back to Earth…? Rain's eyebrows furrowed.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMxMTMxNTNmMmQ5ODRmZWNiNDQyMDcwZGI0M2JiYTdj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"><strong>Chapter 80: [ Arturia Pendragon ]</strong></span></p> <p class="cnNkODgwYzg5NDcwNDQzN2I4M2VlMTQwOWZmY2VjOTQ2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain frowned as he fell into deep thought. Well, it’s not like he wanted to return.</span></p> <p class="cnNjMzZjYzIxNzJmYjRiMjZiMGM3NTYyOTQzNGIxNmJh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Indeed, he had friends there and going there to visit sometimes might not sound bad but it’s not to the point he was desperate to return. </span></p> <p class="cnMzMWEyNzhmZGMzMjQ3M2Y5MTUyYTU2YjVhZWI1YjU4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Here, he has a family he doesn’t want to separate from.</span></p> <p class="cnNiNDZhZTVkOGViMzRkMDY5MWY3NDVjNTczMmRkN2Q0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">So, is that really a problem…?</span></p> <p class="cnNhNmFjNjBlYWFiYjQwZmY4YTQwYmM5ZDZhMzA1NDNm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">No… at least not for him.</span></p> <p class="cnM3NDczMWM4Y2E0YTRmZmQ5NmIxMWI2ZTA3ZDliMDc5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain shrugs his shoulders, trying to erase the thoughts piling inside his mind.</span></p> <p class="cnM5Zjc3ZjcwMGU5YTRiNGI5Y2ZlOTUwOWUxY2FjMDc0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">At this moment, <em>Creak!</em> A door opening rang out, taking Rain’s attention.</span></p> <p class="cnM5MDBiODA5NTVmZDQwNDViZmYxZmIxMTZjMWUzZDg3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">And the moment he raised his head, there in front was a big hall just like the room of Amila. But at this time, a majestic throne was located at the front.</span></p> <p class="cnNmYjY3YWFlY2ZjYzQ1NjNiMTdjYzUyMGNhMTI2ZDEy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">And as expected, a Dragon sculptor was lying in front of the Throne. As if sleeping, it was closing its eyes.</span></p> <p class="cnMwNWQwMDE3ZjljNzQzZTFhMGNlOGExZmJhODg2ZjJk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">However, what caused Rain and the others shocked to the point that their entire body violently trembled was something else.</span></p> <p class="cnNlYTA3N2VlOGUyMDQ5MTg5NzI0ZTg0NzljNjU5YTFm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">In the throne, sitting was a woman with golden hair and golden gaze. </span></p> <p class="cnMyZjkxMTk3ZjM3YzQyYzdiYzJiYWQwNjliOTk3Yzdm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">She was wearing a scarlet dress with gold plating on each side.</span></p> <p class="cnNjZWJkZTI3MzZiNDQzYTA4ZTkxNTFkZmJlYmY0NGYx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Beautiful and jade-like complexion.</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZThlZjc0YmMzODQxNTc4NmY0YjBhYzUwYWY5OWMz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">She was around 15 – 16 years old beautiful girl.</span></p> <p class="cnM1MDAyZjUzN2VmNzQxY2NhMjYxMDc4OGEyOGY3OGI1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Even in the body, the beautiful dress couldn’t contain the dynamic body she possesses as she had a sculpted figure which was twine-thin. Her waist was tapered.</span></p> <p class="cnM0ZDFiZDZlYWU0NjQ0ZTFhNjU2ZDM4ZmVjMGU5Nzc3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">A pair of arched eyebrows looked down on sweeping eyelashes.</span></p> <p class="cnNlM2ZkNWNiNWYyZDRlMDU5ZjdmNGVjMzQ2YjAwZDNl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Her eyes, framed by long lashes, were bright golden and seemed to brighten the world when it was reflected in her eyes.</span></p> <p class="cnM1Y2Y1MjA2YjQxNTRiYjU5ZjBhMDU5MmJlOWRiMmZj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">A straight nose, full lips - she seemed the picture of perfection.</span></p> <p class="cnM1YzY1MmE3MDEwNzQ1ZTBhMmZlMDUxOWU3MGMwMzZi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Oh, my – visitors… at last.” The girl smiled brilliantly and the world seemed to have become even brighter.</span></p> <p class="cnM3MDM2MmJhNTNhMTQ2ZDJhMzAzMTJhMWU5N2NhZmQ3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Her tone was like a soft caress, grasping everyone’s hearts.</span></p> <p class="cnM3NGVkOWE1MGMxYzQyYjQ5YmZkMTRkN2QzZTIwZGFl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Even Zarda and the other Lamias couldn’t help but tremble in shock.</span></p> <p class="cnMzY2JkODhlN2IyYzRiZThhYmI4NmE0ODc2NjdjZjg0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Who are you!?” The Princess cried out in doubt and suspicions. Why is a little girl inside this kind of place…?</span></p> <p class="cnMzMjhiODg2MGNiZTQ4MGQ4MzQyMDZjYzVhODE3MWM3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Is she living in here?</span></p> <p class="cnNhNWY2NWIxNWVmZjRlYTJhMWQ1MzY2OTc4MWRmZWFi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Me?” The girls chuckled and her eyes sparkled like glistening stars. She seemed to be extremely happy now that she had someone to talk to.</span></p> <p class="cnMxYjcwMzhiN2JhNTRjYjVhYzkyNDBjN2IyM2YwZDZk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“I am –”</span></p> <p class="cnNhZWEzODgyMjJkZjRmYzg4ZGY0YjQ0OTAzZjY3YTBl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Arturia Pendragon…?” But before she could speak her name, Rain cut her off.</span></p> <p class="cnNhNDA1M2ZmZTY2NTQwZDdiMjFhNTEzMzUxYTAyYTBh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain’s brows furrowed as he tried to think that it shouldn’t be possible!</span></p> <p class="cnNlYTJmNWQ4MDQzMjQ5ZmI5NWQxMzRiMWU1ZGQ1Zjkx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Arturia is an ancient Hero figure!!</span></p> <p class="cnM2MGZhNTYyMWZmZDRlMzE5YmNiNjMyZGQ0ZmY2Yzg4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">However, for some reason, Rain can’t help but think that his guess was correct.</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZDVlY2Y2NmQ4ZjQyN2ZiYTk1M2QxZWU1YTNlNGNl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Who could she be… if she was living inside here all this time!?</span></p> <p class="cnM3NmRhYjExMjNmMTRmNmE5NGM2MzA2ZmUyMzhiOWY4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">But if she was real, then is she … an immortal…?!</span></p> <p class="cnM0Mjk3MTEwNTM5ZTQ5NmU4NjU5ZDI0OTc0NzhkMzk5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Oh?!” the girl’s eyes momentarily expressed astonishment. “For someone able to recognize me… I’m impressed.”</span></p> <p class="cnM0YjRhN2NlNWFiODRkODNhOTdiNWZkNzBjNGJiYmQ0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“What!!?” And this confirmation shocks the Princess and the crowd!</span></p> <p class="cnM1YzNkOTYwNTk4NDQyM2Q5NmFhMTg4OGY4ZmU5YjFm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">She’s Arturia Pendragon…!!!?</span></p> <p class="cnMxODA5NmU1YWExYjRmZDA4MjYyOTk1MmZmZWRjYWQx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The greatest Hero!!?</span></p> <p class="cnM4Mjg0M2FlOThhMTRkN2Y4MTJhNDAwNGIxZDEwNDk1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">How is that possible…!!!?</span></p> <p class="cnNmZDQ4MjBhOGYxNjRkZGJiMmVjMjYyZWMzNWIzY2Nj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">But Arturia ignored the crowd’s shock as her eyes locked on Rain’s figure. And the more she saw him, the wider her smile becomes.</span></p> <p class="cnM5NWU2ZjUxYTUzYTQxZWVhNzM3N2IwZTBkY2NiMGVm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“I see… so that is the reason… Hm, I see, I see…” Arturia nodded her head like a chicken pecking on the ground, seemingly realizing something. “So that is why the Snow Dragon chooses you to be her partner… am I right, Amila?”</span></p> <p class="cnM4NjE0M2UyZGI2MTQ0ZjU4Mzk4NzIwOTMxYzQ2NTAx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“It’s been so long… Old friend…” Amila softly muttered. Her gaze then turned gentle and said, “What have you become…?”</span></p> <p class="cnMwZGIwYWEzYTc0ODQyOThhZGY2NzkzMzJlMTZmMzM0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Arturia didn’t respond to Amila and just showed a faint smile. Her gaze then returned at Rain.</span></p> <p class="cnM2OTFiYzA4NGQ3NDRlMWY4NjAzZDNlN2Q4MDI2YTU0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“If I’m not mistaken… you’re also from another world, Earth… Am I right, boy?”</span></p> <p class="cnM0NTMxOGUyNTkzNDQ1MDNhYTU4YmEzMWM2Y2NlZWYz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain frowned. “I don’t want a girl at your appearance calling me a boy…”</span></p> <p class="cnNkNjk0YTViNTBjMzQ5NGFhNGMyZjY5YmVmNDI1Mjky"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Hehehe, relax, in fact, I was wondering, how was Earth…? What year was it now…?” Arturia showed a nostalgic expression.</span></p> <p class="cnNhM2RjZDc5ZjA1NTRiMDJiMzVmZThhNTY4NzNiMzk5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“2017, 20^th at November,” Rain answered. “Of course, that was when I was transported into this world. Probably a few weeks had passed or months…”</span></p> <p class="cnNjNzZjMTdjM2E0ODRjMDBhMzFkMTUyMmQyNGFkZDIy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“2017… that’s weird,” Arturia furrowed her brows. “I came in the year of… 2018, 25^th of December… Christmas season…”</span></p> <p class="cnNmOGI0YjkzOGJjMzQ2YTBhNjVkMGE1MmJkYjc1ODVk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“What…?”</span></p> <p class="cnNmMDVhZWZkODgyOTQ5NzNhZDQ5Zjg0MTUwOTliZjUx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“I see,” Contrary to Rain’s I-don't-understanding expression, Arturia showed a wry smile. “The timeline is different… either we came at different worlds or, was I summoned from the Earth’s future – that’s extremely confusing…”</span></p> <p class="cnNjNGQwMjk3N2Q5ZTRjYjViN2Y5MDFjZTExMTJkZDIw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …” Rain showed an <em>‘I understand look at the same time I don’t understand look,’ </em>expression.</span></p> <p class="cnNkZjRjM2ZhYzgwODQwM2Q5NDAxZmNlOGRmMmVkZTBm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Though, the people around them were even more confused.</span></p> <p class="cnNiNmRiY2YxYjVkOTQyY2NhNTI2ODdmOGEwY2Q1OTZj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Rain you’re not from this world…!!?” Princess Leticia’s eyes widened in shock.</span></p> <p class="cnNhMzhjNjEyZGIwMzRjYTA5N2E5YjQwNGFjOTY5MjVh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Long story…” Rain smiled wryly.</span></p> <p class="cnNhY2E5YWJmMGY4OTQ1MDI4YzExMzQ2YWI4ZGViNThj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Zarda and the others also stared at Rain doubtfully. Then their gaze turned to <em>‘You better explain this later’ </em>look.</span></p> <p class="cnNiYjU2NDFlNmQ3YTQ0NDk4NTRhMDQxYzU3YzdiZjZm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Fudge… It was revealed sooner than he had imagined.</span></p> <p class="cnM4MTdmNzRjODAzMzQzNTQ4NDlkMTQ0NjY1OTk0MmQ1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“What is your name?”</span></p> <p class="cnNhNzRmOWE4YzNjMzRlM2Y4NzY1NmMwMDVjMDk5Zjc5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Rain… Rain Revert,”</span></p> <p class="cnNkM2Y4ZTM1ZWY2MTQyNzhhMzNjYTJkMTQxMzliNjVh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… come again…?” Arturia’s eyes showed an unusual look. Her eyes widened in shock!</span></p> <p class="cnNiNDFkYzIzNjYyNTQ3OTE5ZjJiNTZjZWY3NWQxOThl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Rain Revert…”</span></p> <p class="cnM0ZTIyZTE2OTM2YzQ1NzVhNWMwMDA0OGVlNTMyOGY1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …” Arturia was speechless for a moment. Then, she suddenly exploded in laughter.</span></p> <p class="cnMxN2NhZGNiM2QzMDQ1ODBiZDYxMDg2YmY3OWNmYWEw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"– AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"</span></p> <p class="cnMwNDIyNGFkMWQzMTQxMGJhNjQ0YWFlNjM4NGIwNWYx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain and the rest look at Arturia dumbfounded. What is wrong with this… girl…?</span></p> <p class="cnMyNDlmYTdjMDljNzQ2OTY4MzdkZGEyZjc3YzhmN2Yz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“I see, I see, I see… Rain, Rain Revert… Hahahahaha,” Arturia wiped the tears that had accumulated from the corner of her eyes.</span></p> <p class="cnNlYjExN2ZkMTRiZjQ2ZDRhYzY0ZGZkYTUzNGJiMTBk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">A spark of nostalgia and affection appeared behind her eyes – Though no one had noticed it as it was immediately masked by Arturia’s usual smile.</span></p> <p class="cnNiNzY1NTgxYTdjODQyZDhiNTM4NDc0ZDkxZTM1OTAx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Blood type?”</span></p> <p class="cnMyMTM4OWYxMzhiZjQ4NzRhY2QzNzBiNDcyMDZiZWFj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Huh?” Rain frowned. What is on with this girl…?</span></p> <p class="cnM1YzY5ODBjZWZkNzRiMjFhZjRiZjNiZmQ1MTA1Yzgx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“I ask you what your blood type is,” Arturia repeated her question. “You should know, right?”</span></p> <p class="cnMzODZhMjllY2FmZjQ5ZWQ5NzVmNzNmMjExYTA3ZTAy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“B, B+…”</span></p> <p class="cnNmODY5NjU5OTFlMDQ2ZmY4M2EzNzgzODFlNGVlNjJj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"Aquarian Mark at your back...?"</span></p> <p class="cnM0YzljMGRkNGVmODRlZWY4ZmU1N2Q1ZWM0M2I3ZmQy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"... ..." Rain frowned.</span></p> <p class="cnM1NjE5NDJmNDQ5MzQxMmQ5NTJiODc3Y2I5YzhjNTM0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“I see…” Seeing Rain's expression, Arturia nodded as if she had expected it. “Oh well, I changed my mind.”</span></p> <p class="cnM5NDgwMmQ3NDcwMzRmNmY5ZmQyZDQ3NTAwMGVkYWJl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“What?”</span></p> <p class="cnMzZDkxMzJiMjJiZTRjMjZiYzdmMzQwYzJjMmUzMzdj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Arturia turned around and returned to her throne. “I was actually going to let you fight the Shadow Dragon if you wanted to inherit the Holy Sword… but I change my mind. You can go and pass, the sword’s at the back.”</span></p> <p class="cnNmMWRhZDRiNjc2ZTRkMTlhZTFmNWQ2NGM4YTk5Y2Mw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Huh?!”</span></p> <p class="cnNjODFkNTkyYWJmODQ4MWE4ZGZlZTFiYzdiYjkxNzU3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Eh?!”</span></p> <p class="cnM2YWFjNTdjN2UxYzQ3MDE5NjA4NzlmYmM0NjI5MDdj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">What did she mean…?</span></p> <p class="cnMwMDdlZWY5MTg5NzQ3ZWI4ZTljMDdjZThjNThkNDAz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Seeing the shock gazes of the crowd, Arturia chuckled. “Truthfully, based on my own opinion – I think you are all too rash.”</span></p> <p class="cnM5NDgyMzFlYmVmNjRjYzg5ZWM2NmUxMDJhZjY0NDY5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">!!?</span></p> <p class="cnM2YmJkMTQzN2EwYjRlMmRiZDk1NmFjNGE3MWFhYjY5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Did you think that just your numbers alone can match against a Shadow Dragon…? I hate to say this but you are wrong. Even if you count Amila’s help, the chances of you winning only rose up to 30 – 40%...”</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZGNiODIxMWQ0MjQ0ZGQ4OWVlMjExOTZhZGVjM2Uw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">!!? What…?</span></p> <p class="cnM1YzA3MmEwOTc1NTQ3YmRiMzMwOTFmZmRiOTQ1Yzky"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Arturia swung her feet playfully. “That’s why you are too rash. I put the Shadow Dragon as the last BOSS of this Dungeon because… his power is completely above that of the others.”</span></p> <p class="cnMwNjliODE0YWMzMjRmMGY4NzFmYTRmODVkZmMxNTg3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Listening to this, the princess was startled. But she still gritted her teeth and stepped forward, “Then, why are you still willing us to pass? Besides, if you are the real Arturia, why are you here? Staying in this god-forsaken place when humanity was on the verge of being annihilated!? Aren’t you a Hero!?” Princess Leticia cried out in anger.</span></p> <p class="cnNjZDE3YTQyYWM5NDQ4OTFiMjZhOTNkYzYyMjg5NjY3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Hm, you have a point.” Arturia wasn’t angry and still kept her smile. “I can sense the royal blood of Ahadzakin from you – are you by any chance his descendant?”</span></p> <p class="cnNmOTRkNmJmOGJhMzRiOTE4ZDVlYjkxOTJjMjJlYmEx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Yes! I’m the descendant of King Ahadzakin, the first princess of the Delouria Kingdom! It’s a pleasure to meet you, oh great hero!” The princess bowed respectfully.</span></p> <p class="cnMwYzQ5MGE3NjczYTQ1NmJhODVmZTlkNmYwNTRjY2Ey"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“I see…” Arturia sighed. “Such a nostalgic name, however, princess it seems like you are misunderstanding something.”</span></p> <p class="cnM3NTc2MjcwOTU1ZDQ0ZmM5M2VhOTdiMGQ1ODI1Nzhi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“What?”</span></p> <p class="cnM4MDhlMGY0NjIzMDRiZmE5NTIyMzQ0ZDNlMmUxOWQx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“I am not a Hero anymore…” Arturia said with a wry smile. “In fact, the one you see right now is nothing but a speck of soul – a remnant of my original self.”</span></p> </div>

**Chapter 80: [ Arturia Pendragon ]** Rain frowned as he fell into deep thought. Well, it’s not like he wanted to return. Indeed, he had friends there and going there to visit sometimes might not sound bad but it’s not to the point he was desperate to return. Here, he has a family he doesn’t want to separate from. So, is that really a problem…? No… at least not for him. Rain shrugs his shoulders, trying to erase the thoughts piling inside his mind. At this moment, *Creak!* A door opening rang out, taking Rain’s attention. And the moment he raised his head, there in front was a big hall just like the room of Amila. But at this time, a majestic throne was located at the front. And as expected, a Dragon sculptor was lying in front of the Throne. As if sleeping, it was closing its eyes. However, what caused Rain and the others shocked to the point that their entire body violently trembled was something else. In the throne, sitting was a woman with golden hair and golden gaze. She was wearing a scarlet dress with gold plating on each side. Beautiful and jade-like complexion. She was around 15 – 16 years old beautiful girl. Even in the body, the beautiful dress couldn’t contain the dynamic body she possesses as she had a sculpted figure which was twine-thin. Her waist was tapered. A pair of arched eyebrows looked down on sweeping eyelashes. Her eyes, framed by long lashes, were bright golden and seemed to brighten the world when it was reflected in her eyes. A straight nose, full lips - she seemed the picture of perfection. “Oh, my – visitors… at last.” The girl smiled brilliantly and the world seemed to have become even brighter. Her tone was like a soft caress, grasping everyone’s hearts. Even Zarda and the other Lamias couldn’t help but tremble in shock. “Who are you!?” The Princess cried out in doubt and suspicions. Why is a little girl inside this kind of place…? Is she living in here? “Me?” The girls chuckled and her eyes sparkled like glistening stars. She seemed to be extremely happy now that she had someone to talk to. “I am –” “Arturia Pendragon…?” But before she could speak her name, Rain cut her off. Rain’s brows furrowed as he tried to think that it shouldn’t be possible! Arturia is an ancient Hero figure!! However, for some reason, Rain can’t help but think that his guess was correct. Who could she be… if she was living inside here all this time!? But if she was real, then is she … an immortal…?! “Oh?!” the girl’s eyes momentarily expressed astonishment. “For someone able to recognize me… I’m impressed.” “What!!?” And this confirmation shocks the Princess and the crowd! She’s Arturia Pendragon…!!!? The greatest Hero!!? How is that possible…!!!? But Arturia ignored the crowd’s shock as her eyes locked on Rain’s figure. And the more she saw him, the wider her smile becomes. “I see… so that is the reason… Hm, I see, I see…” Arturia nodded her head like a chicken pecking on the ground, seemingly realizing something. “So that is why the Snow Dragon chooses you to be her partner… am I right, Amila?” “It’s been so long… Old friend…” Amila softly muttered. Her gaze then turned gentle and said, “What have you become…?” Arturia didn’t respond to Amila and just showed a faint smile. Her gaze then returned at Rain. “If I’m not mistaken… you’re also from another world, Earth… Am I right, boy?” Rain frowned. “I don’t want a girl at your appearance calling me a boy…” “Hehehe, relax, in fact, I was wondering, how was Earth…? What year was it now…?” Arturia showed a nostalgic expression. “2017, 20th at November,” Rain answered. “Of course, that was when I was transported into this world. Probably a few weeks had passed or months…” “2017… that’s weird,” Arturia furrowed her brows. “I came in the year of… 2018, 25th of December… Christmas season…” “What…?” “I see,” Contrary to Rain’s I-don't-understanding expression, Arturia showed a wry smile. “The timeline is different… either we came at different worlds or, was I summoned from the Earth’s future – that’s extremely confusing…” “… …” Rain showed an *‘I understand look at the same time I don’t understand look,’* expression. Though, the people around them were even more confused. “Rain you’re not from this world…!!?” Princess Leticia’s eyes widened in shock. “Long story…” Rain smiled wryly. Zarda and the others also stared at Rain doubtfully. Then their gaze turned to *‘You better explain this later’* look. Rain awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Fudge… It was revealed sooner than he had imagined. “What is your name?” “Rain… Rain Revert,” “… come again…?” Arturia’s eyes showed an unusual look. Her eyes widened in shock! “Rain Revert…” “… …” Arturia was speechless for a moment. Then, she suddenly exploded in laughter. "– AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA" Rain and the rest look at Arturia dumbfounded. What is wrong with this… girl…? “I see, I see, I see… Rain, Rain Revert… Hahahahaha,” Arturia wiped the tears that had accumulated from the corner of her eyes. A spark of nostalgia and affection appeared behind her eyes – Though no one had noticed it as it was immediately masked by Arturia’s usual smile. “Blood type?” “Huh?” Rain frowned. What is on with this girl…? “I ask you what your blood type is,” Arturia repeated her question. “You should know, right?” “B, B+…” "Aquarian Mark at your back...?" "... ..." Rain frowned. “I see…” Seeing Rain's expression, Arturia nodded as if she had expected it. “Oh well, I changed my mind.” “What?” Arturia turned around and returned to her throne. “I was actually going to let you fight the Shadow Dragon if you wanted to inherit the Holy Sword… but I change my mind. You can go and pass, the sword’s at the back.” “Huh?!” “Eh?!” What did she mean…? Seeing the shock gazes of the crowd, Arturia chuckled. “Truthfully, based on my own opinion – I think you are all too rash.” !!? “Did you think that just your numbers alone can match against a Shadow Dragon…? I hate to say this but you are wrong. Even if you count Amila’s help, the chances of you winning only rose up to 30 – 40%...” !!? What…? Arturia swung her feet playfully. “That’s why you are too rash. I put the Shadow Dragon as the last BOSS of this Dungeon because… his power is completely above that of the others.” Listening to this, the princess was startled. But she still gritted her teeth and stepped forward, “Then, why are you still willing us to pass? Besides, if you are the real Arturia, why are you here? Staying in this god-forsaken place when humanity was on the verge of being annihilated!? Aren’t you a Hero!?” Princess Leticia cried out in anger. “Hm, you have a point.” Arturia wasn’t angry and still kept her smile. “I can sense the royal blood of Ahadzakin from you – are you by any chance his descendant?” “Yes! I’m the descendant of King Ahadzakin, the first princess of the Delouria Kingdom! It’s a pleasure to meet you, oh great hero!” The princess bowed respectfully. “I see…” Arturia sighed. “Such a nostalgic name, however, princess it seems like you are misunderstanding something.” “What?” “I am not a Hero anymore…” Arturia said with a wry smile. “In fact, the one you see right now is nothing but a speck of soul – a remnant of my original self.”

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNmNjhiZTQ4ODYyZjRmZDI5NjdlYjZlNWFiMTI4MmEw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"><strong>Chapter 81: [ What do you want to hear? ]</strong></span></p> <p class="cnNjNzQ2M2M3ZWEzODQ5MmZhYjEyNzdlMWY1Yjg1ZmMz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“!!?”</span></p> <p class="cnM0MjU1MGE2YzJiZTQ5YzBhMTA0ZjY0MmFmYmM5YWUy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“I don’t know what happened to my real body – probably perished already after so long. Even Hero has lifespans, you know.” Arturia smiled gently.</span></p> <p class="cnM3OTczYmNhZWRjYzQ0M2Q5MTY3OTUwMmQ0ODEzOTdi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“That is why the me you are now seeing was nothing but a speck of soul. A copy of the existence known as Arturia Pendragon; the owner of the Holy Sword that Vanquished the Darkness; Excalibur.” Arturia then turned her gaze to Rain’s figure.</span></p> <p class="cnNmYzNiNjNjMTYzMzQ1Mjc4ODUzMzhmMTViMjU1NTBl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Too bad, I actually wanted to be here in person…” She murmured the last sentence in a soft voice.</span></p> <p class="cnNiY2Y3ZjNlM2IzMjRkMjY5MjlhMGE5OGM4ZTA0NWVm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain felt Arturia’s gaze and couldn’t help but felt Goosebumps all over his skin. Just what is his relation with this girl…?</span></p> <p class="cnM0ZmJkZGUxMTk3NjRjOTA5MGUwOTIwZGNmZTJkOTNi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The way she looks at him… so strange!</span></p> <p class="cnNmZTVhMzc1ZGNlNDRjNDY4Mzk1MDAxZTdjYWJlMmMz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Thus, no matter what was happening in the world right now, I don’t have anything I can do.”</span></p> <p class="cnM4OTczMmE4YzZmMDQ0YjQ4YzNiZDA5YjUzOTY0ZmZh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …”</span></p> <p class="cnMwODE1MGEzNjMyMjQ0ODdhMmViZjZmYjkwZGViZTAw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Then the Holy Sword…?”</span></p> <p class="cnM3MTE5OGIyNGY1ZTRiNDFiMzgyYzk1Mjc0ZGY1NzA0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Arturia smiled. “Take it if that is what you wanted… in any case, that sword was originally created by Ahadzakin for me~ ”</span></p> <p class="cnNmZWY4NWY1ZjljODRiMDE5YTMzYzQ4NGFmODBlYTc2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">That easy…?</span></p> <p class="cnMzNTI1OTdjZDIyMzRkYjNiZTQ2OTM1ZDZmYmExNjQz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Arturia ignored the crowd’s suspicious gaze and turned towards Rain, “Rain, could we chat for a while.”</span></p> <p class="cnNlZTVlNTM0OGVjYjQyZWRiNzZkMWMxYWY3YjE1MzRi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“??”</span></p> <p class="cnNjM2Y0NmI5MjZlOTQzZjY4MTQ0ZTcyZWZlYjFkZTU4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“As a fellow from Earth, I really like to hear about that world …” Arturia smiled gently. “If it’s not too much, can we?”</span></p> <p class="cnMxMjI3ZjcxYjhkNzQ0ZTc5OTVmZjgyOWY4Mzg4MmQw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain shrugs. He then started walking towards Arturia.</span></p> <p class="cnNiNjhlOGUxYTVmZDQ1NTRhOTI4NjY1NmI3NWQzZjIw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Lafetti wanted to stop him but Rain said that it’s fine. For some reason, he can’t feel any hostility from Arturia. And for some unknown reason, he felt as if Arturia was looking at him lovingly.</span></p> <p class="cnNjODFjMDVjYmZmMjQ5ZTA5OWI4MTQ0YzI5MDI2MTZi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Though it’s a bit different from what a woman would look at her lover.</span></p> <p class="cnM4NWNkZDNhZGU2MzQwYjg4MjRlNGNkZGY5NzVhNGI1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Just what is it…?</span></p> <p class="cnMxOWI5ZGQ0M2NhMTRhYWY5YzNlMWU2OWZkYWIwYmE2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain climb up the Dragon’s sculptor and sit at the top. This action startled not only the crowd but even Amila and Arturia. Doesn’t he know that that was a real Dragon…?!</span></p> <p class="cnMwMjlhNGQwYzExZTRkNjNiNDM3OWJkMDQxYmUzOWJh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">And he actually used it as a chair?</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZGIxNWI4NzllYTRlYmNhYzQ3OTI2NjVkOGFhZjBl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Just what would he do if it suddenly woke up? It would certainly be furious as hell!</span></p> <p class="cnM1NmM3ZGI0YzI5NzRmMDM5ZGUzYTUyZDUwMjFmZTdl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain ignored the surrounding and stared at the Arturia who after a moment of surprise, chuckled in amusement.</span></p> <p class="cnNjNTM5N2ZiZmI2ZjRkYjVhMTlkYTJlMjIxN2FjMjIz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Indeed, runs in the blood…</span></p> <p class="cnMzYzk4MDVkZTE0NDRjZWQ5Y2RmOTg2NGQ5NTBjMTAy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“So, what do you want to hear…?”</span></p> <p class="cnNiM2QwYTY0NDU2YzRmMGE4MzEyZDRhNzk2YzFkMmFi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Arturia thought for a moment and then said, “Anything. About your world, the Earth, your life, anything…</span></p> <p class="cnNkODQ1NDc1OGY3NTRmMDM5MTQ0OTg1YTJmNzhiM2Y0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… ..”</span></p> <p class="cnM0MTRiOGRkOGJmMzQyZjI5OGNmZTliNjYyOTRmMmI2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain thought for a moment and then took a deep breath and started.</span></p> <p class="cnM0MzNiNjNjMzA0NzRmYjM4YzhjNmE2ZDVkZTg5MDM0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">As for Princess Leticia and the others, they looked at Rain and Arturia who was chatting quite happily and frowned. She then shook her head and walked towards the other room where the Holy Sword should be.</span></p> <p class="cnM0N2E4YmJlM2FhODQ3NzI4YzY3OTdkZDY5MmU4Mzlj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Her mind was a mess from all the revelations…</span></p> <p class="cnMxYzMxNDljMDM1NjQ0ZmVhMDZmZWEzNTEwNzFiMmYx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain was also from another world…?</span></p> <p class="cnM4NWQzZDExYTBlNTQ2ODRhMDJjMjUwZjJiOGRiZDFj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">However, he was indeed a member of the Aquarian Clan… how is that possible!</span></p> <p class="cnNkNTdmNWYzYzI0YzQzOTE4NWMyNmVlOWFlZjQwMzdj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">As she walked, Princess Leticia’s gaze went towards Alba who was slowly walking towards Rain.</span></p> <p class="cnNiNGIwZDQwMGNlNzRjM2JiMjcxNmUxZjNjMjE4NWQ1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Alba felt her gaze and stared at her.</span></p> <p class="cnNkZWFlZDFmYzI3ZjQ5NTg5NTE0Y2EwMTU5MmU2NWZh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The two people, a human and a wolf stared at each other for a moment before, Princess Leticia broke her gaze. Surely, that wolf has something to do with it…!</span></p> <p class="cnNmNGRkMzJkNGMyMjQ3MTQ5NDkwNmYxZWMzZjEyM2Fh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">*** ***</span></p> <p class="cnMxMDgxZDJjOTJlNzQ4Y2M4MmMyNjY5MjAzZmRmZWY5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"> </span></p> <p class="cnM4NDRhMWZjZjAxNjRiOWI4NTJkMThhYzA1OGE2NDA5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Rain and Arturia chatted peacefully at first but then suddenly, the two started laughing together like some old friends.</span></p> <p class="cnMwYWE2NzY3MThiMjQ3NThhZWFmZWQyYjk1ZGI5ZGUx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Suddenly, “Rain,”</span></p> <p class="cnMwNTZhZDZjODZhNjRlZDg4ZjhkM2FiMWU3NzEwZjNi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Hm?” Rain raised his head and stared at Arturia.</span></p> <p class="cnMyYzFiZTE4OTlmYjRiZDZhMGIyNDJjZWNlODM5OGQ0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“What do you think about you coming back into this world…?”</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZTlmNGVlMTAxZTQxMWU5ZTZmYjA4OTFkNTJjNzM4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Why?”</span></p> <p class="cnMxZTc0ZGZlMjA2YjRhZDZiYTEyOThlYzZkMDI2ODAy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Haven’t you had a peaceful life… back there?”</span></p> <p class="cnM1OTlmMDkwNmUzYzQwZmI4ZjVjMTQ3ZDk3MzgyN2I0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Hmm,” Rain showed a thoughtful expression. “It’s hard to say. Indeed, although I had no family in that world… but I was never alone. There were many people that had helped me and stayed with me when I had needed company.”</span></p> <p class="cnNkNTZmNjgyYzcwNzRlMzJhMDc3YWY1NWE0ZmI2Y2Mx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“However, this is this and that is that…” Rain smiled. “Here, I had Zarda, Lafetti, Mother Alba and the rest of the Lamian Tribe. They are now my new family. Here, some people needed me…” Rain turned his head and look at Zarda and the others.</span></p> <p class="cnNlYWU0ZGRmMjdjMTQ0MDdiYzg3NmVhZTlkMjdlNzI0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Zarda smiled with a happy expression.</span></p> <p class="cnM3Zjc4NzU0NmI5ZTQ4NWNiZDA2Y2NiYmYzZmVlOTA0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Lafetti, on the other hand, showed a <em>‘That’s natural’ </em>expression. She then sent Rain a loving expression.</span></p> <p class="cnM4OWY1ZDkyNWU5NzQyZDI5Mjc5NzRlZmE3OGJiMDQ1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“So… I want to, though, at the same time, I also don’t want to come back…” Rain concluded. It was a very complicated conclusion, but indeed, there was no absolute in this world…</span></p> <p class="cnNhZDM3ODM3Mjc0NTQxYzViYjA5ZDhmZTRlYzU1ZDdm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“I see…” Arturia nodded her head. A satisfied smile appeared on her face.</span></p> <p class="cnMzMGM4OGI5OWUxZDQyNWE5MmI5ZTg0ODUzODAwMWVl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"><em>*tap *tap *tap *tap</em></span></p> <p class="cnM1MzhiNGQ2YjJlYzRhZTY5NGUxNmE0ZTllMTc0NDRk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"><em>Clang! Cleng! Clang</em></span></p> <p class="cnNhZjJmODIwMGRlNTRhZDM4NTgzYWM4YzNmZWJlZWY0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">At this moment, the princess group finally returned from the inside. On her hand was a golden sword sheathed in a golden scabbard embroiled with beautiful jewels and gems.</span></p> <p class="cnNjOWVmN2I4NjRlMjQ0YWRhZjk4MDIwODRhNGIxNjhk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Was that… Excalibur…?</span></p> <p class="cnM5OWVkNzNiYThhODRiYWM4YTIyZjFlYWNiMTA4NTdk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Exalted Hero,” The Princess suddenly kneeled in front of Arturia. The people behind her followed after.</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZTdjNDg0MWQxMTQ0Mzc4NTdjNmI5NTM1ODQyMWJk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Why does the sword can’t be pulled out from its sheath…? Is something… wrong?” The Princess asked in doubt.</span></p> <p class="cnM0MzE4YThhOGY3OTRhZGVhMDBiM2RmNTJhYTczYWU4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“The Excalibur is not an ordinary Holy Sword…” Arturia sent her a glance and responded.</span></p> <p class="cnNhOGMzY2Q1M2UxZDQ3NDhiODI4NjE1MWY1ZTk1YThh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">??</span></p> <p class="cnMwYWNhOGM0NGJlMTRjMWNhZDg2YTk2MTk3ZjYyZDQ0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“It has her own sentient and soul. You are not able to pull that sword means that the sword still hasn’t acknowledged you as her new master.” Arturia spoke in a gentle tone. “If you want to use it… then be a person that deserves its acknowledgment…”</span></p> <p class="cnNkMzAzNjg0MzhkYzQ4ZWFiYWJhYjA0NGYyODM4NjRk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“How do I do that? Please, give me some instruction…”</span></p> <p class="cnNlOGZjODdkZDNmMTRkNWRhMmFhY2U1MWNmMzMyNGJl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“I would like to but unfortunately, I can’t help you with it. The Holy Sword is the one who chooses her master. Even the smallest thing might be a trial for you…”</span></p> <p class="cnNiY2I3YTViNDRjODQyN2FiYzAzODEyZWNmMmI0MDll"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …”</span></p> <p class="cnNlY2U0ZjE3ODU3MTQ0ZDJiZjNiN2ZkNGY3NmYyYTU1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Though I can give you a piece of advice…”</span></p> <p class="cnNjMzljY2VlMTY2MDRkMWU4ODM1MjdkNzM3ZmJjNzI2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em"><em>!!?</em> “Pray tell!” Princess Leticia’s sparkled in excitement.</span></p> <p class="cnNiOWQwYzk1MzZiNjRmM2I5ZDdmNTBkNGYwNGI5MmNk"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“In the creation of that sword, we had asked for a Nymph’s blessings. Thus, if you want to use its full potential, go to the Forest of the God and ask for Ceptalia, a Nymph who was living on a huge lake. She can help you with that sword…”</span></p> <p class="cnM2Nzc4ODNjMTBjNjRjMDY4NDI5NDMzN2UzZDMzYzcw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Is she the legendary Lady of the Lake…?” Rain asked curiously.</span></p> <p class="cnNjY2RiZGRiNjFjZjRhMTY5MGVkMTRkYzc3OTZiZjlh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“She can now be called as such,” Arturia smiled wryly. “After all, I had modeled that sword and even appeared like a certain someone….” She flashed a childish grin.</span></p> <p class="cnNjOWY4MTMwMzE2YjQ3Y2FhODkwODZjNmVhNDk2OTU3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Hehe,” Rain chuckled. He now realized, Arturia was not the Legendary King Arthur of Earth, she just based that on the Legend from Earth…</span></p> <p class="cnNjZDc0ODY3MTE2ZjQ4MTJhNzdjOTg0ZDlkNGI3Nzll"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Rain…”</span></p> <p class="cnNjNmQwNjU5NmU2ZjQ5ZTY5MzhjOTM1ZTMzYmUyNTI2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Hm?”</span></p> <p class="cnM1ZmM2ZWExMGE2NzRiYzBhNGMwMGI5ZjMwMzg4MzJl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“When that sword left this place, it would mean that my mission had completely ended. And I will probably disappear…” Arturia suddenly muttered.</span></p> <p class="cnNhYTliYzc3OTI4NDRlYzg5M2EyZjE3YzY2MmIwOGNl"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">"Hm?!"</span></p> <p class="cnM2YjdhNGU1YTZiYjQxNGRiNzFmY2FlY2IxYWI0N2Nj"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Don’t give me that look.” Arturia smiled gently as she grabbed Rain’s hand and squeezed it lightly. “As I had said before, I am not the real person and just a speck of her existence. I only exist for the mission given to me… and that is to protect the Holy Sword and give it to the one who completes the Trial.”</span></p> <p class="cnMyMzUwNzA0YzE4NzQ2YzQ4ODVhOGNhYTczYzc4ODlh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“… …”</span></p> <p class="cnNhYmZlMTQzZmM2ZjRjNTg5MzE0NzZjMGYxYTI5MTc0"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“And my mission has finally been completed. And so, when I’m gone, I will be leaving this place to you…”</span></p> <p class="cnNmZjNhODA3ZGE0MDRmMjQ4NGJmOTFhZjYzMGMxOGI2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Huh…!?” Rain’s eyes widened in shock.</span></p> <p class="cnNiMzdhMGI2ZGRjMzQ4NmVhNTVlMjA3YWVjMGEwMDg1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Even the princess was startled. She can't believe it, no, she couldn't accept it!!</span></p> <p class="cnM0YTQyOTI2YWZjOTQxMDA5MjEzMTYwYWE1ODRjMGE5"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">This is the castle made by the one and only Arturia Pendragon. The historical significance of this place was something that even the royal palace can’t be compared.</span></p> <p class="cnM3OTNiNzcyMWI0MDQzZDM5N2QzYWFhZDJhODNhZmEy"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">And yet, it would be left in the hands of a single… boy!?</span></p> <p class="cnNmNjBhNGZmNDc5NTQ0YjZhN2E2NjI0MTgwMTlmMjFi"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Something is definitely wrong here!</span></p> <p class="cnM2MWFlZWUyY2VmNTQzMTU4Yzc2ODljOTM0MmVkOTA1"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“Exalted Hero. Please forgive my rudeness but this place would be now under the Royal Family’s –”</span></p> <p class="cnMwMzdiZmU2ZTIwMzRjMjg4OGE4YzBmZjFkODY0Yzlh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">The Princess wanted to appeal when she suddenly felt a huge pressure causing her body and the people behind her to kneel on the ground. </span></p> <p class="cnNiOWIxYmUzNGM2MDRhNTA5Yjc1YWY2OTNjOWJhZWQ3"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Her mouth instantly shut up.</span></p> <p class="cnNlMmE4NDU0N2Y3ODQ1ZjA4YTFhOTJlYzBlMTA5YTg2"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">“You are certainly… rude!” Arturia spoke in a cold voice, unlike the one she was using up until now. Her golden gaze bored through the Princess, making her body covered in cold sweat.</span></p> <p class="cnM3OWRiN2Q2OWIwYTRhMjY5ZDg4ZTIwMjI3MDE2YmIx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">*** ***</span></p> </div>

**Chapter 81: [ What do you want to hear? ]** “!!?” “I don’t know what happened to my real body – probably perished already after so long. Even Hero has lifespans, you know.” Arturia smiled gently. “That is why the me you are now seeing was nothing but a speck of soul. A copy of the existence known as Arturia Pendragon; the owner of the Holy Sword that Vanquished the Darkness; Excalibur.” Arturia then turned her gaze to Rain’s figure. “Too bad, I actually wanted to be here in person…” She murmured the last sentence in a soft voice. Rain felt Arturia’s gaze and couldn’t help but felt Goosebumps all over his skin. Just what is his relation with this girl…? The way she looks at him… so strange! “Thus, no matter what was happening in the world right now, I don’t have anything I can do.” “… …” “Then the Holy Sword…?” Arturia smiled. “Take it if that is what you wanted… in any case, that sword was originally created by Ahadzakin for me~ ” That easy…? Arturia ignored the crowd’s suspicious gaze and turned towards Rain, “Rain, could we chat for a while.” “??” “As a fellow from Earth, I really like to hear about that world …” Arturia smiled gently. “If it’s not too much, can we?” Rain shrugs. He then started walking towards Arturia. Lafetti wanted to stop him but Rain said that it’s fine. For some reason, he can’t feel any hostility from Arturia. And for some unknown reason, he felt as if Arturia was looking at him lovingly. Though it’s a bit different from what a woman would look at her lover. Just what is it…? Rain climb up the Dragon’s sculptor and sit at the top. This action startled not only the crowd but even Amila and Arturia. Doesn’t he know that that was a real Dragon…?! And he actually used it as a chair? Just what would he do if it suddenly woke up? It would certainly be furious as hell! Rain ignored the surrounding and stared at the Arturia who after a moment of surprise, chuckled in amusement. Indeed, runs in the blood… “So, what do you want to hear…?” Arturia thought for a moment and then said, “Anything. About your world, the Earth, your life, anything… “… ..” Rain thought for a moment and then took a deep breath and started. As for Princess Leticia and the others, they looked at Rain and Arturia who was chatting quite happily and frowned. She then shook her head and walked towards the other room where the Holy Sword should be. Her mind was a mess from all the revelations… Rain was also from another world…? However, he was indeed a member of the Aquarian Clan… how is that possible! As she walked, Princess Leticia’s gaze went towards Alba who was slowly walking towards Rain. Alba felt her gaze and stared at her. The two people, a human and a wolf stared at each other for a moment before, Princess Leticia broke her gaze. Surely, that wolf has something to do with it…! *** *** Rain and Arturia chatted peacefully at first but then suddenly, the two started laughing together like some old friends. Suddenly, “Rain,” “Hm?” Rain raised his head and stared at Arturia. “What do you think about you coming back into this world…?” “Why?” “Haven’t you had a peaceful life… back there?” “Hmm,” Rain showed a thoughtful expression. “It’s hard to say. Indeed, although I had no family in that world… but I was never alone. There were many people that had helped me and stayed with me when I had needed company.” “However, this is this and that is that…” Rain smiled. “Here, I had Zarda, Lafetti, Mother Alba and the rest of the Lamian Tribe. They are now my new family. Here, some people needed me…” Rain turned his head and look at Zarda and the others. Zarda smiled with a happy expression. Lafetti, on the other hand, showed a *‘That’s natural’* expression. She then sent Rain a loving expression. “So… I want to, though, at the same time, I also don’t want to come back…” Rain concluded. It was a very complicated conclusion, but indeed, there was no absolute in this world… “I see…” Arturia nodded her head. A satisfied smile appeared on her face. **tap *tap *tap *tap* *Clang! Cleng! Clang* At this moment, the princess group finally returned from the inside. On her hand was a golden sword sheathed in a golden scabbard embroiled with beautiful jewels and gems. Was that… Excalibur…? “Exalted Hero,” The Princess suddenly kneeled in front of Arturia. The people behind her followed after. “Why does the sword can’t be pulled out from its sheath…? Is something… wrong?” The Princess asked in doubt. “The Excalibur is not an ordinary Holy Sword…” Arturia sent her a glance and responded. ?? “It has her own sentient and soul. You are not able to pull that sword means that the sword still hasn’t acknowledged you as her new master.” Arturia spoke in a gentle tone. “If you want to use it… then be a person that deserves its acknowledgment…” “How do I do that? Please, give me some instruction…” “I would like to but unfortunately, I can’t help you with it. The Holy Sword is the one who chooses her master. Even the smallest thing might be a trial for you…” “… …” “Though I can give you a piece of advice…” *!!?* “Pray tell!” Princess Leticia’s sparkled in excitement. “In the creation of that sword, we had asked for a Nymph’s blessings. Thus, if you want to use its full potential, go to the Forest of the God and ask for Ceptalia, a Nymph who was living on a huge lake. She can help you with that sword…” “Is she the legendary Lady of the Lake…?” Rain asked curiously. “She can now be called as such,” Arturia smiled wryly. “After all, I had modeled that sword and even appeared like a certain someone….” She flashed a childish grin. “Hehe,” Rain chuckled. He now realized, Arturia was not the Legendary King Arthur of Earth, she just based that on the Legend from Earth… “Rain…” “Hm?” “When that sword left this place, it would mean that my mission had completely ended. And I will probably disappear…” Arturia suddenly muttered. "Hm?!" “Don’t give me that look.” Arturia smiled gently as she grabbed Rain’s hand and squeezed it lightly. “As I had said before, I am not the real person and just a speck of her existence. I only exist for the mission given to me… and that is to protect the Holy Sword and give it to the one who completes the Trial.” “… …” “And my mission has finally been completed. And so, when I’m gone, I will be leaving this place to you…” “Huh…!?” Rain’s eyes widened in shock. Even the princess was startled. She can't believe it, no, she couldn't accept it!! This is the castle made by the one and only Arturia Pendragon. The historical significance of this place was something that even the royal palace can’t be compared. And yet, it would be left in the hands of a single… boy!? Something is definitely wrong here! “Exalted Hero. Please forgive my rudeness but this place would be now under the Royal Family’s –” The Princess wanted to appeal when she suddenly felt a huge pressure causing her body and the people behind her to kneel on the ground. Her mouth instantly shut up. “You are certainly… rude!” Arturia spoke in a cold voice, unlike the one she was using up until now. Her golden gaze bored through the Princess, making her body covered in cold sweat. *** ***

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNiOTk4YTViNTkwNDRiMzdiYjY1NTRiYmI0NTBhOTZl">Yes, I’m aware you’re here for an epic tale of rogue AI, genderswapped romance, plain vanilla Harlequin romance novel style romance, annoying sidekicks, elves obsessed with racial purity and feces eating golems. Also existential threats to the real world in which we all live, which may or may have passed. And yes, I am skeptical, despite the solemn assurances from every government agency with three letter acronyms to slap together as well as Doctor Bancroft that we are now safe. Sorry, but if you’d been through what I’ve been through, you’d be skeptical, too. DAVIS is many things, but a quitter isn’t one of them. And, no, I will not use the past tense in reference to DAVIS.</p> <p class="cnM0YmU1MTZiZjU3YzRlODk4Mjg5YzQzOTIzYjVmMWY1">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkYjJmYjliNTE3NjRkMjQ4OTM5MTUwY2YyMzNiOWI0">Well, too bad.</p> <p class="cnM0NDc1MmJmMzdhOTQ4YzRhYmFlOGU5NDE1MjMwY2M0">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhM2Q4ZDExMWU5YzRlNDJiOTE3ZTc3ZWQyNGE3NzAy">This saga begins, with me as your bargain basement combination Odysseus/Homer, in the run-down conference room of my former employer, Central City Payroll Services, LLC. Hardly an auspicious beginning, but given what followed doubtless an appropriate one. And instead of singing of the Wrath of Achilles, let us open with the Rage of Elana. And, boy, from what I was later told I’d managed to push every damn button she had, and perhaps managed to manufacture some from whole cloth. And, no, I will not sing. That I will spare you.</p> <p class="cnNjMjJmZTQ4N2I0NDRmN2U5Y2VjYzAxMzkzMGY3MjRi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4MWU2Zjc5MWM0YjRkOWFhMzliNjY3ODI5MDgyZjk5">“Maybe I should go shopping for shoes with my girlfriends?” Ever hear the expression a piercing voice? This was it, except it was more like an armor-piercing one.</p> <p class="cnNiZTI0NzlkOTdhNDQyYTU4YzJlNTM4ODU4ZGNhY2Vj">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM5NjBkYTYyNzk3YTQ0NTY4MTdmZGZmZjZjN2FlN2Y3">“2:12 into the video, that bit was.”</p> <p class="cnNmMmE3YTcwYzFhOTRlMGQ5ZmZhZTVjZmQ5YzFhMmZi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmNmZlZjcxMDk3MTRkM2JhMTgzOWU1N2MwYTE2ODM0">“And I bet you laughed. In fact, I’m certain you did.”</p> <p class="cnNiMGU4ZTU5ZWJlNTRjMmQ4MWNiMGVhMGVlZjcwN2U3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhYTMxZGVmN2UzZTRlNmI4M2ZiNDc5MDQyOGZiNWZj">“Not denying it. Our boy SwitchingToGlide over here does do snark well. Nobody can deny that.”</p> <p class="cnNkMDc3MjIyZWUzMjRiYzFhZDY4N2RkOTg0YjEwZTkx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3YzEwM2E4MjU2OTQxMmFhMTdjMTQ5YzdjMDZkNjZi">“Ms. Bancroft, Mr. Foyle, I’m not quite sure I understand …”</p> <p class="cnNhYTZlOTdjNGVkMDQxNjZhMGFjZTQ4ODg3YWY2NGRh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMxMmViYjgxZGFhOTQzNzQ4M2Y5NTNlNmJkMGIwODZi">“Ms. Rogers, my employer and my associate have a rather unique method of expressing themselves, but trust me that we are sincere in seeking to utilize…”</p> <p class="cnM0MzBiMTE5YTJmMDQ3ZjBhYjcyNGFhODI5MTFhZTFm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3ZWI3MGQ5NmQ3YjQwYWM4NGIxNjMzMzlhM2VmZjMz">“I mean, I am the daughter of a self-made billionaire and an old-money millionaire. I do have not just one but ‘two silver spoons PERMANENTLY ADHERED TO MY MOUTH,’ and doubtless ‘simply do not understand what makes an RPG or ARPG worth playing.’”</p> <p class="cnM3NDhhNDEzNDMyNDQ5Mjg4YjI1YjYyZjQwYTcwM2Zm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM5N2I1YWNmMTIzODQ4ZmY5ZGQ0ODZmMTYxOTU3MTNm">“Ha ha, that was the best! 4:53 that was. Bet your face was as red as your hair when you heard it.“</p> <p class="cnMyZWRiMTllYmUyMjQxM2M5MjE0ZDU4NDJjNWUzOThl">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM2OGNjYTBiN2M4MjQxZjE4Mzg3OWQ5MWI0OTMzYWFj">“Ms. Bancroft, at Central City Payroll Services we have a service plan to suit any employer’s needs. I’m sure we can offer you a high level of service at a reasonable price. And since you did specifically request Aidan as your Primary Contact in our telephone consultation, you’ve doubtless heard good things about both him and this firm.”</p> <p class="cnM5NGE5MWE2MzRjNjQyY2Q5ZDYwNmRiNGFjNGI1ODdh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM5ZDhiYTNmNTZjZjRiNDg4M2M0NDFlYzA2OGM2ZTg3">“Yeah, good things,” Elana snorted.</p> <p class="cnM2ZGY3YzA0MDI1NDQ0YmM5ZTViNWU2ZDAwMTBhZTky">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhODEyMzQyYzc1OTRlY2NiMjJkM2FjMzdjMjdkYjQw">And all eyes turned to me.</p> <p class="cnMwODA3N2IxZDBkZjQ5Yzc5MDBjMTA3N2MyZDQyZDVh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjNDRkMTNiZTRjMjRjNzI4NTUzMmZkNDBjM2FhZTBm">I realize the above conversation is doubtless confusing, but too bad. Trust me, as it unfolded it began for me in confusion and ended in a sort of dawning, waking nightmare sense of horror. My life as a YouTuber had somehow managed to infiltrate my real existence. In any event, let me now enlighten all and sundry as to the Cast of Characters in what would be for me a meeting to remember.</p> <p class="cnNlNDRkYzU2M2M1MzQ0NmE4MjNiNjQ1MGZjMGM1NzA0">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4ZmM3MjE4ZGZiOTRjZDBhMWRjMWE4ZjUwZmFiMzdl">Elana Bancroft you most certainly know. Those who didn’t before what happened , well they do now. I think it is safe to say that at this point she must be one of the mostly widely recognized faces on the planet. As she noted, or well as I noted and she quoted, daughter of a self-made billionaire and an old money straight off the Mayflower millionaire. A fiery mane of red hair, pale skin and, yes, a metaphorical fire in her green eyes. Maybe an inch or two too short to strut down the catwalk as a high fashion model, but otherwise the sort of young woman that every eye turns toward when she enters a room. And believe me she knew it. And played it for all it is worth. Oh, and of course also President, CEO and sole shareholder of IceNine Games, Inc. But that I’m sure you also knew.</p> <p class="cnMxMWYyNjkzOWFlMzRlM2FhOTI2OGE0NzIzZDk3MWIx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwNmE0M2ZhODIzYjQ1ZDk4MmE4ZDkzYWU3YWZkYTdh">Mr Timestamp? Of 2:12 and 4:53 fame, the one not denying laughing at snark directed at his employer? That would be Joseph Spencer, who I later found out was the lead programmer and liaison with Bancroft Industries, Inc. With the then very secret special sauce for their next game. Eiditic memory. Dual undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Physics. Dressed in a Los Angeles Lakers hoodie, jeans and, incongruously, penny loafers. Some sins cannot be forgiven. Obviously British and obviously not from the sort of background that would have him rubbing elbows with royals. High IQ and Oi, mate vocabulary. I guess it made him easy to underestimate.</p> <p class="cnNlZDRjNDA4NmViYTQ3MDQ5YzUwYWU0MDkxOWMyODll">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMxZDI0OGNhNjNhNzQ3MDg4ZmZhN2U5NzY1NGVkZDll">And the one attempting to inject a bit of professionalism into the conversation, that was Jason Hong, In-House Counsel. Everything about him was trying to scream respectable attorney, and everything was failing. Nice suit, nicely shined wing-tips, a haircut doubtless done by somebody named Pierre and for a price approaching three figures. But, too bad. He in fact looked like a little boy playing dress up in daddy’s suit, something appropriate for Halloween. Too young, or at any rate too young looking.</p> <p class="cnNjYWI0NDRjZmIxMzQ1YWE5ZDFlZTNlYzQ5MjVjYzhh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlNTVlOGZmY2QxOTQ0OThiM2I0YmNiZjAwNzE5ZGU3">And poor, poor, confused Janine. Completely mystified at what was unfolding before her. As in my boss, Janine Rogers. By far the oldest person at the table, the one eagerly offering our services as opposed to going down the street to one of our far larger rivals, yeah that was Janine. Baby boomer Janine, but one of the unfortunate Baby Boomers who emerged into the world a finger’s breadth from the even more annoying Generation X, who was in diapers for Woodstock, who spent the 1980s spraying her hair full of ozone destroying chemicals and cast her first presidential vote for Reagan. Republican sensibilities aside, favoring Hillary style pants suits and helmet hair, desperately attempting to cover the grey hair with so-so results via a so-so dye job. Doubtless gazing with horror into the prospect of an underfunded retirement.</p> <p class="cnM3MmY5N2I4YzQ1YjRhYTI4ODU3MzU0N2I3YjZkNjdl">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3NDMwYTY1NjhiYzQzOGQ5ZDg5N2FlODUwNTMwMjBl">And me. Looking — okay, desperately seeking — to make my escape. But there would be no escape for me. Not this day.</p> <p class="cnM1ODAxOGRiYmM3MzQ2OWJhY2VlMGUyYmYzYWY1NGI2">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNiZTVkMTU4Y2Y3NzRiNjk4Nzc5Nzc1OWM3NzM4NWEy">And me. Aidan Petersen. Twentysomething. Under-employed. Underachieving. Fortunately able to support himself (marginally) for all that. But keeping his fingers crossed his customer service job didn’t get outsourced to India or China or the dark side of the moon. Hoping his health insurance premiums didn’t go up another ghastly amount. Looking for a roommate to replace the one that had abandoned me to the vagaries of a year long lease on two bedroom apartment that I could barely afford when split. Just under six feet tall, but lying cheerfully about that missing inch or so when asked. Unremarkable blond hair, washed out blue eyes, the sort of guy you’d pass over in a crowd without a second look.</p> <p class="cnNmNGU1OTgwNGYyZDRiNjc4ZDI5OWU5ZTdhZTdhZTM5">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkM2RiZmQ2MmE5ZTRlZTI4Njg5OTcxYTEyZTUxOWRk">And me. SwitchingToGlide. YouTuber. Twitch streamer. My superhero identity, if you will, since in defiance of current convention I never showed my face, never sought product endorsements, never responded directly to requests I review games or even accepted review copies. And always flew solo. But, donations cheerfully accepted. And those sadly diminished advertising dollars? Can’t say as I turned them down, either. Piddling an amount that they were.</p> <p class="cnNiZjBmZGMxYTBjMDRmMzBiYThlMmU4NGU3NTk0NThk">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNiOTdjMjVhZTkyZjRjOGJiZmRlMDVjMTRkNTc1MTI2">And, no, nobody in my life or out of it was supposed to be able to connect the dots from Aidan to SwitchingToGlide, if you hadn’t already realized this. And not only had they, the connection was being made quite publicly. And worst of all, at my place of employment.</p> <p class="cnMxNjUxODJiZWUwODRmMGFiNGExOGQwZTAwZTYwNDI2">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkZDc3YmM3N2Q0OTQxYjE5ODljMzA2YmFkZDcwNmI5">Did I say worst of all? Sorry for jumping the gun. This is, after all, before Elana took out her phone held it in her manicured hand and started reading. And for all my horror, annoyance and embarrassment, even I must concede she did a better than average imitation of my voice as I tone it when speaking to my 83,000 subscribers.</p> <p class="cnMxOGZlNjc1MTNlMTRhMmFiZGY2OTI4ZjhjZjczODc0">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM5MTQ0MTBjYWRmNTQ5MGNhODE1NWFiY2FiODRhNDY0">“SwitchingToGlide is the name, and RPGs are my game. And boy howdy do we have turd blossom to step in this week. <em>Torrie’s Castle</em>. Single player campaign, with rumored multi-player coming. Hopefully it is on the horizon. As in that point that constantly recedes as you approach it. The one you never reach. Unless you’re a Care Bear hugging filty casual, I guess. Everything about this is just awful and seemingly designed to set a gamer’s teeth on edge…”</p> <p class="cnM2YWE1ODcyNThhMTQyODRiZGY5YmIwZTM0MmM4OTIw">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM0ZmQ4MWE0OTZkNjQ3ZDU4YjQ5NzkwMzRhMzk3N2Y3">“Ms. Bancroft? Is there something I’m missing here?” This from Janine, my erstwhile employer. And, yes, I have always wanted to work “erstwhile” into a sentence somewhere, and by this point I was beginning to think all my whiles were indeed about to erst-ed, at least as far as employment at Central City Payroll Processing, LLC, was concerned. And, also yes, as she was saying Elana, she was looking at me.</p> <p class="cnNlYWNlYzdmZjY3NDQ0N2M4NmIwN2U5Nzc4YTU0ZTEx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4YjUxMjMyODUzNTQ3Njg4ZDFmMDJiMTg5MjAwMzM3">Here Jason Hong jumped in, saving me from, well, probably a great many things, none good. And proving himself every bit the negotiator belied by his appearance.</p> <p class="cnNkY2ZhNGJjOGM3ZDRhMGFhNmYzZjRmZDNkYWM0Njdh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNiMTE3ZWZlZDBkNzQ1OWU4OTVmNzc3YmZmY2Q2MTlm">“Ms. Rogers, I apologize for the confusion here, IceNine Games is after all something of a start up and Elana has had a great deal on her mind lately. This is why we’re here today, seeking out your services. I’ve reviewed your standard engagement letter, printed it, signed it as a representative of our company and have already forwarded the first payment to your bank account. Our payroll and HR records necessary for things like correct tax withholding will be forwarded as soon as you’re ready to receive them.”</p> <p class="cnM5ZWZkNTg5YzJiNjQyY2VhYjI5MThiNTdkYmRhODgy">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhZTY1ZjBmZmNlNDRlZDI5YTc1NWFjMTEwOGMwYTFm">Here he handed the paperwork over to Janine, and cleared his throat.</p> <p class="cnM1MjJmOTY5N2YyNTQwMGNiZGM1ODZkMmQ3NTIwYzQ2">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3ZGFkOGUxMjZhMDQ2NWI5ZjgzMzE0NTE0NGNhYmVj">“As a start up, we also have a need for outside consultants and would like to engage Aidan in that role. Specifically we would need him every evening beginning two days from now, on Wednesday, and for the next two weeks from Nine PM until Midnight. We would also need him physically at our office tomorrow, Tuesday, and Wedneday for certain tasks. I realize this is slightly irregular, and we would be happy to reimburse you an amount for the inconvenience this would potentially cause. We will necessarily need a signature on a non-disclosure agreement both from you and from Aidan, given the nature of the consultancy. And, of course, here is the fee that would accompany this engagement. Aidan will be available for his regular duties during the day beginning Thursday morning, and every day during the period we will require him for three hours a night.”</p> <p class="cnMzZDc2ZWRmMGIzMTRkZGNiOGRkZGJlYTVlNjA3OTU0">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjOTAyYmQ4ODUxMzQzMDBiNmE5ZTk2Y2Y3ZWQ2NWE5">Here Jason handed Janine a check. Her mouth opened and closed. And opened again.</p> <p class="cnMwNzA3N2NmMzE2YTRhYzE4NTdmNTEzZjExNTE2Y2Yz">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlM2U1NmNkNWQ5YjQ4NDc4NmY1Y2JjYWQ1NGJiMTA3">“And, yes, that is a bank check. The funds have been set aside, so there should be no worry as to it clearing. Note that the NDA we are having you sign does have one unique feature: we are requesting that you do not inquire of Aidan the work he will be performing. I promise you it is nothing that is illegal or that will discredit your firm.”</p> <p class="cnMzZGE2M2FkNTNkOTQxMjBiN2Y3OTVhMTAzYTM2MDcz">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM1NjRhZGE5ODBjMTQ2YTBhYTI3OGQyNzM4ZGMwMWEy">I am still not quite sure how much Janine received, but I cannot imagine it was an insubstantial amount. At any rate, she signed whatever it was they put in front of her. But, to her credit, she did also stand up for me. Sort of.</p> <p class="cnM5ODYxNGE1YjY1MzQxYTBiNmI4MDU4ZTQ1NTc0Mjkz">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM1YTk0NDIzNWFiZDQ0NTJhMjFkZWNjOTU5NjQxZDRj">“And Aidan?”</p> <p class="cnM3YzlhNDMzNTk5YjRlMDNhMjNiMjMxN2Q5ODFmMWJi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM1YzYwNzZlNDg0MjQzMTc4MWEzNTM4Njc4MzM1Zjcx">“In the agreement you just signed, we state that we will compensate him separately. And, given the confidential nature of our industry, would it be possible if we spoke to him privately for a few minutes?”</p> <p class="cnM3YjllMjNjNzVkMzRkMzdhMDRmOWYwODZjMGM3ZjEx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMyMjA3Y2ViNzY3ODQzZTI5MWMyNzI3YzY1ODU4Y2Jk">Janine, again to her credit, looked a bit uncomfortable. But then glanced at the bank check. And sighed. “I’ll hold onto the agreement and the check while you meet. Should you guys and Aidan not be able to come to terms, I’ll shred both. Fair enough? Aidan, you okay with this?”</p> <p class="cnMxMGI3YzQ1YzJiNTRiOGRhODFkYTU3NzUyZGM5YmQ2">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMxZmZjZWQ2NTgxODRmYWNhOGU2MzZhOTQ3NDk4NzMw">“Ha, they can’t come to terms, she’s gonna shred him, I think,” Joseph snorted with a laugh, before I could reply. Elana smiled at this. Kidding, I hoped.</p> <p class="cnMwZTE5OWU2YjVmYTQ2YmViMzIxYWRiZjAxYTBkMzRh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzMmUzZGE3MGUxMDQ1NWZhNjlmZGQ2OGMxZWQ1Yzhi">“I’ll hear what they have to say, and let you know, Janine.”</p> <p class="cnM3NWM0YTdlNzYwMjQ5Y2VhZDEzY2ZlY2MwYThiZTEx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmYjRlNThiMTViOTQyYWVhMzZiYmFhMzE2ZGQ0NTY0">“We’re gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse,” Joseph put in, Godfather style. Elana raised an eyebrow, and her smile widened turning into whatever it is you’d call a cross between a grin and smirk.</p> <p class="cnMwZTk4YTc0MDE0MjRhMWY4MTIwNDdlZmQ1MmIyZWM4">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4M2RjZTc0ODZlMzRiMGNhMDQyNmZiZDk5ODMwMGJl">And on that note, Janine left, leaving me at the tender mercies of the trio.</p> <p class="cnNjYTQ1OGYyMmQyOTRjMzViZGFlYzk4OWFjMzhmMWFm">“Thank God the Boomer’s gone, now we can really talk, Mister Aidan ‘SwitchingToGlide’ Peterson. And, yeah, I have more than a few things to say.” Out came her phone and she flipped through the screens.</p> <p class="cnM0YjhlNGQ4NzMyYzQ0MmU4OTJhNTExOWMxNGY1YzAx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMxOWM1NGY4Yzg4MTRlMTA5YTViM2E5NGRlM2UwYWE1">Much to my surprise, Jason spoke up, adding “Elana is not at all into age discrimination, but her father has been, well, kind of a problem of late. It has kind of soured her on the older generation.”</p> <p class="cnMwYTg0ZWFiNDdlZDRkYTM4MmYzOGRlN2U4OGU2OGQy">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMyYWZiN2NkN2QxMjQ5NzQ5ZjRjNTk1N2YwNmUyNGMw">“Yeah, those pesky ethical concerns,” Joseph joked, “Why’s he not willing to get on board with things?”</p> <p class="cnMyOWU4Nzg2NzcwYTQxNmQ5ZmI4OTczODQxNzBmYjdl">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMxMWU4MjE5MGIzZjQxMTU4NTQ1ZGQ1MGRkZWFmMzYx">“Ah, here we are. Aidan Peterson. Age 27. Bachelor of Science, Business Administration. Qualified as eligible for and sat for the CPA exam, receiving partial credit but not pursuing completion. Last relationship of note over three years ago, has let his friendships from college slip away while forming no new connections of note. Applied for and was accepted into a graduate program in Hospital Administration, but decided not pursue this either. Father is deceased, mother works as school teacher, has two sisters, one older, one younger, only other family is one nephew and one niece. Mother’s brother is the locally famous, or infamous, real estate developer George Hope. Cousin’s wedding in two weeks may very well be the social event of the local season.</p> <p class="cnMxZjFiNDE0ZjFiYTQyNGQ4ZGUxNzMyYzM1YzRiMWE1">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkZThjODQxMmMxNTQ4MGViMjE0ZWRlNzFlMTcxYTE1">“I know I’m going.” Here she smiled, “And if he knows what’s good for him he goddamn better well be coming with an engagement ring.”</p> <p class="cnNlZmI1ODZhMWM4ZDQ2YTI5OTJiMzU5NGNiYzM4NzZk">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNiNTVkMDhiNzIzNjQzNTY5Y2RhZjVmZGExOTUxNDli">“You know my cousin Celeste?,” I blurted out. And if I had any thoughts of pity toward whoever it was that would be, or was supposed to be, presenting this creature an engagement ring, well, I wisely kept them to myself.</p> <p class="cnM2YmZmMjBkOTFkMDRjNjA5ZmY2NjZhNGRkYjgwZDkx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM2MjE4ZGQ0OTE4YzRmODFhNGI2ZTQ3NGI2MTk1MGYz">Ignoring me, Elana continued, “Employed at Central City Payroll Processing for two years, as one of ten customer service representatives. Generally well liked by his clients, co-workers and employer, if considered a bit stand-offish. In sum, slacker, loner, letting his twenties slide by with minimal engagement with the world around him. Neither attracting attention or seeking it, letting the world pass him by.”</p> <p class="cnM0NmI4MjA4NWMwYjRiMjBhNzBlZWRhNzgzMDg0M2U4">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM2YTFkYmNlZmU3ODRhZmVhNzNmOTI5OGVmZWU5NjFm">“But that’s not all there is, is there, Aidan? No, we have our super-secret never to be revealed identity as YouTuber extraordinaire SwtichingToGlide, analyzing and reviewing games from single player old school titles like Darkstone to on-line MMORGS like World of Warcraft and the like. In the eighteen months of the channel’s existence, we’ve had seventy five videos put up, of varying quality and obviously of variable effort. Twitch streaming is much more of a hit or miss experience, and is typically confined to GW2 or PoE.</p> <p class="cnM0NWFkNWVmYjNmYTQ3ODliYmNiNzJmYTRiMzZlYzJi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlMzczNTQ0ZmRjZjQyZmFhN2MyYjJiM2E0MzU5OGY5">“This is your life, Aidan Peterson, hope you like it.” And, yes, here she rolled her eyes. “Any questions?”</p> <p class="cnNmYzVhMDJjNGQ5ZjQ3ZjE4ZWEzZGFiZmYzYmZkMGJm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM1NjBmNWQ1M2UxZjRjZmI5Y2JiNWNlYTFmNjU4M2Y0">“Well, yeah. A lot. But ignoring the creepy stalking that is borderline to doxing, ignoring you intruding on me in my workplace, ignoring whatever the hell it is you want me to do for you or with you, ignoring my curiosity as to how much you plan on paying me, just one question. One big one. Or, maybe two. First, why? And second, why me? I don’t get it.”</p> <p class="cnNmZTgwZmU0NDQyMDRhZWRhZGU3MDY5OWZjODQyZGUw">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhMTM1OWM4YTJhZjQ5OTJiNWY1MGJlNDc1ZGJiMzRl">“Yes, I get I can be a little snarky doing my reviews and and analyses. Yes, I get I’ve got a decent following. But, I’m hardly the snarkiest, the most knowledgable or someone who dedicates my life to my on-line persona. And I’m certainly far from the largest channel out there, even in the field of RPG gaming. I’ve got this job. I’ve got, well… I’ve got this job,” I ended. Maybe a bit lamely.</p> <p class="cnMxOGNmODQxNWUzMjQ4OTM4MWQ1ZmE3MmQ4MDU5NmYw">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjNTY3MTA4YWU1ODQ3ZjZhMDQyODNmYmViNzVkOTUx">Here Joseph spoke up, “You don’t watch your competition, do you? Or really do much of anything with social media, right?”</p> <p class="cnM1MjAyMTRhY2IzMTRlNDI5NTRjYzE3NzNmYWNjZmRk">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhYWE2NDY1MGQ3YjRiMGZhMjBiMWQ5ZWUwOWRlNmJk">“Not normally, no. I just don’t really have the time. Between work, playing games, editing footage, writing the script for each episode, doing reading to try and further my understanding of common elements of most RPGs, I just can’t do it. And when I do try to look at other channels, well, usually it is for games I have not played and probably will not play.”</p> <p class="cnM3YmE2NDUyZmM4YTQ0ZTc4ZjRhZTMxMWM5MmY0YTlm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM0ODBhZTRmZWZmZDRhODJiODg2YmMyNjg0NmQ0MWI1">“So, you’re not aware your content is being stolen?”</p> <p class="cnM5YTVjOWMyNzA3ODQ2ZDdhYzM2MjUxZDhjNDkxYTI5">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM0NTViYjM5YWI3ZTQzZTk5YWQ4OTA2ZDZkMTkyZTJh">“I’m sorry?”</p> <p class="cnM2ZWYzMjg5OWQyYjQwNGU5ZTY0YjM3NjVhNjQwM2Jh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNiODc5MjE5NWVlMTRkN2M4N2IzNzZlOWEzZmYzNTI2">“Other channels, they’re taking your footage, they’re taking your research, hell they’re even quoting your reviews and analysis word for word. You’re the one setting the tone, far more than you think, whether or not you’re aware of it. Or the general audience is.”</p> <p class="cnM0OTkxZWFhZThkYzQ0NDNiNGYzZDc0ZDU0M2EyYzli">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4NDU5MDZmOGIyYzRlYzM5OWFjMTliNDQ4OWY0ZmQy">“Huh. I was unaware. I just like to do my own thing.”</p> <p class="cnM5OWI0ODE2YTA0ZTRjNzJiZTY1ZGQ0MDUxZTkwMTdi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM1OGI4YzM0M2VhODRiNTlhZjA1YWQ1NDVlMjY1ZjNh">“Well boys, give him the NDA, have him sign it, give him his marching orders and let’s blow this taco stand,” Elana said and started to rise.</p> <p class="cnNiZmY5YzZjZTEwYzQ3NTg5NzZlYjkzZmYwYjRlNjQ5">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlMzZiZmVhOWY5YTQ5ZDY4M2VlZTBiOTUyZDQyMjA2">“Wait, but you haven’t answered my questions. Not really.”</p> <p class="cnM0NmY1ZGU3OTZkMzRhMzI5OTllMmFmZTQ5NjIwOTIx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjOTY1Zjc0MWU3YTQ4OTJhZTE0MWE4YTBmYTNhOWQ1">“We haven’t? All will be revealed. In the meantime, consider this a downpayment,” and slid a check across the conference room table. Fifty thousand dollars.</p> <p class="cnNhY2Y5NmQ5N2MxOTRmMTNiODhiNmIyZThhNTZiYWRm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwNDAwMDg5YTJmZDRhOGVhNTczNGRmNDg2MzI4MTZm">“Contingent, of course, upon you signing the NDA and agreeing to act as a consultant for IceNine Games,” Jason added.</p> <p class="cnM0NzFjZmI1OTgyMDQ4MzU5ODZhZjczNjUxN2NiOWJl">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlMzVhMTg0Y2Q2MDQ4NTNhMTJhNmNlZWRhODY5Y2Q2">“Look would it be okay if I thought this over, like overnight, and got back to you? At a minimum I think I might like a lawyer to explain the terms of this agreement to me,…”</p> <p class="cnMyNDMwMDNkODdlZjQ2ODBiOWE5ZjViZTJhODQ4ODcz">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlNjQwNTc4MjhjYTQ1NjFiNzA3NzBiODVjMjhhYTlh">“No. Either sign now, and join us, or we walk. I will say that at the end of the two weeks, that initial deposit? Expect a similiar one. With an extra zero on the end.”</p> <p class="cnNhMmYyNjhhMTlmZDQxMjFiZGRkMDVjZGU0MjQzM2Rl">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3NTlhNjhjYjQ4NDQ2MzQ5YTM3MDIxNjQwYWY0MjNh">“Jesus. You are serious?”</p> <p class="cnNiODAyYmM5Y2VlZDRhNjliOGJmZjcyMGRkZGFhODQ4">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMyYzAwZDhhZjYyOTQ2NjliOTA5MDg1M2FkMjM2MGQ0">“As cancer, Aidan.”</p> <p class="cnM5NjU4ZmQ4M2UxYjRlZGQ5OTliODA4ZTI3ZjE4ZTgx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkNTMxMmQ2MmNjYTQ5ZGFiYTJlNWRlMDY1OGIyZDg3">What can I say, I signed.</p> <p class="cnNlYWQ5OWNhMDQ0NzQ4NWM4MzA4ODg2NjBlM2VkN2M4">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlZThiNTAzMzdkMjRiOGQ4MTI3ODE3ZWVjY2Q0ODky">After the team from IceNine Games left I staggered — I can think of no better term — out of the conference room and walked slowly back to my cubicle, collapsed into my chair and kind of stared at the water-stained drop tile ceiling in a haze. What the hell had just happened? I had just agreed to do something, though I was not quite sure what, every evening from Nine PM to Midnight for the next two weeks. Or for the next two weeks, starting in two days.</p> <p class="cnM2Zjg3ZDU1ZWVmYzQ0MDE5Njc0NzAwOWQ3MDllODM4">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNiMjZhZDFlNjkwNzQwZGE4ZWZkYTFhOWZlMmZjYTA3">And before that, to show up at the office of IceNine Games for the next two days, for some sort of, well, Training? Consultation? Who knew?</p> <p class="cnNlMzljNThjMWU1YzQ0NDBiOTQ0NzFkYWI2NDZkZTUx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkYzUxNGFkNzU5YTRlMDNiOTE1YTgxNzI0MWE4YWU0">“You back on the clock, Peterson?” This from Virginia, our office manager, and technically my boss. Stinking of cigarettes, as per usual, huffing with exhaustion from the whole fifteen feet from her slightly larger cubicle to my smaller one.</p> <p class="cnM1ODk2YzBhMmVhMjQ0OTk4ODliYjkxZGM4MjJiYmFh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM1YjdkOTYxMmI5YzQ5MjNiZmFjNjVkMzE3NGM2NzM5">“Actually, Virginia, I think I need to check in with Janine first, now that I think about it. If that’s okay?” Plus it would give me a few more minutes to help get my head straight.</p> <p class="cnNiZmM0NzIxYmI4ZDQ5ODc5ODdlZDE1N2MwMzBhNjRj">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlNWMyZjA4MzQyNTRmNGZiYzE1MDY2ZjMyYmQwMWI5">“Ha, she came out of that meeting looking like she’d just received a marriage proposal from Tom Selleck. And had accepted. What the hell monster client did you two dig up this time?” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder, pointing toward her office.</p> <p class="cnM1YzFkOTUyZjRkMDQwMjM4OWJhMTQ4NTU2YzMwNWFi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjMDNhZjAxMWZhYzRiNTJhNzYyNzZmMjY1NjFiMTUx">Made of sterner stuff that I am, Janine was already on the phone and answering questions post-meeting. And as usual it was Metzick Industries and as usual it was the train wreck that was the processing of payroll in the state, or more properly, Commonwealth, of Pennsylvania. When you’re in the business I’m in, Pennsylvania is both your full employment act, and a walking nightmare. Each town as an income tax, many have what they call an Occupational PrivilegeTax and nobody outside the state processing new hires in the state has a clue how to do it right. And, of course, the HR drone who set the employe up was blaming us. Never gladder that that sort of thing was above my pay grade.</p> <p class="cnNhODQ1YWY5NmQ2ZDRlNmNiN2U5MzlmYjQ0YTJiY2Ey">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlMTZmMzcwNmRmYzQ2OGU4OWRmMTQ2ZjMxODQ1NzE3">She motioned me to sit while on the phone, and once finished rolled her eyes and looked at me.</p> <p class="cnNiNWVlYzk1YTNkZTRlMTdhNGRmZWRiMmIxMjdjMjNj">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhZGRhNmIxYjg4OTQzNWI4YWJiYWJlYmVkMjY2NDQy">“Well?”</p> <p class="cnMzYzNlY2M1NTEzZDRiYmVhZmQ4YmIzZWQ5ZjgxNjZj">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMyY2ZjODA3NjIzZTRlYjY5MmJhNmIxZTQ3MWEwZGFk">“I’m in.”</p> <p class="cnM5NjQxMGI0NzUxNDQ0YWFhYmE2NmU2MDdlMWNjZjE1">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjZTdhY2NmZjRiYzRjMTQ5MThlOWM2YzEyNjk4YmEz">Here she let out a sigh. Of relief or frustration would be difficult to say, but definitely a sigh. “Why don’t you take the rest of today off… oh, wait, you’re going to be out of the office the next two days as well. Hmph. Sit down with Jared, go over any open items or processing concerns you’ve got, get your head straight overnight and head out as soon as soon that's set. And do what you need to do at this Games Studio. I do expect to see you Thursday morning first thing, though. You’ll have a new client to set up, if nothing else.”</p> <p class="cnNjM2NmNWU5YjY5MTQ4ZDg5ZDZiZDNlZjI2MTc4ZjUx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhZmIwYjQ2OWM5ZDQ0YmM4ZTY0YjM4Y2UyMjE1NTE2">“Thanks, boss. But does it have to be Jared?”</p> <p class="cnNhMTExYjZiZjEwNzQ4NGY5ZTczNzI3MGFiNDQ5NTBi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM2NTE1MTYyZGYxNTRmNGJiNGQ2NjFmNzQ3YzgyYzA0">“Yes, it does. Keep your personal dramas, personal, Adian. And I’ll see you on Thursday.”</p> <p class="cnNiMTA1Mzc3MjNlZDQ0NTlhNjY0NmY3N2UyZmQyZjVm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM1YzVlM2RjZjY0YzRhNThhY2U3MDM1YWRkYTdlOWRm">Ugh. Jared Coughlin. The jerk who stiffed me with the apartment lease I couldn’t really afford in the first place. “Bro, its love!” He offered as justification as he moved out and in with his girlfriend. Not that we were great friends before he moved out, but since, well, let’s just say I kept my distance. Fortunately, there was not a great deal to be said to him, the summer being a slow time of the year. Other than to remind him to get the last of his crap out of my apartment.</p> <p class="cnMzOWRiOTY5YTU4ZjQyZmRiYTY4N2M1ZWU3Y2E2MzRm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjZTdhZDUwMzFlNzQ1YzY4MTk3Y2I4YmQ0OTkyMzcz">That done, I let Virginia know what Janine and I had agreed upon, and headed back to my desk. To log out of the software, shut my computer off and get ready for tomorrow. When much to my surprise, my extension buzzed.</p> <p class="cnNmYmJmMTIxNDIzMDRmZjliOGU3NDUzY2Y3ODhkZmVj">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhZmJjMTExODg4ZjRmMWI4OTcxN2IwZmJkMzBlYTc5">“Hey, kid, normally I’d just take a message and tell them to call back on Thursday. But, well, its your mom. Figured you’d want to talk to her.” Oh, God. Mom being, well, Mom.</p> <p class="cnMwYzIxNzgyZmE0MTQ1ODQ4ZGNhY2IxMjA0NjFmNWZi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNiZTUxY2IyY2NlNDQzMWViZDlkNjg0M2NmNDBjYWM2">“Plus one, Aidan. You. And a guest. Presumably a female one. In a week from this Saturday, or in thirteen days. For your cousin’s wedding. You are going to do this. ”</p> <p class="cnM5MzlmZWVlOTNkMjRjYjc4NDQ5OTkyOTQ1YzA2Mjhh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhYjBhMDJhMWJjMjQwZDM4YmNkMGU5MzQ4NmVkYWJj">“Mom, Jesus. Leave it be. I’m between relationships.” And was reasonably sure planned to stay that way for the rest of my life, but she didn’t need to know that. It wasn’t even like Carol and I, my one and only serious relationship, had had a difficult break up. We just grew apart. And between work and my YouTube channel I kept as busy as I wanted or needed. Like the old song lyric says, “Why fall in love when there’s better things to do?”</p> <p class="cnM0M2Y0ZTJjNDU5YjQwNDY5ZjUwZWZmZTliYzdlNWU0">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNlNjQ4YWQ0ZWJlZjRlNGE4ZmUzZWIyYWQ5NmYyYzhi">“Between relationships,” she snorted. “No. You’re doing this for me. You’re finding and bringing a date to your cousin’s wedding. Here, talk to your sister.” there was some rustling in their end, and a clunk as the old landline hit what sounded like a table, as Tiffany, my older sister picked up the line.</p> <p class="cnMzYWQ3NWZkYjI2YjQ4NzY5YmU1M2IwOTI0NDZkOGQ0">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkODZmZjBiYjczZDQ2NDQ4MGU2ZTU0MDkxNjFkMzJh">“Hey bro.”</p> <p class="cnMxZjVlMzk0ZjlhYjQyNWZhMDYyODA5NjdjNjY5Mzky">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4YjUyNjEyNzYxZjQ2ODA5MWI1MmY2MDA4OTNkZDY0">“Tiff, please talk to her. She’s being totally unreasonable here.”</p> <p class="cnM0MTcxMmUyZjVlYzQ0Y2I5ZWU3MzA5ZWRmNDMyYjAx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM1ZjVmZjVmNTUwYzQ3NmI5YmQ2ODQ3MDlkYjc2MzNj">“She’s a mother. She gets to be unreasonable. I should know, blessed as I am with one girl and one boy. And as her only son, she well, as has some ideas that, yeah, are a tad eccentric, but she means well. And it would mean a lot to her if you showed up at Celeste’s wedding with a date.”</p> <p class="cnMxY2Y5YTJlOTVlMTQ3Yzg5YWJmZjRkN2IyNTBkNjk3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwODQ1YWZlOTU3NTQyZTU4NjM0NTMzZDIyNmM4OGQw">“But…”</p> <p class="cnM1ZTI2NWU2MzJjODQzMmY4ZjY2Y2U0OTlhZWQwN2U0">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmYzkzN2RiMzgyZDQ2MzU5YjQ4MDlhYzgxZjk1ZTRi">“No, buts. Besides it’ll be fun.”</p> <p class="cnNiZjAxM2Y3Njk3ODQ1NTk4NmQ5NmY2Yjg4ODlkZDU5">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNiMTUxOTJjMWM4ZDRiYjFiMWJjMDY2MmRmMGM3Mzlk">Fun and weddings. Yeah, right. Goes together like peanut butter and battery acid.</p> <p class="cnNkNGZiMTBlOTZkOTQyY2NiNTMyMDMzMTI2ZTQwYzhk">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkZDcxNTk0ODJjYzRhNGM5Yzg0Mzg0OWI0NGY1ZTE2">“Look, I’m starting a new project and I’m going to be busy for the next few weeks. Very busy. Even if I were interested in searching for a date, and I assure you I am not, I don’t see how I could. I’m sorry.”</p> <p class="cnNiMGI4ZTQ4NzRlOTRlMDhiYzcwZDBiMGFmOGIxYzZk">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNiNDJlODFlZTc3YjQ2MWViNmQwMTlhMGU3M2FmNmM0">“Then you’re gonna disappoint Mom. You wanna do that? I mean, does she ask for all that much from you? Really? Humor her on this, and everyone’s life with go much easier.”</p> <p class="cnNhNjY0NDM4ZTc4ZTQyY2JiMmI4Mjc0MTEzMzAyOTkw">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMyYTY0ZjRkNGMwYjQ2YjViNmRkNjY0NTYwODJiNThk">“But…”</p> <p class="cnNkODNhZTk5NjA3ODRhNmU4YTJmMWNmNDYzYjk4MGFl">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM5OWU3MzhmNjg3NjRjYzY5NGYwOGFhZTQ1NWU1YmU1">“No buts, baby brother.”</p> <p class="cnNkZDcyNGQwZjBiNzQyNjg4NTBlMzQ4MGE5NTA3YjJk">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkMWQyZmU1YTRmYzQ3MGE4NGQxMzAyMzQ5YmUyOTQ3">And she hung up.</p> <p class="cnMwZjM1OTI5YWI2MjRkMWM5ZDNhODVhMzdhMzU3ZTFk">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM5NjQ2OGMxMWM2YjQ1N2ZiNzIzMWJkMDg2MGE4ZTM3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzYzg2NDQ1YmQ0YTQzYTZiZWFkNDA5ZDJlZDBjMTA3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkNmQ5NjQ4M2YxOTQ3MzdhNjBhZjE2ZDZiNjRjNWVh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3NzI1ODBlOGY5YTQ3ODJhOWE2YmUxNmQwNDk0OWE4">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNiOWQ5MzY0OGY1ZDRkOTVhM2NlMDJjYWYxZGJlYzBi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzNzI2N2M0YjdlNDRlNjBhNzk3M2Y2MTRhYjRjZmI2">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM5OTYzZTMxY2VhMzQ4NDc5MTBjM2Y2ZWM2YzIwMjQ3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMyZTY5Y2RkYjlmNjQ4NTk5MDlhMDFlNmRiMDQzZjg5">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4ZjgzZmYwNTAzMDQ5YWRiNzRmYjVlMzlkOTMyNWRh">&nbsp;</p> </div>

Yes, I’m aware you’re here for an epic tale of rogue AI, genderswapped romance, plain vanilla Harlequin romance novel style romance, annoying sidekicks, elves obsessed with racial purity and feces eating golems. Also existential threats to the real world in which we all live, which may or may have passed. And yes, I am skeptical, despite the solemn assurances from every government agency with three letter acronyms to slap together as well as Doctor Bancroft that we are now safe. Sorry, but if you’d been through what I’ve been through, you’d be skeptical, too. DAVIS is many things, but a quitter isn’t one of them. And, no, I will not use the past tense in reference to DAVIS.   Well, too bad.   This saga begins, with me as your bargain basement combination Odysseus/Homer, in the run-down conference room of my former employer, Central City Payroll Services, LLC. Hardly an auspicious beginning, but given what followed doubtless an appropriate one. And instead of singing of the Wrath of Achilles, let us open with the Rage of Elana. And, boy, from what I was later told I’d managed to push every damn button she had, and perhaps managed to manufacture some from whole cloth. And, no, I will not sing. That I will spare you.   “Maybe I should go shopping for shoes with my girlfriends?” Ever hear the expression a piercing voice? This was it, except it was more like an armor-piercing one.   “2:12 into the video, that bit was.”   “And I bet you laughed. In fact, I’m certain you did.”   “Not denying it. Our boy SwitchingToGlide over here does do snark well. Nobody can deny that.”   “Ms. Bancroft, Mr. Foyle, I’m not quite sure I understand …”   “Ms. Rogers, my employer and my associate have a rather unique method of expressing themselves, but trust me that we are sincere in seeking to utilize…”   “I mean, I am the daughter of a self-made billionaire and an old-money millionaire. I do have not just one but ‘two silver spoons PERMANENTLY ADHERED TO MY MOUTH,’ and doubtless ‘simply do not understand what makes an RPG or ARPG worth playing.’”   “Ha ha, that was the best! 4:53 that was. Bet your face was as red as your hair when you heard it.“   “Ms. Bancroft, at Central City Payroll Services we have a service plan to suit any employer’s needs. I’m sure we can offer you a high level of service at a reasonable price. And since you did specifically request Aidan as your Primary Contact in our telephone consultation, you’ve doubtless heard good things about both him and this firm.”   “Yeah, good things,” Elana snorted.   And all eyes turned to me.   I realize the above conversation is doubtless confusing, but too bad. Trust me, as it unfolded it began for me in confusion and ended in a sort of dawning, waking nightmare sense of horror. My life as a YouTuber had somehow managed to infiltrate my real existence. In any event, let me now enlighten all and sundry as to the Cast of Characters in what would be for me a meeting to remember.   Elana Bancroft you most certainly know. Those who didn’t before what happened , well they do now. I think it is safe to say that at this point she must be one of the mostly widely recognized faces on the planet. As she noted, or well as I noted and she quoted, daughter of a self-made billionaire and an old money straight off the Mayflower millionaire. A fiery mane of red hair, pale skin and, yes, a metaphorical fire in her green eyes. Maybe an inch or two too short to strut down the catwalk as a high fashion model, but otherwise the sort of young woman that every eye turns toward when she enters a room. And believe me she knew it. And played it for all it is worth. Oh, and of course also President, CEO and sole shareholder of IceNine Games, Inc. But that I’m sure you also knew.   Mr Timestamp? Of 2:12 and 4:53 fame, the one not denying laughing at snark directed at his employer? That would be Joseph Spencer, who I later found out was the lead programmer and liaison with Bancroft Industries, Inc. With the then very secret special sauce for their next game. Eiditic memory. Dual undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Physics. Dressed in a Los Angeles Lakers hoodie, jeans and, incongruously, penny loafers. Some sins cannot be forgiven. Obviously British and obviously not from the sort of background that would have him rubbing elbows with royals. High IQ and Oi, mate vocabulary. I guess it made him easy to underestimate.   And the one attempting to inject a bit of professionalism into the conversation, that was Jason Hong, In-House Counsel. Everything about him was trying to scream respectable attorney, and everything was failing. Nice suit, nicely shined wing-tips, a haircut doubtless done by somebody named Pierre and for a price approaching three figures. But, too bad. He in fact looked like a little boy playing dress up in daddy’s suit, something appropriate for Halloween. Too young, or at any rate too young looking.   And poor, poor, confused Janine. Completely mystified at what was unfolding before her. As in my boss, Janine Rogers. By far the oldest person at the table, the one eagerly offering our services as opposed to going down the street to one of our far larger rivals, yeah that was Janine. Baby boomer Janine, but one of the unfortunate Baby Boomers who emerged into the world a finger’s breadth from the even more annoying Generation X, who was in diapers for Woodstock, who spent the 1980s spraying her hair full of ozone destroying chemicals and cast her first presidential vote for Reagan. Republican sensibilities aside, favoring Hillary style pants suits and helmet hair, desperately attempting to cover the grey hair with so-so results via a so-so dye job. Doubtless gazing with horror into the prospect of an underfunded retirement.   And me. Looking — okay, desperately seeking — to make my escape. But there would be no escape for me. Not this day.   And me. Aidan Petersen. Twentysomething. Under-employed. Underachieving. Fortunately able to support himself (marginally) for all that. But keeping his fingers crossed his customer service job didn’t get outsourced to India or China or the dark side of the moon. Hoping his health insurance premiums didn’t go up another ghastly amount. Looking for a roommate to replace the one that had abandoned me to the vagaries of a year long lease on two bedroom apartment that I could barely afford when split. Just under six feet tall, but lying cheerfully about that missing inch or so when asked. Unremarkable blond hair, washed out blue eyes, the sort of guy you’d pass over in a crowd without a second look.   And me. SwitchingToGlide. YouTuber. Twitch streamer. My superhero identity, if you will, since in defiance of current convention I never showed my face, never sought product endorsements, never responded directly to requests I review games or even accepted review copies. And always flew solo. But, donations cheerfully accepted. And those sadly diminished advertising dollars? Can’t say as I turned them down, either. Piddling an amount that they were.   And, no, nobody in my life or out of it was supposed to be able to connect the dots from Aidan to SwitchingToGlide, if you hadn’t already realized this. And not only had they, the connection was being made quite publicly. And worst of all, at my place of employment.   Did I say worst of all? Sorry for jumping the gun. This is, after all, before Elana took out her phone held it in her manicured hand and started reading. And for all my horror, annoyance and embarrassment, even I must concede she did a better than average imitation of my voice as I tone it when speaking to my 83,000 subscribers.   “SwitchingToGlide is the name, and RPGs are my game. And boy howdy do we have turd blossom to step in this week. *Torrie’s Castle*. Single player campaign, with rumored multi-player coming. Hopefully it is on the horizon. As in that point that constantly recedes as you approach it. The one you never reach. Unless you’re a Care Bear hugging filty casual, I guess. Everything about this is just awful and seemingly designed to set a gamer’s teeth on edge…”   “Ms. Bancroft? Is there something I’m missing here?” This from Janine, my erstwhile employer. And, yes, I have always wanted to work “erstwhile” into a sentence somewhere, and by this point I was beginning to think all my whiles were indeed about to erst-ed, at least as far as employment at Central City Payroll Processing, LLC, was concerned. And, also yes, as she was saying Elana, she was looking at me.   Here Jason Hong jumped in, saving me from, well, probably a great many things, none good. And proving himself every bit the negotiator belied by his appearance.   “Ms. Rogers, I apologize for the confusion here, IceNine Games is after all something of a start up and Elana has had a great deal on her mind lately. This is why we’re here today, seeking out your services. I’ve reviewed your standard engagement letter, printed it, signed it as a representative of our company and have already forwarded the first payment to your bank account. Our payroll and HR records necessary for things like correct tax withholding will be forwarded as soon as you’re ready to receive them.”   Here he handed the paperwork over to Janine, and cleared his throat.   “As a start up, we also have a need for outside consultants and would like to engage Aidan in that role. Specifically we would need him every evening beginning two days from now, on Wednesday, and for the next two weeks from Nine PM until Midnight. We would also need him physically at our office tomorrow, Tuesday, and Wedneday for certain tasks. I realize this is slightly irregular, and we would be happy to reimburse you an amount for the inconvenience this would potentially cause. We will necessarily need a signature on a non-disclosure agreement both from you and from Aidan, given the nature of the consultancy. And, of course, here is the fee that would accompany this engagement. Aidan will be available for his regular duties during the day beginning Thursday morning, and every day during the period we will require him for three hours a night.”   Here Jason handed Janine a check. Her mouth opened and closed. And opened again.   “And, yes, that is a bank check. The funds have been set aside, so there should be no worry as to it clearing. Note that the NDA we are having you sign does have one unique feature: we are requesting that you do not inquire of Aidan the work he will be performing. I promise you it is nothing that is illegal or that will discredit your firm.”   I am still not quite sure how much Janine received, but I cannot imagine it was an insubstantial amount. At any rate, she signed whatever it was they put in front of her. But, to her credit, she did also stand up for me. Sort of.   “And Aidan?”   “In the agreement you just signed, we state that we will compensate him separately. And, given the confidential nature of our industry, would it be possible if we spoke to him privately for a few minutes?”   Janine, again to her credit, looked a bit uncomfortable. But then glanced at the bank check. And sighed. “I’ll hold onto the agreement and the check while you meet. Should you guys and Aidan not be able to come to terms, I’ll shred both. Fair enough? Aidan, you okay with this?”   “Ha, they can’t come to terms, she’s gonna shred him, I think,” Joseph snorted with a laugh, before I could reply. Elana smiled at this. Kidding, I hoped.   “I’ll hear what they have to say, and let you know, Janine.”   “We’re gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse,” Joseph put in, Godfather style. Elana raised an eyebrow, and her smile widened turning into whatever it is you’d call a cross between a grin and smirk.   And on that note, Janine left, leaving me at the tender mercies of the trio. “Thank God the Boomer’s gone, now we can really talk, Mister Aidan ‘SwitchingToGlide’ Peterson. And, yeah, I have more than a few things to say.” Out came her phone and she flipped through the screens.   Much to my surprise, Jason spoke up, adding “Elana is not at all into age discrimination, but her father has been, well, kind of a problem of late. It has kind of soured her on the older generation.”   “Yeah, those pesky ethical concerns,” Joseph joked, “Why’s he not willing to get on board with things?”   “Ah, here we are. Aidan Peterson. Age 27. Bachelor of Science, Business Administration. Qualified as eligible for and sat for the CPA exam, receiving partial credit but not pursuing completion. Last relationship of note over three years ago, has let his friendships from college slip away while forming no new connections of note. Applied for and was accepted into a graduate program in Hospital Administration, but decided not pursue this either. Father is deceased, mother works as school teacher, has two sisters, one older, one younger, only other family is one nephew and one niece. Mother’s brother is the locally famous, or infamous, real estate developer George Hope. Cousin’s wedding in two weeks may very well be the social event of the local season.   “I know I’m going.” Here she smiled, “And if he knows what’s good for him he goddamn better well be coming with an engagement ring.”   “You know my cousin Celeste?,” I blurted out. And if I had any thoughts of pity toward whoever it was that would be, or was supposed to be, presenting this creature an engagement ring, well, I wisely kept them to myself.   Ignoring me, Elana continued, “Employed at Central City Payroll Processing for two years, as one of ten customer service representatives. Generally well liked by his clients, co-workers and employer, if considered a bit stand-offish. In sum, slacker, loner, letting his twenties slide by with minimal engagement with the world around him. Neither attracting attention or seeking it, letting the world pass him by.”   “But that’s not all there is, is there, Aidan? No, we have our super-secret never to be revealed identity as YouTuber extraordinaire SwtichingToGlide, analyzing and reviewing games from single player old school titles like Darkstone to on-line MMORGS like World of Warcraft and the like. In the eighteen months of the channel’s existence, we’ve had seventy five videos put up, of varying quality and obviously of variable effort. Twitch streaming is much more of a hit or miss experience, and is typically confined to GW2 or PoE.   “This is your life, Aidan Peterson, hope you like it.” And, yes, here she rolled her eyes. “Any questions?”   “Well, yeah. A lot. But ignoring the creepy stalking that is borderline to doxing, ignoring you intruding on me in my workplace, ignoring whatever the hell it is you want me to do for you or with you, ignoring my curiosity as to how much you plan on paying me, just one question. One big one. Or, maybe two. First, why? And second, why me? I don’t get it.”   “Yes, I get I can be a little snarky doing my reviews and and analyses. Yes, I get I’ve got a decent following. But, I’m hardly the snarkiest, the most knowledgable or someone who dedicates my life to my on-line persona. And I’m certainly far from the largest channel out there, even in the field of RPG gaming. I’ve got this job. I’ve got, well… I’ve got this job,” I ended. Maybe a bit lamely.   Here Joseph spoke up, “You don’t watch your competition, do you? Or really do much of anything with social media, right?”   “Not normally, no. I just don’t really have the time. Between work, playing games, editing footage, writing the script for each episode, doing reading to try and further my understanding of common elements of most RPGs, I just can’t do it. And when I do try to look at other channels, well, usually it is for games I have not played and probably will not play.”   “So, you’re not aware your content is being stolen?”   “I’m sorry?”   “Other channels, they’re taking your footage, they’re taking your research, hell they’re even quoting your reviews and analysis word for word. You’re the one setting the tone, far more than you think, whether or not you’re aware of it. Or the general audience is.”   “Huh. I was unaware. I just like to do my own thing.”   “Well boys, give him the NDA, have him sign it, give him his marching orders and let’s blow this taco stand,” Elana said and started to rise.   “Wait, but you haven’t answered my questions. Not really.”   “We haven’t? All will be revealed. In the meantime, consider this a downpayment,” and slid a check across the conference room table. Fifty thousand dollars.   “Contingent, of course, upon you signing the NDA and agreeing to act as a consultant for IceNine Games,” Jason added.   “Look would it be okay if I thought this over, like overnight, and got back to you? At a minimum I think I might like a lawyer to explain the terms of this agreement to me,…”   “No. Either sign now, and join us, or we walk. I will say that at the end of the two weeks, that initial deposit? Expect a similiar one. With an extra zero on the end.”   “Jesus. You are serious?”   “As cancer, Aidan.”   What can I say, I signed.   After the team from IceNine Games left I staggered — I can think of no better term — out of the conference room and walked slowly back to my cubicle, collapsed into my chair and kind of stared at the water-stained drop tile ceiling in a haze. What the hell had just happened? I had just agreed to do something, though I was not quite sure what, every evening from Nine PM to Midnight for the next two weeks. Or for the next two weeks, starting in two days.   And before that, to show up at the office of IceNine Games for the next two days, for some sort of, well, Training? Consultation? Who knew?   “You back on the clock, Peterson?” This from Virginia, our office manager, and technically my boss. Stinking of cigarettes, as per usual, huffing with exhaustion from the whole fifteen feet from her slightly larger cubicle to my smaller one.   “Actually, Virginia, I think I need to check in with Janine first, now that I think about it. If that’s okay?” Plus it would give me a few more minutes to help get my head straight.   “Ha, she came out of that meeting looking like she’d just received a marriage proposal from Tom Selleck. And had accepted. What the hell monster client did you two dig up this time?” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder, pointing toward her office.   Made of sterner stuff that I am, Janine was already on the phone and answering questions post-meeting. And as usual it was Metzick Industries and as usual it was the train wreck that was the processing of payroll in the state, or more properly, Commonwealth, of Pennsylvania. When you’re in the business I’m in, Pennsylvania is both your full employment act, and a walking nightmare. Each town as an income tax, many have what they call an Occupational PrivilegeTax and nobody outside the state processing new hires in the state has a clue how to do it right. And, of course, the HR drone who set the employe up was blaming us. Never gladder that that sort of thing was above my pay grade.   She motioned me to sit while on the phone, and once finished rolled her eyes and looked at me.   “Well?”   “I’m in.”   Here she let out a sigh. Of relief or frustration would be difficult to say, but definitely a sigh. “Why don’t you take the rest of today off… oh, wait, you’re going to be out of the office the next two days as well. Hmph. Sit down with Jared, go over any open items or processing concerns you’ve got, get your head straight overnight and head out as soon as soon that's set. And do what you need to do at this Games Studio. I do expect to see you Thursday morning first thing, though. You’ll have a new client to set up, if nothing else.”   “Thanks, boss. But does it have to be Jared?”   “Yes, it does. Keep your personal dramas, personal, Adian. And I’ll see you on Thursday.”   Ugh. Jared Coughlin. The jerk who stiffed me with the apartment lease I couldn’t really afford in the first place. “Bro, its love!” He offered as justification as he moved out and in with his girlfriend. Not that we were great friends before he moved out, but since, well, let’s just say I kept my distance. Fortunately, there was not a great deal to be said to him, the summer being a slow time of the year. Other than to remind him to get the last of his crap out of my apartment.   That done, I let Virginia know what Janine and I had agreed upon, and headed back to my desk. To log out of the software, shut my computer off and get ready for tomorrow. When much to my surprise, my extension buzzed.   “Hey, kid, normally I’d just take a message and tell them to call back on Thursday. But, well, its your mom. Figured you’d want to talk to her.” Oh, God. Mom being, well, Mom.   “Plus one, Aidan. You. And a guest. Presumably a female one. In a week from this Saturday, or in thirteen days. For your cousin’s wedding. You are going to do this. ”   “Mom, Jesus. Leave it be. I’m between relationships.” And was reasonably sure planned to stay that way for the rest of my life, but she didn’t need to know that. It wasn’t even like Carol and I, my one and only serious relationship, had had a difficult break up. We just grew apart. And between work and my YouTube channel I kept as busy as I wanted or needed. Like the old song lyric says, “Why fall in love when there’s better things to do?”   “Between relationships,” she snorted. “No. You’re doing this for me. You’re finding and bringing a date to your cousin’s wedding. Here, talk to your sister.” there was some rustling in their end, and a clunk as the old landline hit what sounded like a table, as Tiffany, my older sister picked up the line.   “Hey bro.”   “Tiff, please talk to her. She’s being totally unreasonable here.”   “She’s a mother. She gets to be unreasonable. I should know, blessed as I am with one girl and one boy. And as her only son, she well, as has some ideas that, yeah, are a tad eccentric, but she means well. And it would mean a lot to her if you showed up at Celeste’s wedding with a date.”   “But…”   “No, buts. Besides it’ll be fun.”   Fun and weddings. Yeah, right. Goes together like peanut butter and battery acid.   “Look, I’m starting a new project and I’m going to be busy for the next few weeks. Very busy. Even if I were interested in searching for a date, and I assure you I am not, I don’t see how I could. I’m sorry.”   “Then you’re gonna disappoint Mom. You wanna do that? I mean, does she ask for all that much from you? Really? Humor her on this, and everyone’s life with go much easier.”   “But…”   “No buts, baby brother.”   And she hung up.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNhZTA2YzRjMDk0MDQ3MDRhNDBjMDI3YjYxOTJiNDU4">Zach had promised Tiesha a bit too much when he'd said he would see Evelyn the next day. While he had indeed been in New Albion on Monday, he was unable to meet with the Princess. She was caught up in royal business and Zach was turned away at the staff entrance by an apologetic Bethany.</p> <p class="cnNlMzNhZGUzMWVkYjRkNzM5ZjNkNDE4ZDVjYjgxZmNi">He trusted his memory to hold onto Tiesha's message for a couple more days, so he spent the day on other tasks. First, he wanted to learn more about the upcoming equinox festival, specifically about how to run a vendor stall during the festivities. If Zach could run a stall selling something unique and desirable, he might be able to make a sizable short term profit.</p> <p class="cnM1OTEwMDhiMGFjZDQ4MjBiMDMxMGVmMTM5OWY5M2Yy">Of course, short term profits wouldn't keep him afloat forever, but they could provide a nice boost to his nest-egg and help finance his next venture. You had to spend money to make money, and a shrewd businessman couldn't let good opportunities pass him by.</p> <p class="cnM4ZTFhNjVkNzMwYTRjMjViZDhiMmIxZmUxNmNmNTM0">Zach even had an idea of what he'd sell at the festival, assuming he could acquire the raw materials in time. But that step needed to wait until after he understood how the festival was managed and had taken care of any required approval processes.</p> <p class="cnM3YWM1ZDU4NjJiMzRiMjg5NWI1ZTIxMDUyZTIwYzYw"><em>The castle also contains all the municipal offices, so I should start there, </em>he thought as he left the staff entrance alley, where Bethany had been anticipating his fruitless visit.</p> <p class="cnNjNTY0YTE5NDFhZDRhZWFhN2JkMjk4YWZmYjFjMjgw">He made his way around to the other side of the castle to some wide stone steps that led to a very official-looking double door. Before just walking in, he approached a guard stationed outside and asked, "Is this the right place to ask about being a vendor in the upcoming festival?"</p> <p class="cnMzYmFiNjJiZGNmMDQ4M2RiMWUxYTM4ZGRkZjgyOWZh">The guard nodded. "Yeah. You want the Event Planning department. Fourth door on the left after the big fountain."</p> <p class="cnM0Zjg4Y2U0MjQzYzQwYTg4NDIyYTY5MzY1YmRkYjQ1"><em>Fountain, huh?</em> Zach thought. <em>I guess the administrative side of a royal government is just as fancy as the royalty themselves.</em></p> <p class="cnM4ZDZjY2I3ZTQ5NTQyZjdhNmZhNzRlZDY0Y2M4MzBk">He was wrong. It was even fancier.</p> <p class="cnM1ODY3N2NhZDRiMjQwYWNiYWI2YTMxMGI1ZDkyMGJi">Zach quickly encountered two fountains inside the building. Since they were the same size, he didn't think either was the big one the guard had mentioned, but they both featured dozens of streams of crystal-clear water shooting in an ornate criss-crossing pattern, like overlapping looms. They framed the entryway of polished granite and marble, guiding visitors deeper toward the numerous offices within.</p> <p class="cnM3NjQyMjJjNzlmZjQxMzViYzM0YmMyZjcwNjMwNjg5">Zach was conscious of every one of his footfalls as he crossed the distance to a large object in the distance. The room opened up, with a high domed ceiling and a massive crystal chandelier, and the center held a massive fountain.</p> <p class="cnNjMjAyZmY1YzJlZjQyM2NiYjNiMjE0NGY0NDUzZWY2">Four lifelike marble figures stood in the twenty-foot-wide pool, shooting streams of water into the air from their hands. At least, Zach <em>assumed</em> they were lifelike, but he'd never seen anything like some of them. Next to the sculptures of a human man and woman in long flowing robes were two fur-covered humanoids with doglike faces.</p> <p class="cnNmOWUxMzY5ZTQ5MzQyNDE5YzA3YjYwM2U0NzQyYWY0">The only other clue Zach had about the dog-people was their style of dress. Both wore hide tunics with feathers and beads tied to the hems. The statues were all pure white marble, but he got the feeling that those beads would have been bright and colorful in real life. The figures reminded Zach so much of Native Americans, or at least the popular stereotypes of them, that he half expected them to be wearing moccasins too, but the statues' feet were hidden under the water and he couldn't check.</p> <p class="cnM2MDczOGJkNjM2ZjQ5MjFiYzI0NjM4YjM4OGMxMTJk">He made his way around the distracting fountain and continued down the hallway, then stopped at the fourth door down. The dark wood door was closed, so he knocked gently.</p> <p class="cnNmODJkNDFlYzU5MTRlMzQ4ZjJhZGQ3MTdmMzY2ZjQz">"Come in!" called out a voice, surprisingly casual for such a noble setting.</p> <p class="cnMzZDkxNGEwMmZjNDQ4YmU5M2RkNzk2NjVmMzkyNzEy">Zach opened the door and stepped into a small office with barely enough room for a desk and a few chairs. Behind the desk was an elderly man with a long white beard. He had a heavy brow and bushy eyebrows that hid his eyes almost completely, yet his wrinkled face still looked kind.</p> <p class="cnNiNTVhYzU2MmEzYjQyZDJhODVhNjQ0YTQ0Mjk2M2Jj">The man said, "Sorry about the door. Having it closed makes people think I'm not here, but I only want to block out that incessant fountain. The sound was nice for the first day, but not the three-thousandth. How can I help you, young man?"</p> <p class="cnMzYzZiZTY1ODIwNjQzN2U4NmVmM2VjNzgyODM2NDQ4">As a legal adult, Zach sometimes bristled at being called 'young man', but the man behind the desk looked old enough to safely call <em>anyone</em> young. Zach stood up straight, hoping he looked respectable in his nice clothes, and said, "I'd like to inquire about the availability of merchant stalls for the upcoming equinox festival."</p> <p class="cnM4Y2ZmYTZiYTVlZTQyOGVhZjM4ZjE1MGFjZmQ0OWU3">"Oh-ho-ho-ho, oh-ho-ho!" The man laughed freely for nearly fifteen seconds before saying, "No need to go so verbose, boy! Normal King's Speech will do you just fine with me."</p> <p class="cnMxNjkxZGRmNjc2MDRlNzhiODVjNmFmN2FjMDRmYWVj">Zach felt his eye twitch. <em>Now I've been downgraded to 'boy'. Not the result I wanted…</em> He took a breath and tried again. "Are there any spots open for the festival? If so, how can I get one?"</p> <p class="cnM2NGYwMTBiMDdjNDQxZDg5ODYxNDZjODM0MzhjNjM5">"Yeah, there're some open. Normally they'd be full up weeks ago, but vendors are less optimistic about this festival since everyone already spent all their spare Harts at Evy's multi-month celebration. I can get you set up for a stall. Just need to know what you're selling."</p> <p class="cnM0ZGQ2ODM0OTJhMjRhOTk4YWUzYTA4ZjIzMDVjYTU3">"Uh, that's not actually set in stone yet. I didn't want to buy ingredients until I knew I'd have the stall."</p> <p class="cnM4N2ZmYjgwZjQ3MjQ1ZGJhMGI1YWVjNzRmZWQ4OGQ3">"No problem. Sounds like you're selling food? I can put you down as food and get you in touch with the inspector."</p> <p class="cnM3OTc4ZGI4YmMwODQ1ZTRiNDRkNWEyY2I5YjQ3YTAw">Zach raised a finger. "Actually, my plan is to sell coffee, if I can get the beans."</p> <p class="cnNmZGNjNDJjOTVkODQ4YzBiZjliZjI4YTBmZDdlNmE1">The man wasn't bothered. "I'll put down 'drink' then. Still gotta meet with the inspector once you have your product though. Can't have you getting a bunch of people sick with spoiled ingredients, even if the Healers would love the business. What's your name?"</p> <p class="cnNlMWEyMzMyYmU1NTRmMjI5ODcwYjFmYmZiMzExYTFi">"Zach Pike," Zach answered, then spelled it out for the man.</p> <p class="cnM4ZjYzMjEzNTBhMjRlYjRhMzlkYTViYjYwOWM1ODZh">The man scratched the same note on two pieces of paper and handed one copy to Zach. "Just bring that to the inspector across the hall. He'll pick your stall location and do his inspection on the day of the festival."</p> <p class="cnNmZjAyYzNjNWJhMzRlOTY5ZmQ0MjdiMDAxODBhMmRj">"Is that all?" Zach asked as he took the paper. "No application fee or anything?"</p> <p class="cnMzMzA3ZmI5YjFkMDRhM2ViNzhkMTM0NTk0NjljZWYz">"Nah, at least not when there are so many openings. But if you back out without telling us, we'll send a guard to collect 50 Harts for the hassle."</p> <p class="cnMwNTQ4ZWJmYmExYTQwNmY5ZWVmODkxZDVhZjdhMmI4">Zach nodded. "Thank you for your time."</p> <p class="cnM5ZTUzZDc2ZmJmZTRjYjBiMTZjZDRlZmI4NGM0ZTNj">"Just doing my job. Good luck, kid."</p> <p class="cnMxN2ZjMGFjZTM2NzQ2YmE4OTA5MDA0ZWU1NjlmN2M3">Zach ignored the 'kid' part and focused on the task at hand. He crossed the hallway to a door marked 'Health Inspections' and stepped inside. This office was much larger and far busier. People were moving from desk to desk, sorting through papers and filing them in wooden cabinets.</p> <p class="cnNiODc5NjkyOTViNzQ4ZGE5YjZhYTRhMzJmNTNlOWYw">"Whatcha want?" a young woman barked when she noticed Zach.</p> <p class="cnM3ODZiMjdkYjI5MzRmMzA4YTk3ZDAyZDA3MzBlNjQz">"I'm supposed to meet an inspector. I'm doing a drink stall at the festival," Zach answered.</p> <p class="cnNmOGJjMDVhZDMzODRiMDBiODNiNzNlYjliZGRiNWY2">The woman kept digging through a stack of papers even as she said, "Stall 13, and Grecc will be inspecting your stall at 5pm on the 22nd. Don't make him wait. You bring all your own stuff. No table or water provided. Here's your vendor badge."</p> <p class="cnNhOGJiMWI2NTE3MDRkZjg4NjhjODFiYjU5NmM3YjJh">Suddenly, a solid object the size of Zach's palm came flying at his head. He barely managed to catch it in time. He glanced at it and saw that it was a shield-shaped piece of wood with an ornate seal carved into it.</p> <p class="cnNjMGRjYzc5MWZhMjQwYmZiZWM0ZmE3MzRiYzFmZDEw">"Uh, what about this paper?" He held up the note from across the hall.</p> <p class="cnM4YmUxN2JkZTM3MzQ2NmRiYjY2MWRmNmVlNWY4NTBk">"Save it for Grecc. You're done. Get out of here. Can't you see we're busy?"</p> <p class="cnM0MDIxYjgzMDg4NzQxMjdhMzZhNGIyZjg3OThiM2Vk">Zach turned and left in a hurry, wondering if the health inspectors were always that understaffed or if something had changed recently. In any case, Zach had work to do too. He needed to visit the suppliers near the docks, a couple equipment rental places, and get back to the Hard Fought Rest before sundown for the most stressful task of all.</p> <hr noshade="noshade" size="1"> <p class="cnM2YTkyYzhlMWIyOTQzYzU4M2Q2Yzk0YmQ3NGU2YTgy">There she was, wearing the same green dress as before, nearly spilling out the top of it like before. There was no doubt she was beautiful, and that made what Zach had to do even harder.</p> <p class="cnNjOGExOWM0ZDZlMDQ0MjE4MDRhZTE1ZGIwNmVmMzQ2">She was at the bar by herself, and Zach knew he had to act fast while she was alone. He walked stiffly across the room and sat down on the stool next to the woman, then he had to work up the courage to speak.</p> <p class="cnM0NDc4NWZhNTM0YTQ2MmY4Y2QwODA3ZjVkODQ2MTA3">"Um, excuse me, miss?" he managed, though the volume was nearly too quiet to hear over the start of the dinner rush.</p> <p class="cnM1M2U1M2E1NTkzODQ2YzJiOGJkYWE3YjBkYWNmNDkw">She turned, her warm brown eyes peering out from under her thin eyebrows and flowing auburn hair. "Ah, hello again. Despite seeing you around here a lot, I don't believe I've caught your name. I'm Harmony."</p> <p class="cnM1NmNjMDNjYzU2ZjQ2MjFiZjk0MjY4YzI2ZWU1Yjk4">"Zach."</p> <p class="cnNkMTllNjY4MTNhMjQwNzZhNzkyOGRjZWQ3MTczNzBh">"So what can I do for you tonight?"</p> <p class="cnM1Mjc5OGE5MWZhMTQ0YjQ4NzIxNTgzMTY1NjM1ODA3">Zach noticed the way she'd phrased that, such that it was filled with potential without being outright lewd. She'd probably been in her line of work for a while and had refined her technique.</p> <p class="cnNlYjIxMjUwYjM2NDQ0NDY5YWNjOTQ1MWU4M2RiNzE2">He had rehearsed his response in his head several times, but it didn't make it easy to say. After an awkwardly long pause during which Harmony was quite patient, he asked, "Are you available tonight, for the entire night? All the way to morning, I mean."</p> <p class="cnNjNTMwZDUyYWY1NzQ4OGU4NzJjMjgyMjIyYzA0Zjgz">She raised one eyebrow, looking more intrigued than doubtful. "I suppose I can be, for the right price. But I don't discuss price out here. Shall we retire to your room early?"</p> <p class="cnMzNDJhMWNmZmFlMjQ5MmNiNDk0MGIyYzFiM2Y1OTY0">Zach shook his head. "Not yet. I just wanted to mention it to you now, before you went upstairs. I wouldn't want to get in the way of your other business. Can you meet me at ten?"</p> <p class="cnMxZjljYWM3MzFkNzQ0ZTk5OWM3ZGQ0MjM2Yjk3NTNj">The belltower down the street had chimed seven just a few minutes ago, and eight would be its last chime until morning. Beyond that, people needed to estimate the time, or use an expensive pendulum clock. The inn had one in the kitchen, mostly to assist with cooking and to close down the bar at a consistent hour.</p> <p class="cnMyMWU3OTNjYjY0YTQyYWRhYTNhNTg3MDMxMjIyMzhj">"I suppose so. You're in that first room at the top of the stairs, right? Shall I go straight there at ten?"</p> <p class="cnNhMzk5ODYzYWViZTQ1ZWQ4NjQzYmQ2N2YzMzA4YmE4">Zach swallowed hard, then said, "Yes please."</p> <hr noshade="noshade" size="1"> <p class="cnM1MDhhMmNkNDM4ZjRmZjBiYzA2NDg2ZTc3MTk4NWYz">Zach was writing in a notebook, tracking all the deals he had in progress and the total cost, when there was a soft knock at the door. He quickly answered it and was again taken back by Harmony's beauty.</p> <p class="cnMwYjRlYzcxMTBhNzQ0ODFiMmYwYmNmZmMwNTk5ZDNm">"Uh, hello. Come inside."</p> <p class="cnMwNjBhNTMwNDIwNTQzNjdiNTc1MDE3OTBiODhkODMx">"That'll cost extra," she said with an impish smile.</p> <p class="cnM4NDBlN2M1ZjAwYTRlNDViNjE2YWY4ZGZkOWI2MzBj">"What do you mean?" Zach said, confused.</p> <p class="cnM0ZTllZWY3MmE3MTQ2YjNhNTZkZDhhZTYzMTdlZGZl">"Just a little Companion joke," she said as she slipped through the doorway. "I charge a fee to cover potential pregnancy, but you get it back if you don't come inside."</p> <p class="cnNkYzFlMjRmNjZjMDRjYzk4ZTU3OTUxYmY4MDNhM2Fi">"Oh." Zach's face was burning. He was overwhelmed, in way over his head. This woman had sex for a living, and he was still a virgin. He still would be after the night was over, unless things went way off the rails.</p> <p class="cnM2NDE2ODhlYjJmODRlMDk4NmI5NmMwYzNkM2QxNjg3">She sat down on the bed and patted the empty spot next to her. "Don't worry. The fee isn't that much, since I can just pay a Healer for their morning-after service."</p> <p class="cnMxYmM2Zjg1OWI3ODQzODBiMWY4ZGMzNjkxODM4MDI0">Zach shook his head. "Sorry, I haven't been very clear. I'm not actually looking for sex tonight."</p> <p class="cnNkYTQ0ZjM1YWY1YjQxM2JhNWJlZWJmMTkxZjhiZWQ2">She tilted her head and a lock of auburn hair slid off her shoulder. The curl at the end nestled lightly into her exposed cleavage, drawing Zach's eye there. "Oh really? Then what <em>do </em>you want?"</p> <p class="cnMwN2JmZDQyZWUwZTQ1ODA4MTVkOTM5Mzg1MjBhZTNk">"I just want you to hold my hand all night while I sleep. Don't let go, even for a second. I'll pay the normal amount, and you can get a good night's sleep too, if you want." Of course, Zach couldn't possibly explain <em>why</em> he wanted such a weird and specific thing, so he probably came across as someone with severe attachment issues.</p> <p class="cnMzNTQ4MjY1OGY0ZjQwZTE5YTU5NDgzNDBmOGRjMThl">"Hmm, alright. That's not the strangest request I've heard." She put one finger to her lower lip for a moment as she thought, then said, "I'll stay with you until sunrise, and I'll just charge you my hourly rate for four hours, with no pregnancy fee. Twenty Harts total." She rested her hands on her knees, looking a little out of her element for the first time that night. "Sound good to you?"</p> <p class="cnMzOTU3ZjdiYWMzZTQ3Y2M5NzhlYTAwZmYzMTkxNGI5">Zach nodded. It was an expensive way to test Evelyn's trick, but it would be worth it, just to know. He stood up to get her payment and to gather his notes that were still strewn around the other end of the bed.</p> <p class="cnNlMjlmYWQyYjBjZjQwZDRhNDA4NWQ4NGVmOGQ2NDkz">As he put the papers away in his backpack, Harmony commented on them. "So you are a merchant after all. I guessed based on your outfit, but you don't act quite like any merchant I've met."</p> <p class="cnM5ZDE3MzFjN2U5ZTQyNjVhZmRjMGM0MGM1Zjg3ZmEw">"I suppose I'm not a merchant quite yet. These notes are about my first big venture. But I can't think about that right now or I'll never get to sleep."</p> <p class="cnM2MGJhMjE0MzAzZjQ0NjliZDBjNjAzYTk3YTUxNTNm">She smiled. "Fair. Got a preferred sleeping position?" she asked, then she giggled and quietly added, "Not the kind of position I normally ask about…"</p> <p class="cnMyNzE0YzQxZDM4MzQzZjY4NTYyNWQ3OTczMGZkYTRk">"Not really. I'll probably end up on my stomach regardless," he said, still fighting the overwhelming awkwardness of it all. "Oh, and can we wrap this leather strap around our hands? So we don't separate on accident? It's really important to me that we don't come apart."</p> <p class="cnMyODEzOTlmYTU3NDRjZTU5NzFlZDRmN2M1OWQwMDZj">"Sure. Again, not the strangest request."</p> <p class="cnNjYzdiYmM0YjhmOTRiNTJiMjNmNDZlY2Q4YjY5M2U0">Zach quickly changed into his pajamas right there in front of her, knowing that she had seen men wearing far less than just undergarments, and climbed into bed. Harmony took off her dress and shoes, leaving just a light camisole and some lacy underthings under that. Then she turned off the lamp and followed.</p> <p class="cnM1YjlhZWM1MzRlYzQ2NzY5Y2EwYjQ0YWVlNDIxNDQ4">His breath was heavy as he fumbled with the leather strap in the dark. Eventually, Harmony took it from him and tied their hands together herself, much more skillfully.</p> <p class="cnMyODg4NGU0YWJiMzQzNmY5N2VlNTViYTVlZDVhOWQ4">"I hope you sleep well, Zach," she said, her voice soft and kind.</p> <p class="cnMxZTlhODk3NjlkZjQwMTNiMGNiZjA1MjU3NWY4ZGU2">"Thanks."</p> <hr noshade="noshade" size="1"> <p class="cnMzNjg0MmMzNzcwZTRlYTI5OThkNTgxMTNjOTBkYzU0">Zach awoke on his stomach, to the sound of music. He swatted at his alarm with his right hand, then froze partway.</p> <p class="cnNhMjI5MWI1MTlmYTQ5MmM4NTFlMDNmNzRmYjljYzBi">"Damnit."</p> <p class="cnM0YjkwNDEzMzM0ZTQ5OGViNGNjN2Q2ZjJjZTc4Yjg4">That hand should have been tied to Harmony's hand, in New Albion, in another world.</p> <p class="cnMxNGQ4YjY3MGIyYTRiMzQ5MDIyY2UyOTg2YWFlZTQ0">"What a way to start a day. A hundred dollars down the drain…" But that wasn't quite right. While 20 Harts had the buying power of about $100, getting money in New Albion was much harder than in Denver. He'd been chipping away at the money Shen gave him for two weeks now, and he was about to wager most of what was left on a risky business venture. Losing 20 Harts to a failed hypothesis stung more than he'd expected.</p> <p class="cnNlNTQ3YjkyMTliNDQyNjU4ZDNhNWM4NDlmYWYxNjMx">Zach checked his phone to confirm that it was Tuesday, then got ready for class. If there was a silver lining in the situation, it was that he wouldn't miss the upcoming Econ 202 test.</p> <hr noshade="noshade" size="1"> <p class="cnNmYTYwNjhhZDZiNTQ5YjJiZGFmYjgxZWUwNzNhMjBk">Zach was grumpy all day, though talking with Erin helped a bit. She really was a supportive friend, despite the constant teasing. Even her fake flirting was a welcome escape from his own negative thoughts.</p> <p class="cnM0ODc2Yjk0NTdmMTQwNGE4ZmE5MGVmMTU2ODQ1YjAw">"So, my darling Zach, how do you think you did on the test today?" she asked as they left the classroom.</p> <p class="cnMxMDU0ZDM5NGQ3MTRkNWRiYzU2OGRmMTI4OTEzODZh">"Pretty good. I studied on Sunday night and got lucky on what the test covered." Zach weaved through the crowd of other students, heading for his next class in the science building.</p> <p class="cnM5ZjFlZTVkMDc3NTRhOTlhMjMzMjExYzE0NGQxNmNh">"Would it help if I text you about what we cover on the days you miss? You could study the right stuff that way."</p> <p class="cnM5Njg0MWMxNGI3ODRiZTBhYzU1YTIwN2YxNTMxMTk1">Zach forced a smile. "Maybe, though I wouldn't have much time to act on it. I didn't get home until this morning."</p> <p class="cnNhOGI0ODcwNWE2ZTQxY2Q5MTU3M2FjNDZmYzlhNzZh">"And you can't study when you're at your, uh, family thing?"</p> <p class="cnMxMjA5NWYyNGEwOTQ1NDFiNDU5MTM2YTExMjE0NDBm">His own mention of the morning had reminded him of the failed experiment, which brought his bad mood back. He tried to keep it out of his voice. "Correct. Thanks for the offer, though."</p> <p class="cnM1YWM3MzcxOTIwMDQ4NDZiZTU5MzcxNmRiNGI5OTE5"><em>I don't know whether Evelyn's trick failed, or if Harmony got up in the middle of the night, or if the leather strap just came undone. As harsh as it sounds, I think I trust the Princess more than a Companion or the knot that she tied.</em></p> <p class="cnM3MWQ3ZTMxOWE0NDQ3MjlhY2E4NDQ1OWYyZmJmMTdl">"Are you doing alright, Zach?" Erin suddenly asked.</p> <p class="cnM0Y2VjNWE5N2QzMjRmYWNiMzZlZjMwNzhlMWFjNjM0">"Yeah, why?"</p> <p class="cnMzYTBiYjdkOWJjZjQzMmViNDJmNjI0ODdkYjUwZWMy">"You got a look like you were lost in thought, but you looked upset. Normally you look happy when you're lost in thought, like you're dreaming up something fun."</p> <p class="cnNkNjcyMDg2N2I0MjQ2YzRiNDI4MDI4YzRlNmQ4NjM1">"Do you really have that much experience watching me zone out?"</p> <p class="cnNjYWFmMGYxNjQwMjQzN2FhYTBlNWQwNGJkNzk4YWEx">Erin smiled and punched him lightly in the arm. "Yep! I watch you <em>all</em> the time!"</p> <p class="cnMyZmM1MWQwMzM5NjQyNjVhYjc3MWI5M2Q4NmFkYWM4">Zach shook his head, but he couldn't help but smile. "Not your best attempt at getting a rise out of me. Stick to fake flirting over fake stalking, IMO."</p> <p class="cnNlYWIxODY3ZmE5MDQ3MDI5NzkyYjlkZDg3NWRiMjc5">"Darn!" Erin said as she swung her fist and arm in an exaggerated motion. "Alright, I'll get you good next time."</p> </div>

Zach had promised Tiesha a bit too much when he'd said he would see Evelyn the next day. While he had indeed been in New Albion on Monday, he was unable to meet with the Princess. She was caught up in royal business and Zach was turned away at the staff entrance by an apologetic Bethany. He trusted his memory to hold onto Tiesha's message for a couple more days, so he spent the day on other tasks. First, he wanted to learn more about the upcoming equinox festival, specifically about how to run a vendor stall during the festivities. If Zach could run a stall selling something unique and desirable, he might be able to make a sizable short term profit. Of course, short term profits wouldn't keep him afloat forever, but they could provide a nice boost to his nest-egg and help finance his next venture. You had to spend money to make money, and a shrewd businessman couldn't let good opportunities pass him by. Zach even had an idea of what he'd sell at the festival, assuming he could acquire the raw materials in time. But that step needed to wait until after he understood how the festival was managed and had taken care of any required approval processes. *The castle also contains all the municipal offices, so I should start there,* he thought as he left the staff entrance alley, where Bethany had been anticipating his fruitless visit. He made his way around to the other side of the castle to some wide stone steps that led to a very official-looking double door. Before just walking in, he approached a guard stationed outside and asked, "Is this the right place to ask about being a vendor in the upcoming festival?" The guard nodded. "Yeah. You want the Event Planning department. Fourth door on the left after the big fountain." *Fountain, huh?* Zach thought. *I guess the administrative side of a royal government is just as fancy as the royalty themselves.* He was wrong. It was even fancier. Zach quickly encountered two fountains inside the building. Since they were the same size, he didn't think either was the big one the guard had mentioned, but they both featured dozens of streams of crystal-clear water shooting in an ornate criss-crossing pattern, like overlapping looms. They framed the entryway of polished granite and marble, guiding visitors deeper toward the numerous offices within. Zach was conscious of every one of his footfalls as he crossed the distance to a large object in the distance. The room opened up, with a high domed ceiling and a massive crystal chandelier, and the center held a massive fountain. Four lifelike marble figures stood in the twenty-foot-wide pool, shooting streams of water into the air from their hands. At least, Zach *assumed* they were lifelike, but he'd never seen anything like some of them. Next to the sculptures of a human man and woman in long flowing robes were two fur-covered humanoids with doglike faces. The only other clue Zach had about the dog-people was their style of dress. Both wore hide tunics with feathers and beads tied to the hems. The statues were all pure white marble, but he got the feeling that those beads would have been bright and colorful in real life. The figures reminded Zach so much of Native Americans, or at least the popular stereotypes of them, that he half expected them to be wearing moccasins too, but the statues' feet were hidden under the water and he couldn't check. He made his way around the distracting fountain and continued down the hallway, then stopped at the fourth door down. The dark wood door was closed, so he knocked gently. "Come in!" called out a voice, surprisingly casual for such a noble setting. Zach opened the door and stepped into a small office with barely enough room for a desk and a few chairs. Behind the desk was an elderly man with a long white beard. He had a heavy brow and bushy eyebrows that hid his eyes almost completely, yet his wrinkled face still looked kind. The man said, "Sorry about the door. Having it closed makes people think I'm not here, but I only want to block out that incessant fountain. The sound was nice for the first day, but not the three-thousandth. How can I help you, young man?" As a legal adult, Zach sometimes bristled at being called 'young man', but the man behind the desk looked old enough to safely call *anyone* young. Zach stood up straight, hoping he looked respectable in his nice clothes, and said, "I'd like to inquire about the availability of merchant stalls for the upcoming equinox festival." "Oh-ho-ho-ho, oh-ho-ho!" The man laughed freely for nearly fifteen seconds before saying, "No need to go so verbose, boy! Normal King's Speech will do you just fine with me." Zach felt his eye twitch. *Now I've been downgraded to 'boy'. Not the result I wanted…* He took a breath and tried again. "Are there any spots open for the festival? If so, how can I get one?" "Yeah, there're some open. Normally they'd be full up weeks ago, but vendors are less optimistic about this festival since everyone already spent all their spare Harts at Evy's multi-month celebration. I can get you set up for a stall. Just need to know what you're selling." "Uh, that's not actually set in stone yet. I didn't want to buy ingredients until I knew I'd have the stall." "No problem. Sounds like you're selling food? I can put you down as food and get you in touch with the inspector." Zach raised a finger. "Actually, my plan is to sell coffee, if I can get the beans." The man wasn't bothered. "I'll put down 'drink' then. Still gotta meet with the inspector once you have your product though. Can't have you getting a bunch of people sick with spoiled ingredients, even if the Healers would love the business. What's your name?" "Zach Pike," Zach answered, then spelled it out for the man. The man scratched the same note on two pieces of paper and handed one copy to Zach. "Just bring that to the inspector across the hall. He'll pick your stall location and do his inspection on the day of the festival." "Is that all?" Zach asked as he took the paper. "No application fee or anything?" "Nah, at least not when there are so many openings. But if you back out without telling us, we'll send a guard to collect 50 Harts for the hassle." Zach nodded. "Thank you for your time." "Just doing my job. Good luck, kid." Zach ignored the 'kid' part and focused on the task at hand. He crossed the hallway to a door marked 'Health Inspections' and stepped inside. This office was much larger and far busier. People were moving from desk to desk, sorting through papers and filing them in wooden cabinets. "Whatcha want?" a young woman barked when she noticed Zach. "I'm supposed to meet an inspector. I'm doing a drink stall at the festival," Zach answered. The woman kept digging through a stack of papers even as she said, "Stall 13, and Grecc will be inspecting your stall at 5pm on the 22nd. Don't make him wait. You bring all your own stuff. No table or water provided. Here's your vendor badge." Suddenly, a solid object the size of Zach's palm came flying at his head. He barely managed to catch it in time. He glanced at it and saw that it was a shield-shaped piece of wood with an ornate seal carved into it. "Uh, what about this paper?" He held up the note from across the hall. "Save it for Grecc. You're done. Get out of here. Can't you see we're busy?" Zach turned and left in a hurry, wondering if the health inspectors were always that understaffed or if something had changed recently. In any case, Zach had work to do too. He needed to visit the suppliers near the docks, a couple equipment rental places, and get back to the Hard Fought Rest before sundown for the most stressful task of all. --- There she was, wearing the same green dress as before, nearly spilling out the top of it like before. There was no doubt she was beautiful, and that made what Zach had to do even harder. She was at the bar by herself, and Zach knew he had to act fast while she was alone. He walked stiffly across the room and sat down on the stool next to the woman, then he had to work up the courage to speak. "Um, excuse me, miss?" he managed, though the volume was nearly too quiet to hear over the start of the dinner rush. She turned, her warm brown eyes peering out from under her thin eyebrows and flowing auburn hair. "Ah, hello again. Despite seeing you around here a lot, I don't believe I've caught your name. I'm Harmony." "Zach." "So what can I do for you tonight?" Zach noticed the way she'd phrased that, such that it was filled with potential without being outright lewd. She'd probably been in her line of work for a while and had refined her technique. He had rehearsed his response in his head several times, but it didn't make it easy to say. After an awkwardly long pause during which Harmony was quite patient, he asked, "Are you available tonight, for the entire night? All the way to morning, I mean." She raised one eyebrow, looking more intrigued than doubtful. "I suppose I can be, for the right price. But I don't discuss price out here. Shall we retire to your room early?" Zach shook his head. "Not yet. I just wanted to mention it to you now, before you went upstairs. I wouldn't want to get in the way of your other business. Can you meet me at ten?" The belltower down the street had chimed seven just a few minutes ago, and eight would be its last chime until morning. Beyond that, people needed to estimate the time, or use an expensive pendulum clock. The inn had one in the kitchen, mostly to assist with cooking and to close down the bar at a consistent hour. "I suppose so. You're in that first room at the top of the stairs, right? Shall I go straight there at ten?" Zach swallowed hard, then said, "Yes please." --- Zach was writing in a notebook, tracking all the deals he had in progress and the total cost, when there was a soft knock at the door. He quickly answered it and was again taken back by Harmony's beauty. "Uh, hello. Come inside." "That'll cost extra," she said with an impish smile. "What do you mean?" Zach said, confused. "Just a little Companion joke," she said as she slipped through the doorway. "I charge a fee to cover potential pregnancy, but you get it back if you don't come inside." "Oh." Zach's face was burning. He was overwhelmed, in way over his head. This woman had sex for a living, and he was still a virgin. He still would be after the night was over, unless things went way off the rails. She sat down on the bed and patted the empty spot next to her. "Don't worry. The fee isn't that much, since I can just pay a Healer for their morning-after service." Zach shook his head. "Sorry, I haven't been very clear. I'm not actually looking for sex tonight." She tilted her head and a lock of auburn hair slid off her shoulder. The curl at the end nestled lightly into her exposed cleavage, drawing Zach's eye there. "Oh really? Then what *do* you want?" "I just want you to hold my hand all night while I sleep. Don't let go, even for a second. I'll pay the normal amount, and you can get a good night's sleep too, if you want." Of course, Zach couldn't possibly explain *why* he wanted such a weird and specific thing, so he probably came across as someone with severe attachment issues. "Hmm, alright. That's not the strangest request I've heard." She put one finger to her lower lip for a moment as she thought, then said, "I'll stay with you until sunrise, and I'll just charge you my hourly rate for four hours, with no pregnancy fee. Twenty Harts total." She rested her hands on her knees, looking a little out of her element for the first time that night. "Sound good to you?" Zach nodded. It was an expensive way to test Evelyn's trick, but it would be worth it, just to know. He stood up to get her payment and to gather his notes that were still strewn around the other end of the bed. As he put the papers away in his backpack, Harmony commented on them. "So you are a merchant after all. I guessed based on your outfit, but you don't act quite like any merchant I've met." "I suppose I'm not a merchant quite yet. These notes are about my first big venture. But I can't think about that right now or I'll never get to sleep." She smiled. "Fair. Got a preferred sleeping position?" she asked, then she giggled and quietly added, "Not the kind of position I normally ask about…" "Not really. I'll probably end up on my stomach regardless," he said, still fighting the overwhelming awkwardness of it all. "Oh, and can we wrap this leather strap around our hands? So we don't separate on accident? It's really important to me that we don't come apart." "Sure. Again, not the strangest request." Zach quickly changed into his pajamas right there in front of her, knowing that she had seen men wearing far less than just undergarments, and climbed into bed. Harmony took off her dress and shoes, leaving just a light camisole and some lacy underthings under that. Then she turned off the lamp and followed. His breath was heavy as he fumbled with the leather strap in the dark. Eventually, Harmony took it from him and tied their hands together herself, much more skillfully. "I hope you sleep well, Zach," she said, her voice soft and kind. "Thanks." --- Zach awoke on his stomach, to the sound of music. He swatted at his alarm with his right hand, then froze partway. "Damnit." That hand should have been tied to Harmony's hand, in New Albion, in another world. "What a way to start a day. A hundred dollars down the drain…" But that wasn't quite right. While 20 Harts had the buying power of about $100, getting money in New Albion was much harder than in Denver. He'd been chipping away at the money Shen gave him for two weeks now, and he was about to wager most of what was left on a risky business venture. Losing 20 Harts to a failed hypothesis stung more than he'd expected. Zach checked his phone to confirm that it was Tuesday, then got ready for class. If there was a silver lining in the situation, it was that he wouldn't miss the upcoming Econ 202 test. --- Zach was grumpy all day, though talking with Erin helped a bit. She really was a supportive friend, despite the constant teasing. Even her fake flirting was a welcome escape from his own negative thoughts. "So, my darling Zach, how do you think you did on the test today?" she asked as they left the classroom. "Pretty good. I studied on Sunday night and got lucky on what the test covered." Zach weaved through the crowd of other students, heading for his next class in the science building. "Would it help if I text you about what we cover on the days you miss? You could study the right stuff that way." Zach forced a smile. "Maybe, though I wouldn't have much time to act on it. I didn't get home until this morning." "And you can't study when you're at your, uh, family thing?" His own mention of the morning had reminded him of the failed experiment, which brought his bad mood back. He tried to keep it out of his voice. "Correct. Thanks for the offer, though." *I don't know whether Evelyn's trick failed, or if Harmony got up in the middle of the night, or if the leather strap just came undone. As harsh as it sounds, I think I trust the Princess more than a Companion or the knot that she tied.* "Are you doing alright, Zach?" Erin suddenly asked. "Yeah, why?" "You got a look like you were lost in thought, but you looked upset. Normally you look happy when you're lost in thought, like you're dreaming up something fun." "Do you really have that much experience watching me zone out?" Erin smiled and punched him lightly in the arm. "Yep! I watch you *all* the time!" Zach shook his head, but he couldn't help but smile. "Not your best attempt at getting a rise out of me. Stick to fake flirting over fake stalking, IMO." "Darn!" Erin said as she swung her fist and arm in an exaggerated motion. "Alright, I'll get you good next time."

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMzNmU4ZWQ5YWM3ODRhMzU5Nzg5YzhhNTg0MzIyMWJm">I don’t intend to explore this forest as Amelia suggests. However, I don’t intend to stay hidden in a cave either.</p> <p class="cnNmYjI0NjZmZDMxZDRjOTlhYWEzZjFjNGE0MjVlY2Fh">I understand that in this world, the strong survive while the weak perish. This is even more true now that I have become ‘a beast’.</p> <p class="cnM5ZDYyYWQyYzI4MjQyNjA5NjU5OGQyODU3Mjk5ODA0">I must quickly find a way to become stronger... I already died once, and I don’t plan to die a second time.</p> <p class="cnM1ZmI3ZjczZjM5MTQzZTZhN2M3ZTdhNWNkMGQwYjVk">Speaking of survival, if time in this world flows in the same way as on Earth, it will be dark in a few hours.</p> <p class="cnNmZGJjMTRmMGVkMTQyYWZhOTYyNmUyZTdkMjQyZWY2">I must quickly find a shelter with preferably food and water nearby. Although I became a dragon, I still have the same needs as a human...</p> <p class="cnM4ZjY1ZmZjNWMzOTQ1OWE5MzgxOTVlZDY0NzM5NjBm">If I don’t find any satisfactory place nearby, I could always go back to the cave in which I am ‘born’, or ‘reborn’ I should say.</p> <p class="cnNjNjY0Y2YwMThjMTRhZjA4Yjk5MTFiOTRkODllYTZi">I have no map, no compass, no GPS, I can only walk in a direction chosen at random, hoping that I do not meet magical beasts too powerful for me.</p> <p class="cnM3ZjdiNzlkN2EzYjQ5ZmQ4ZWU2OTg5NTYyY2YyMzc4">Magical beasts... I would never have imagined that one day I should worry about the presence of monsters while wandering in a forest.</p> <p class="cnM5M2RhMDZiMDQ3MDQxNzliNDhkNjQzN2YzYjhlMWM5">“Kyle, be careful!” Exclaimed Amelia.</p> <p class="cnNhNTIxNTMyNTQ3ZDQ2Yjc4MmEyYmQzZDJmODVjYTQ0">Crash!</p> <p class="cnNhZTU5NTljNTdiYjQ5Y2FiODlkNWQ4NzNlOGQyNDE2">Lost in my thoughts, I did not notice that a rock was in my path and knock my head against it. <em>Ouch!!</em> I take a few steps back, and suddenly hear a groan.</p> <p class="cnNkNjc0YjlmMWQwZTRjZjZhNGVjMTZkNDE2NjEwNTg4">I examine my surroundings... There is nothing.</p> <p class="cnMwZDM2NWM5YTgxYjRhNTE4MDdjZTZmOWIzY2VmZWE1">Except this big rock in front of me... Wait, something is wrong! Since when does a rock have paws and... A head?</p> <p class="cnM5ZjYxOGRiYzcwMzRhYTZhYmQ2NWE1Mzc3YWZlOTU4">I take my distance and immediately use the skill [Appraisal].</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="604"> <p class="cnNmOTU2MjllODZkYzQxNjhiN2U2OGQ1ZmQ0MTMwOWJm" style="text-align: center"><strong>The skill [Appraisal] is now level 2.</strong></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnNlMTAwMTEwNjNhYTQ2NWRiNmM5N2RjNGI1ZTI4MTQ0">&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="604"> <p class="cnM1YzhlYWFiODgzMjRiY2ViMjhmYWYyM2Q4NDczNTFm"><strong><u>Torock</u></strong> (magical beast) – level 1 – HP: 40/40</p> <p class="cnMxMmEzMWIyNTFmYjQzNWU4NzA5N2EzNmM3MmUyZDY3"><strong>Description</strong>: Magical beast born from a rock. Very resistant to physical damage.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnNiNzYxOTI2M2JkMDRmMDNiNjFhYWNlMmQ4NDhjYjQ1"><br>Oh, I now have a description of my target thanks to [Appraisal]. This will be very useful.</p> <p class="cnNmZjkxZDI5OTc5NzRlMDViYjlhZmZlOGIyZjI2NTFh">“This magical beast is rather weak, we don’t need to attack it.” Said Amelia.</p> <p class="cnNmZmVlMjEyYmY4MzQzNDY4NDZmM2UyOWI3MzBmZDUy">It seems that this monster doesn’t think the same thing as Amelia.</p> <p class="cnNmMDlkOGUxNTQwZjQzMjg5MGY3YzcwNWQxODFmOGU1">The torock turns in my direction, and stares at me with its perfectly round eyes.</p> <p class="cnMyMGMyOThmNmRiNzQ2YmM5Y2IxYzVhMjczZTdjOGRk">It is about to attack!</p> <p class="cnNhOWM1ZjhmMDE0MzQ1ODBiZDVkYzQ0OWJiOTdkNTM2">The torock opens its mouth wide...</p> <p class="cnMyNGI2Zjk3YjQ2OTQ3OWRhZDQ4N2MwYTA1YjI3NTQ3">Stones suddenly come out of its mouth.</p> <p class="cnMxYjFiYzg0YWUzYzRiYTE5OTc5M2UxYmQxMzBmNDUy">I don’t have time to dodge!</p> <p class="cnM2OTVmYmMzYjgyMzRkZTk5NGIzYjE5MDVmMjU5Y2Vk">Bang! Bang! Bang!</p> <p class="cnM0MDgzZDMyODc3OTRlMjA5MmEzYjkyZTIyMzYxZmIx">Several stones hit me hard. It hurts!</p> <p class="cnNkNGVjNWRiMTA0NjQwZTVhZDhjMzk5NGNkZTkwNmQz">The stones continue to hit me... It looks like this monster can spit an unlimited amount of them!</p> <p class="cnM3ODA4Y2Q2NGU1NzRhYjVhOTlhYTVjNGUyMzE4NzYz">“Kyle, we… We must find a way to stop it…” Said Amelia.</p> <p class="cnM1OWNkYzcyYzFmYTQzZDRhYjg5NmRkZTBjMDVlZjMx">I know!</p> <p class="cnMxMThiMzVmOGNiNDQxMzBiYjJkMzUwNzRjNDA1YjE2">I have an idea, with [Fire breath] these stones should melt.</p> <p class="cnNhZGQxNzU1ZjllNzQ2MDg5OTg2YjFhOGIwM2U5MTcy">I tell my strategy to Amelia. We then both use [Fire breath].</p> <p class="cnNiODJjNzdmMzRmZjQ4NTFhOTdlMDAxMjgyNzc3MmNl">The stones melt instantly, and the flames go towards the torock.</p> <p class="cnNhNjhmZDk5ZGZlZDQyYjhiOWNjZTg1YzMzOWJjNWIy">However, it rushes straight into the flames to charge me...</p> <p class="cnNlOTQ2ODVjYmE0MDQ3ZTE4MTFlOWY4NDI2NGRlOTRl">BANG!</p> <p class="cnNiY2ZjMGQzY2U4MDQ2NTViNzFkZmMxNjI2ZjgyZmU2">The torock crashed into me.</p> <p class="cnM2MjJiMWFhYzhiYjQzZDJhODhlZDcwMzFiY2FmYTgz">Ahhhhh!</p> <p class="cnM1MTY5YmE3YWQ3NDRlYjE4OTg1ZjM5OTRkNTQ4ZTA3">I’m thrown back by the impact and landed on the ground. I am temporarily unable to move because of the pain...</p> <p class="cnM0YWVkOTYxYTZjYzQyNDQ4YmI4ZTgyOGViNGZiYWNl">I only have 31 HP left!</p> <p class="cnNjMzhjOGYyZDEzODQ2MzViYzAxMGE0NmM5Mzk5MjY4">I get up after a few seconds and look for the location of the torock. I wonder why it did not take advantage of the fact that I was down to attack me.</p> <p class="cnNmMmNiODc2OGVkYTQ3M2M5NmFhNDE3ZDExMzU4MDYy">Finally, I find it a little further... It seems to suffer, probably because it could not escape the flames just before our impact.</p> <p class="cnNjYmE3ZjE3NGYxZjQ0YTVhMzRiNjY5NDlkZDUwYWNl">I’m walking over to it...</p> <p class="cnNmODk2MjI2NzM5NzRhZWI4MDlhNWFlMGViN2EzODQw">Sorry, I don’t intend to wait until you get back to your senses!</p> <p class="cnM2ZmFjMTRlMTBmYTRiYmY5ODU2NTk3MWRmNDRlZjg1"><em>Fire breath...</em></p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="604"> <p class="cnMxYTQyMjFmNzBjNTQ2NzBiN2Q2ZTRjMzZiZDg3YTVi"><strong>You have killed a Torock &lt;level 1&gt;: XP + 10. </strong></p> <p class="cnM2OGVjNjhhODk4ZTRiNmU4ZDhjYWNjOWU3M2NhOGVl"><strong>Bonus XP from title « Baby dragon » +50%: XP + 5.</strong></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnMwN2RiZGIyNzEwZTQwNGM4Zjk3MzY3NDY1YWJjODRk">&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="604"> <p class="cnNmMTg3OTViZTE3YTQ5Y2JhMzg4NDAxYmY1MmEzODMy" style="text-align: center"><strong>The skill [Fire breath] is now level 2.</strong></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnMxMjQ0N2FlNDJkYzQ2OTQ4ZDZkYTA4MDRkYTMyYjVk">&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="604"> <p class="cnNiZTg2YWI1OWJkMzQzM2M5ZWI5ZDM2NTFiODkyYWY5" style="text-align: center"><strong>Congratulations! You are now level 3.</strong></p> <p class="cnMxNjJlY2VhNDA5MzQ2MDc5MWYyM2IxODkwYzQ0M2M5" style="text-align: center"><strong>1 attribute point available.</strong></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnNiZTRlNDAxZjI3OTRjYjY5MmI0MmYyNWRmOWQ5NDIw"><br>All this pain for only ten experience points...</p> <p class="cnNlZmMwM2Y2OTc4NjQ5YzJhMWVlNWY5NzRhMWYxZDI4">“Kyle, did you notice? It seems that level up heal us completely!” Amelia said.</p> <p class="cnNkNzBiNmM3MDU5ZjRiZTZhMzViMmQxYmY3NDlkMDNj">Indeed, I'm not feeling any pain anymore.</p> <p class="cnNjN2IxZjQwZjVhMzRlNjE4Nzc2NjI1YjcxOTA0ODI1">I inspect my status. It shows me: ‘HP: 65/65, MP: 60/60, END: 55/55’. So, in addition to healing us, level up also restores our MP and END.</p> <p class="cnM4Y2Y1OGI1M2Y2ZjRlYWJiODNhYjE4NDZiNmI3ODkx">“Sorry Amelia, I should have been more careful... It's my fault if this monster attacked us.” I said.</p> <p class="cnMzOGVkODA2MGY0YTQ4NjJiZmQyZTlmMGM1MzcxNzFm">I'm the one who blamed Amelia for being distracted...</p> <p class="cnNlMTQzZmVjYmU3ZTQ0Zjg5NTk2OTI3NDBjZGQxNmI0">“It doesn’t matter, the important thing is that we are still alive, aren’t we?” She answered.</p> <p class="cnNiMGViZGY1N2Y0YjQ2MTk5MjU4YjYyNjEwYjQ3NGZj">I guess she's right, but still...</p> <p class="cnM4YzAwZTg1NTEyMDQ5MTFhNWM4MDhiMjdjYTA5ZGI1">I decide to resume my way through the forest, seeking primarily a stream. I don’t take the time to admire the landscape. I am rather on my guard now, to avoid being attacked by surprise.</p> <p class="cnM2YmU0YTI4NjExMzQyYTg4ZGRkNmU5ODVkOGJhNzY5">I still mark the trees on my way with my claws to be sure not to go around in circles.</p> <p class="cnNmYTYzNTE1ZmMwODRlNWNiNTk5NTg0ZjZiZDVjODE1">“What are you doing?” Amelia asked.</p> <p class="cnM1M2E4OGFiMjVkZTQ1MDFhMWVlOTBkMjBiMDQyODY4">“I mark the trees so that we do not lose our way”</p> <p class="cnMzYjFmNDI0ZjkxNTQyYzhiOGNlMWI5NzEwNmMxMjE4">“Oh, so you know how to survive in the wilderness!”.</p> <p class="cnM4NzllYmViYWEyODQ1ZWJiYzY3ODQzZTMxYTYxOGI1">“I'm not an expert, but I've already camped in a forest many times.” I said.</p> <p class="cnNlYmY4ZTM2YzVlODQ3ZTU5MTgzYTdhNDZmZTNiZDQ3">“For me, this is the first time seeing a forest, in real life, I mean. I've already seen one in movies!”</p> <p class="cnM1ZWU4ODM1MTY2MDQ0NGFhODZjMjIwYWVjZjk5NWMw">“I see…”</p> <p class="cnNhMjI3ZTljNGE5NTRjYzQ5NmE4MmVkOWI1ZjVlNDI1">--------------------</p> <p class="cnNmMGMxNzViMWI0YjQ4NzM4MDg0YzJjOWJiNGFmYmUz">I have been walking for over an hour now. Well, I think so. I don’t have a watch, but I can estimate the time approximately.</p> <p class="cnM2NjE1NDJkZGMyZTQ2NmZiZmRmODA2YzM0OWFhZjA0">I continue to walk straight ahead with caution. I don’t feel tired even after walking for a while, advantage of being a dragon…</p> <p class="cnM3ZTIyZjIyNzRlMzQ1NjM5ZDEyZDIyZjJhNGJjNzMw">Strangely, I haven’t met any magical beasts since the torock. It can mean two things: either there are none of them in this part of the forest, or they hide themselves and wait for me to lower my guard to attack.</p> <p class="cnNjOWE1YzI1OGQzNTRlNzVhYTUwZTk2MzMwMjNkN2Q0">After another long walk, I suddenly hear the sound of running water. <em>Finally!</em></p> <p class="cnNlYjNjOWNlOGViZDRiOGU4MTM0ZTYyMGQ0ODdiZGQy">I head quickly to where the noise comes from…</p> <p class="cnM5MDY3MWVlNzgxNDQzZDU4ZDgwYmUyNjM2OTFmMzMx">I finally see a long stream... But not only that...</p> <p class="cnNiYzY4YjE5YmE5YTRkM2E4YTI5M2QxODM5NGJkZDU4">I can also see a magical beast that seems terrifying in the process of drinking!</p> <p class="cnM1MjZhMTljMWM4NDQ0Yzc4MTBkNmRmOGRkM2RlZGM0">I then rush behind the nearest tree to hide and pray that this monster didn’t detect me.</p> <p class="cnMyOGYwZTdiZTJhNDQxNzM4NGEzMWRlNmVmNzE2Y2Yx">After a good minute... nothing.</p> <p class="cnNhY2JiNDg3YWM5OTQ0MzBiZGI2MzZmODRmMzg3MzBh">It looks like it didn’t notice me. Phew!</p> <p class="cnMyMzJlYjdjZDA2YjRhZWI4ZWZiNzY5YWNjNGI4OTE5">I go slowly out of my hiding place, making myself as discreet as possible, and try to spy on this monster. It looks like a lion, three times bigger of course, but what is strange is that it is entirely black. In addition, a black smoke seems to emanate from its body.</p> <p class="cnNiNTA4YjJkYjY0YjQ5MDM4OTQ1MGM2MzRmMDFmZDQx">I decide to inspect it, hoping I'm not too far away to use the [Appraisal] skill.</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="604"> <p class="cnMxOWMyNjhmMGZiMTQ5ZDJiOTBkZGJhZDQ0MzIyYmFi"><strong><u>King Dalak’zur</u></strong> (magical beast – unique) – level 30 – HP: 2875/2875</p> <p class="cnMzNTk4ZGZlYWE0YzQxMDU4OGM3ZWE2ZGNmMTMxODky"><strong>Description</strong>: Powerful king of the Dalakhon family.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnNkODdhNDdkM2YyZDQwY2Q4ODFlMDY2MzE3OGJkODMz"><br>My heart races seeing the [Appraisal] screen. If this monster had spotted me, I would have died, no doubt!</p> <p class="cnM5NjZiMjliYzg3ZTRkZGViM2I4ODM1NGU4ODkwMzFi">“It looks strong!” Amelia said.</p> <p class="cnMxZjEzZDMyMTg1YzQzZWRiOGJiNGFmMTZiYmI3MDE5">Strong? I think she doesn’t realize the situation in which we are...</p> <p class="cnNlOTFkODQ0MGQ3MjQwMjhiZGM1MjA4ZjVmZDZiODUy">I keep spying on him. No way I lose sight of this beast, I don’t want it to attack me by surprise.</p> <p class="cnMwNmViNTAyZTExNDQ4M2ZhYzQzYmY4NTBlNzg2ZWM3">After a long moment that seemed like an eternity, he finally leaves, jumping over the stream, then disappears in the distance.</p> <p class="cnNmNWU1OWNmNTRlYTQ2YTc5MmFmZmMxOWU5MDFmMmVi">Phew... I can finally breathe. I now understand why I haven’t met any magical beast for a while, I must be in the territory of this King Dalak'zur.</p> <p class="cnM3ZjhkZGE1MGI0ODQyMmJiYjJhODQxZjZlMDg5NTgz">“It left! Do you think we'll ever be strong enough to face it?” Asked Amelia</p> <p class="cnMwZDg4MjA3NzQ0NTRlOWU4NzViM2FmYjE0ZTU2ZGI2">“I... I guess so, at least I hope so.” I said.</p> <p class="cnM5NjdmYjBiNDRjNDQ1OTY4Y2RiZTFmZDU5YTI3YTlk">Anyway, I must leave quickly this place. When it gets dark, I'll have no chance to notice it approach, because this monster is completely black.</p> <p class="cnNkNjI0YWFhYjZhNzQ5ZjFiZjg4YWUwYjcxMmNiZWFh">I don’t know how big King Dalak'zur’s territory is, so I turn back following the marks I left on the trees.</p> <p class="cnMyMGYwNzVkYTAwMTRkM2ZhNTdkYTNhNTlkZWI0ZWNh">--------------------</p> <p class="cnMxOGYwZjgyZWU1ZjRlZjRhNDUyZTliN2U1NWQxYzdk">It's finally dark and I'm back to where I started... At the place where I killed the torock.</p> <p class="cnMxYTAyMTgxN2ZlZDQ0ZTVhNmJjODdiMzRlY2NjNmI4">At night, the flowers emit an even more intense light. The entire forest is illuminated.</p> <p class="cnNmZTkwMTNlZWVlZDQ2ZTA4YThhYjQ4OGFmMWVmOGFm">The combination of red and blue lights everywhere, makes the landscape quite... Weird.</p> <p class="cnMyN2Q3MWQ0M2FkYTRlMTRhNTViZTQ3MzBlMzNmMjcx">It looks like the forest is decorated with Christmas garlands...</p> <p class="cnNmM2E3YWIxODVlZTQ4ZWE5YzQyNzMzMDc3N2EzMDU0">“It’s so beautiful!” Said Amelia.</p> <p class="cnNkYWYxZmE0MGJiNzRiMjc5MWMyMGU4MjJlNDdiMGYy">“...”</p> <p class="cnM2MTE4YzhkZmY5NDQzNmFhODQ3NDdhZDhmMjBlYzc4">“I'm hungry! Let's find something to eat before going to sleep.” She continued.</p> <p class="cnNiMTMwODVkM2QzYzQyMWZiN2Y5MWY5MTQzMDgxZTA0">She only thinks about her stomach…</p> <p class="cnMzOTliMjM2N2UwZTQ0YzQ5OWQ4NGY3ZjU5MGJiNDM2">We share the same stomach, but I don’t feel hungry...</p> <p class="cnM3MGI5ZTU5YzJkZDQ1OTk4M2MzOWE4YzExMDI1YzAx">“All right...” I said.</p> <p class="cnM4OTZhMTE4YjQwMzRjOWFiN2U4OTgxY2Q3ODBiY2Jl">There are no wild animals in this area. I am therefore looking in the bushes and shrubs for berries that could be edible...</p> <p class="cnNhZTYwMmI0MzFiZjQ4MWM5MWRlN2U0YjA1MmQ3YmFk">Nothing. No berries seem to grow. Maybe they don’t even exist in this world.</p> <p class="cnNkMDljYmYyZTVmMjQxMjY5OWM1M2UxNTFmMDE1MjIy">I’m now looking for edible mushrooms at the foot of trees...</p> <p class="cnMzZWYxMGFhMzA2NDRmNTc5NTRjODA1YTFmNWVkNWQx">Found it!</p> <p class="cnNjN2M3N2I5NTNiZjRlOWJhNDk1MDIwMmE3OGIwNTNk">I found several bolete mushrooms. Their ‘hats’ are covered with luminous green dots. These green dots are very small, in broad daylight they would be indistinguishable.</p> <p class="cnM1MGY3MWI3YzhhNzQ1ODJiYTM2NTY1NTg1MzE4Y2Zk">I don’t know if these mushrooms are poisoned or not.</p> <p class="cnNmZjlmNDdlZmQ4MTQwMDc5ZGU0ZjZiMWFkMDMxYzU1">I intend to use [Appraisal], with a little luck the skill will give me an indication about it.</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="604"> <p class="cnM2YjNmMTg2MGU0OTRjMmVhMWFlZjFmNTJjOTIzMmY1" style="text-align: center"><strong>Mushoinve</strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="604"> <p class="cnMwODYyZWE2ODY2NzQ4NTI5NGRhYmJkNjVkZjdiOGQ1"><strong>Nature</strong>: Mushroom (common).</p> <p class="cnMwOWE4ZmZlOWMzMzQzNjM5OWMxMjBjZGE2NWRkZGVi"><strong>Description</strong>: Very toxic mushroom, commonly used as poison.</p> <p class="cnM3ZjZlMTNiNTdmMzQ5OTZhMTk2ZTc2NWMxZDFmMDEy"><strong>Effect</strong>: Slow and painful death if swallowed.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnM0MDVkYmY3MDEyOTRiZDhiOTE3ZDc2NzJiNjYxNDE4"><br>Wow!! I did well to check... I quickly move away from these toxic mushrooms and continue my research...</p> <p class="cnM1NDQ4ODJjOGU2YTQ1ZWQ4ODQyMjc0YjJkNDU3ODAy">I notice, with difficulty, mushrooms of a different type. Well, I think so, because they are in all aspects similar to the mushoinves, except that they have no green dot.</p> <p class="cnM4ODJkZmQzOWE4MTQ4NDc5YjRlMTQ1YzU5YTM1ZTQ3">I use [Appraisal], without much hope that they will be edible.</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="604"> <p class="cnM2YTg3ZDc0Zjc2ZDQwMTQ4NmZkZjBmZDEyYzBhMThk" style="text-align: center"><strong>Mushuffe</strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="604"> <p class="cnM0ODliOWEzYTBhYzRjZGY5YjVmZDRhZTI0M2NkMTA1"><strong>Nature</strong>: Mushroom (uncommon).</p> <p class="cnNjMTg1Mjc4NTAxODQ4ZjQ5YmJlODBhMWQxZmM5ZWRk"><strong>Description</strong>: Delicious but rare mushroom because it grows among toxic mushrooms.</p> <p class="cnM5NDljNmRmMjVkZDQ0NWQ4NzVjM2VlMDZkYWIyZGMz"><strong>Effect</strong>: After swallowing, provides a feeling of fullness and satiety.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnMyZGIwNzgzODQ0OTQxNTlhNWMwZGY5Yzk2NjlkMTk4">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkNDk5Y2M3YzBlOTRhNjdhZTNhMmMzNzI0OGI4YjE1">“Lucky us! We will be able to eat something tonight!” Said Amelia.</p> <p class="cnNlM2ZmYzlhMjM3ZjQyZDFhNmFmMWZkZWQwODJiNTU1">I approach my mouth, tear the mushroom with my teeth and begin to taste it.</p> <p class="cnM3ZjI0MGIzODc1YzQ4YjY5YjY0ZWViN2EwMGVkYmZj">It really tastes good, in addition to being juicy, which quenches my thirst.</p> <p class="cnNhZDM5YWE5MmM3ZjQ0ZjI5YTY2NmM5YjIxYThlZTZi">I take another one...</p> <p class="cnM1YmVjY2YxMzM0NDRjZWFhMzdmMDAzMGM3YjBhYzgx">“Hey, don’t eat everything!” Said Amelia</p> <p class="cnNmNWZmYTk1Y2FlMjQ5NzE4MWQ5ZTNjZjBiMTIxOGUx">“We share the same stomach...”</p> <p class="cnMwZmFiYzVhMjkzZTRiMmE5MDMzMmQ1YTNmZmNmOTY2">“But I want to know if they are really delicious...”</p> <p class="cnMzYzg4YWVmZjFkOTRhYzZhMDk2MGE3MWI1ZDAwMzM3">Amelia then put a mushroom in her mouth and start to eat it.</p> <p class="cnMwMTJlMDM1Y2UxODQyMWU5NzU3MjkxZGMwNzVkNDkx">“Yummy!”</p> <p class="cnM0MzVlNjNiYWQ5ZDQwY2RhMTM3MDY5ZTgzN2IyNmJh">We are now full. So, it’s time to find a place to sleep.</p> <p class="cnNhODRmZTk1OWMzMjQ2MzRhMzIwYWEzZjQ2NWU0NzZh">“We are going back to the cave to spend the night there.” I said.</p> <p class="cnNkZTA2ZDk1OTNkZDRkYzM5YTE2NjhjYjBjYzVkMmZj">“OK!”</p> <p class="cnM3YTIxYWJjMGEyYzQwZDJhYmZiZTMxMjc0NTIzYmZm">-------------------</p> <p class="cnNlZWNmZjZmNjA4YTQyYjg5OWMzZDk0YmQ0NzQyMjA5">Back in the cave, I sit in a corner, as far as possible from the entrance.</p> <p class="cnMwMGU0ZjBlNTRjNjRiNWFhMTg5ZWVkZjczNjFhOWRm">I try to find a comfortable position in which to lie down. This dragon body is really not practical for that.</p> <p class="cnNlODEyMmQ1Y2YwYTRiYTViNDQyNTNlNTQwMjcxNDgx">“Good night Kyle” said Amelia.</p> <p class="cnM4ZDg3NWM1N2M3OTRkYzU4MzkxOWY5NmM3MTAzYjY4">“Good night”</p> <p class="cnMzZjI3ZDYwNjZhZjQ5ZTY5YmU2MWI1MGFiYTI0MjA5">Well, I don’t really intend to sleep, I must stand guard in case magical beasts come during the night...</p> <p class="cnNjOTY4NDFhOWNlNTRkZjg4ODI3NDQwZTk0MjliM2I5">…</p> <p class="cnNjZTNkZjNlNmI4NDQ3YTRhOGYyNDZlYmRkY2Q4MDJi">----------</p> <p class="cnNkOWE1MzE0NDA0ZDQ1Zjg5Yjc4MGQ3OWFkYzllNzM2">“…Wake up! Hey, Kyle wake up! Do you hear me?”</p> <p class="cnM1ZTM5N2FmOTg3ZDQzZTVhYmZhY2I0NzcyMjQ1ZGE2">I hear a voice calling me...</p> <p class="cnM5NDQwYTg0MDU3ZDQ4N2U4NjJjZGQ3ZmE3YWI4OGI4">I recognize this voice...</p> <p class="cnM4NGU1ODYwYWExODQ4MTY5YzczMzI5YTU3NWE4YTIx">Amelia?</p> <p class="cnNkMGVlOThjYThhMTQ2ZDE5OTllYmQ5YTVhZTBiYzhk">I wake up abruptly and realize with relief that everything is alright.</p> <p class="cnM5ZWE3MTM1MDhiNDRiOWE4NWE3NTc3NTE5MDBkZjA0">I... I slept like a baby...</p> <p class="cnNhOTJjYWE2ZjU3MTQ2Y2ZiMGM5YmJiM2EyOWVlN2Nj">I could have died without even realizing it...</p> </div>

I don’t intend to explore this forest as Amelia suggests. However, I don’t intend to stay hidden in a cave either. I understand that in this world, the strong survive while the weak perish. This is even more true now that I have become ‘a beast’. I must quickly find a way to become stronger... I already died once, and I don’t plan to die a second time. Speaking of survival, if time in this world flows in the same way as on Earth, it will be dark in a few hours. I must quickly find a shelter with preferably food and water nearby. Although I became a dragon, I still have the same needs as a human... If I don’t find any satisfactory place nearby, I could always go back to the cave in which I am ‘born’, or ‘reborn’ I should say. I have no map, no compass, no GPS, I can only walk in a direction chosen at random, hoping that I do not meet magical beasts too powerful for me. Magical beasts... I would never have imagined that one day I should worry about the presence of monsters while wandering in a forest. “Kyle, be careful!” Exclaimed Amelia. Crash! Lost in my thoughts, I did not notice that a rock was in my path and knock my head against it. *Ouch!!* I take a few steps back, and suddenly hear a groan. I examine my surroundings... There is nothing. Except this big rock in front of me... Wait, something is wrong! Since when does a rock have paws and... A head? I take my distance and immediately use the skill [Appraisal]. | **The skill [Appraisal] is now level 2.** | | --- |   | **Torock** (magical beast) – level 1 – HP: 40/40 **Description**: Magical beast born from a rock. Very resistant to physical damage. | | --- | Oh, I now have a description of my target thanks to [Appraisal]. This will be very useful. “This magical beast is rather weak, we don’t need to attack it.” Said Amelia. It seems that this monster doesn’t think the same thing as Amelia. The torock turns in my direction, and stares at me with its perfectly round eyes. It is about to attack! The torock opens its mouth wide... Stones suddenly come out of its mouth. I don’t have time to dodge! Bang! Bang! Bang! Several stones hit me hard. It hurts! The stones continue to hit me... It looks like this monster can spit an unlimited amount of them! “Kyle, we… We must find a way to stop it…” Said Amelia. I know! I have an idea, with [Fire breath] these stones should melt. I tell my strategy to Amelia. We then both use [Fire breath]. The stones melt instantly, and the flames go towards the torock. However, it rushes straight into the flames to charge me... BANG! The torock crashed into me. Ahhhhh! I’m thrown back by the impact and landed on the ground. I am temporarily unable to move because of the pain... I only have 31 HP left! I get up after a few seconds and look for the location of the torock. I wonder why it did not take advantage of the fact that I was down to attack me. Finally, I find it a little further... It seems to suffer, probably because it could not escape the flames just before our impact. I’m walking over to it... Sorry, I don’t intend to wait until you get back to your senses! *Fire breath...* | **You have killed a Torock <level 1>: XP + 10.** **Bonus XP from title « Baby dragon » +50%: XP + 5.** | | --- |   | **The skill [Fire breath] is now level 2.** | | --- |   | **Congratulations! You are now level 3.** **1 attribute point available.** | | --- | All this pain for only ten experience points... “Kyle, did you notice? It seems that level up heal us completely!” Amelia said. Indeed, I'm not feeling any pain anymore. I inspect my status. It shows me: ‘HP: 65/65, MP: 60/60, END: 55/55’. So, in addition to healing us, level up also restores our MP and END. “Sorry Amelia, I should have been more careful... It's my fault if this monster attacked us.” I said. I'm the one who blamed Amelia for being distracted... “It doesn’t matter, the important thing is that we are still alive, aren’t we?” She answered. I guess she's right, but still... I decide to resume my way through the forest, seeking primarily a stream. I don’t take the time to admire the landscape. I am rather on my guard now, to avoid being attacked by surprise. I still mark the trees on my way with my claws to be sure not to go around in circles. “What are you doing?” Amelia asked. “I mark the trees so that we do not lose our way” “Oh, so you know how to survive in the wilderness!”. “I'm not an expert, but I've already camped in a forest many times.” I said. “For me, this is the first time seeing a forest, in real life, I mean. I've already seen one in movies!” “I see…” -------------------- I have been walking for over an hour now. Well, I think so. I don’t have a watch, but I can estimate the time approximately. I continue to walk straight ahead with caution. I don’t feel tired even after walking for a while, advantage of being a dragon… Strangely, I haven’t met any magical beasts since the torock. It can mean two things: either there are none of them in this part of the forest, or they hide themselves and wait for me to lower my guard to attack. After another long walk, I suddenly hear the sound of running water. *Finally!* I head quickly to where the noise comes from… I finally see a long stream... But not only that... I can also see a magical beast that seems terrifying in the process of drinking! I then rush behind the nearest tree to hide and pray that this monster didn’t detect me. After a good minute... nothing. It looks like it didn’t notice me. Phew! I go slowly out of my hiding place, making myself as discreet as possible, and try to spy on this monster. It looks like a lion, three times bigger of course, but what is strange is that it is entirely black. In addition, a black smoke seems to emanate from its body. I decide to inspect it, hoping I'm not too far away to use the [Appraisal] skill. | **King Dalak’zur** (magical beast – unique) – level 30 – HP: 2875/2875 **Description**: Powerful king of the Dalakhon family. | | --- | My heart races seeing the [Appraisal] screen. If this monster had spotted me, I would have died, no doubt! “It looks strong!” Amelia said. Strong? I think she doesn’t realize the situation in which we are... I keep spying on him. No way I lose sight of this beast, I don’t want it to attack me by surprise. After a long moment that seemed like an eternity, he finally leaves, jumping over the stream, then disappears in the distance. Phew... I can finally breathe. I now understand why I haven’t met any magical beast for a while, I must be in the territory of this King Dalak'zur. “It left! Do you think we'll ever be strong enough to face it?” Asked Amelia “I... I guess so, at least I hope so.” I said. Anyway, I must leave quickly this place. When it gets dark, I'll have no chance to notice it approach, because this monster is completely black. I don’t know how big King Dalak'zur’s territory is, so I turn back following the marks I left on the trees. -------------------- It's finally dark and I'm back to where I started... At the place where I killed the torock. At night, the flowers emit an even more intense light. The entire forest is illuminated. The combination of red and blue lights everywhere, makes the landscape quite... Weird. It looks like the forest is decorated with Christmas garlands... “It’s so beautiful!” Said Amelia. “...” “I'm hungry! Let's find something to eat before going to sleep.” She continued. She only thinks about her stomach… We share the same stomach, but I don’t feel hungry... “All right...” I said. There are no wild animals in this area. I am therefore looking in the bushes and shrubs for berries that could be edible... Nothing. No berries seem to grow. Maybe they don’t even exist in this world. I’m now looking for edible mushrooms at the foot of trees... Found it! I found several bolete mushrooms. Their ‘hats’ are covered with luminous green dots. These green dots are very small, in broad daylight they would be indistinguishable. I don’t know if these mushrooms are poisoned or not. I intend to use [Appraisal], with a little luck the skill will give me an indication about it. | **Mushoinve** | | --- | | **Nature**: Mushroom (common). **Description**: Very toxic mushroom, commonly used as poison. **Effect**: Slow and painful death if swallowed. | Wow!! I did well to check... I quickly move away from these toxic mushrooms and continue my research... I notice, with difficulty, mushrooms of a different type. Well, I think so, because they are in all aspects similar to the mushoinves, except that they have no green dot. I use [Appraisal], without much hope that they will be edible. | **Mushuffe** | | --- | | **Nature**: Mushroom (uncommon). **Description**: Delicious but rare mushroom because it grows among toxic mushrooms. **Effect**: After swallowing, provides a feeling of fullness and satiety. |   “Lucky us! We will be able to eat something tonight!” Said Amelia. I approach my mouth, tear the mushroom with my teeth and begin to taste it. It really tastes good, in addition to being juicy, which quenches my thirst. I take another one... “Hey, don’t eat everything!” Said Amelia “We share the same stomach...” “But I want to know if they are really delicious...” Amelia then put a mushroom in her mouth and start to eat it. “Yummy!” We are now full. So, it’s time to find a place to sleep. “We are going back to the cave to spend the night there.” I said. “OK!” ------------------- Back in the cave, I sit in a corner, as far as possible from the entrance. I try to find a comfortable position in which to lie down. This dragon body is really not practical for that. “Good night Kyle” said Amelia. “Good night” Well, I don’t really intend to sleep, I must stand guard in case magical beasts come during the night... … ---------- “…Wake up! Hey, Kyle wake up! Do you hear me?” I hear a voice calling me... I recognize this voice... Amelia? I wake up abruptly and realize with relief that everything is alright. I... I slept like a baby... I could have died without even realizing it...

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNjNWVmYzkxZWM5ZjQ4MDNhMmUyNmZkNjU1ZjQ4Zjgy">There were just under a dozen girls who worked at the Waters Street Waterhole. Alyssa might have said that a dozen was less than she had expected except she hadn’t really expected anything. Between Tenebrael, killing two people, and nearly getting sold into slavery, she hadn’t thought much about what the actual brothel operation might have been like. The girls were cleaner than expected as well, though the smoke haze still in the air might have disguised their filth a little. Not all of them. Those who had been acting more as waitresses than prostitutes were generally better off. Most wore bodices of some type or another. Of those who wore anything more than a blanket, that was. Presumably the latter group had been in the process of… <span style="font-style: italic">entertaining</span> customers. They tended to be the filthiest as well, covered in a thin layer of grime, sweat, and possibly things that Alyssa would rather not think about.</p> <p class="cnNkOWFmMGNmYzI1ZDRmMzY4N2IzZGQzODY0MTNmNWMy">But even among the cleaner girls, Alyssa did not find the idea of touching them pleasing. Not before they had taken a few showers. And maybe more than that. There probably weren’t STD screenings in this world. Or treatment.</p> <p class="cnMxYzI3ODc2YWMzNzRlZDI4NDY5NmQwMzc5YTY0YWQ5">She really needed to investigate medical magic. Yet another thing to add to her ever growing list.</p> <p class="cnM2ZGJjMzk5NTY3NzQ4NzlhMTBkYWY1OTdjNmIxYzhl">Apart from the girls were the guards. Only six of them. Even with the one that Alyssa had killed and Svotty, the girls outnumbered them. Had there never been a rebellion? Surely one of the girls could have hidden away a makeshift shank if not a proper knife and used it to escape. It made Alyssa question her initial assumption of the dynamics of this brothel. If the girls weren’t here against their will, it might complicate things.</p> <p class="cnNmYzRkYWMzODRmMzQyYjE5OTU2ZGIyMThhZWM4YmFm">As for the guards, they carried themselves differently. While even the cleanest of the girls had a downtrodden and world-weary look to them, the guards were uncertain. No doubt they had heard that Svotty was dead. No doubt that they knew who had killed him. The only one Alyssa recognized was the muscular man who had been guarding the front door. He glared at her with unrestrained anger. Maybe Svotty or the deceased guard had been a friend. Maybe he was angry with himself for allowing her through with her weapons. Maybe he just didn’t like her on principle. She was sort of threatening to kill every one of them if they disobeyed her. No doubt they had all heard about that and just what she could do; both of the injured guards were in the room. The one she had hit in the leg had shabby bandages wrapped completely around his thigh. He looked a bit woozy. Blood loss? The other, looking much better off, had some similar bandages covering his arm. Cid stood behind the entire group, trying hard to avoid Alyssa’s gaze.</p> <p class="cnNmZGVlNjgwN2VlZDQ5YTRiNGRkZTg3YzQyZWMxNDQ2">Both the guards and the women stood apart from each other, two distinct groups. Alyssa couldn’t help but notice that the guards had placed themselves in just such a way as to block the main door from the girls. If they were the only two groups, she might have continued on, but a third group away from the other two had her standing momentarily frozen.</p> <p class="cnM2MTNjNjIxNGEzMDQ2NGJhYjA0NGQ3OTlkMzg2ODNl">They were… girls? No. Definitely girls. There were less of them than the working girls. Only four. All but one of whom were even worse for wear than the worst of the women. They were covered in welts, bruises, marks, and scars. But what had frozen Alyssa in place wasn’t their health, but their very state of being.</p> <p class="cnM5YmM2NDg2ZTc0ZTQ0NWE5MzhlNDE2OTM5M2Y3ZGMw">They weren’t human.</p> <p class="cnM2YjE5OWQ3ZDEyYjQzNTFiNmVmMzJkZThkZDY2MjZj">Two blatantly obviously inhumans, two that weren’t quite so obvious. Bright red scales adorned one, starting just at the sides of her cheeks; they moved down her neck, covered her arms completely, continued down her sides and hips before coating her legs as well. Her torso and face were oddly human where the scales weren’t covering while her legs and arms were more… animalistic. Or reptilistic? She had long nails that might have been sharp claws at one point in time, but were blunt as a spoon at the moment. Her red eyes that matched her hair stared off into space, much like the whipped girl.</p> <p class="cnNkMWI5NTNiOGJhODRmYWVhMWEzNWZmMDY4Yzc1NTYx">To her side was… a bee? Her whole body was covered in yellow and black stripes. Like the lizard, she had a surprisingly human form, except for her face and her abdomen. A thick bulb hung off her lower back, tipped with a single sharp spike that had been flattened like the reptile’s claws. She had two wings as well, thin and transparent and filled with holes. Unnatural holes. More of tears. Probably put there to keep her from flying, or maybe from simple violence. Her mouth lacked lips, being stiff, and had sharp ridges instead that molded into her skin. Or carapace? And her eyes… they were somewhat uncomfortable to look at. Alyssa honestly couldn’t tell what the bee-girl was looking at. They were black and faceted like an over-cut diamond. A single antennae drooped off the top of her head, sticking out through dark hair. Off-center. Were bees supposed to have two?</p> <p class="cnM4ZmFhMTgwN2E1MjQ0MDdiNWM3MmVkODMxZmZmNTM5">The other two could pass for humans. One had off-color skin, almost a bluish black. If not for that and the long ears poking back off her head, she probably would have stood with the other girls. An elf. Alyssa had seen several already, though never up close. As it turned out, she was the one who had been whipped in the main room earlier. In the darkness and smoke haze, Alyssa hadn’t noticed her skin color. Now it was plain and apparent to see that she wasn’t human.</p> <p class="cnM4YWI3MTAwOTdhMjQ4NGQ4YTNkZmZlOTBiY2E3MjY3">Finally, standing in front of them all, was a woman so beautiful, she could have easily been a supermodel. Her skin lacked the injuries and blemishes that the other girls had—both human and monster—and her blond hair had a luscious gloss worthy of a shampoo commercial. She wore a dress as well, an evening gown that practically glowed even in the dim light. None of the monsters wore clothes at all, except for some chains around their wrists and ankles. This woman lacked those. Even comparing with the humans, not a single one wore a garment that could stand up to the dress’ radiance. Except… it all looked fake. Alyssa couldn’t pick out one thing in specific. The hair was just a hint too glossy, the skin too perfect, the dress too expensive. If any one of them were on their own, she might not look at it twice. As it was, it niggled at something in the back of her mind.</p> <p class="cnNhMjVkNzg0ODFhOTQzMjk4YzJhY2M0MDQ3YWY2MGQx">Pushing the thought aside—though if it was magic, she definitely wanted to speak with the beautiful woman later—Alyssa focused on the room as a whole.</p> <p class="cnNlODA0ZGI1ZThkYzQxZTg4M2QxNDNiMzU3YTI4MTdj">“Svotty is dead.”</p> <p class="cnNmMDY2ZGVmMjkzZDRlMDY5ZjkzYTUzNmZjMmQxMDNj">Alyssa glanced around the room, looking for reactions. Overall, everyone was far more subdued than she had expected. The guards weren’t surprised in the slightest, confirming her thought that they already knew. The girls, the human ones, managed to look even more uncertain than they had been before. They glanced between themselves, murmuring softly to one another too quiet for Alyssa to hear. As for the monsters, they barely reacted at all. The elf’s ears perked up ever so slightly. But the bee’s inhuman face was impossible to read and the lizard just continued staring.</p> <p class="cnM4YjE5YTYzMjg2MDRjZDA5MjU2MzYxODdmNDEyNjZm">“I took objection to being sold into his company. I expect you all share a similar sentiment, as such, you’re free to go.” She only needed one or two to stay behind to answer questions. Or rather, she could just follow the women out when they left and ask a few questions then. Or not. Not if she wanted to find whatever stash of cash was sure to be in this place. But she couldn’t tell them to stay behind now, not after telling them they were free. Turning her head to the group of guards, she narrowed her eyes and continued on. “If you try to stop them, I’ll be exceedingly displeased.” Alyssa waited for a moment. No one moved. Did they not understand—</p> <p class="cnMxZjUyMWY5Yzk1MzQ5OWZhNzg2MGY1MmRmMGQ4YmEy">“Go where?” one woman said. A taller one standing in the front, wearing proper if skimpy clothing.</p> <p class="cnNjOGIxNTNmOGNhOTQ0N2M5OTIzM2QzNmM5MzYzN2Vi">“Home. To your family, friends, or…” Alyssa trailed off. A heavy air had settled about the group of prostitutes. It didn’t take much to read their expressions. “Do none of you have homes? Parents? Anything?”</p> <p class="cnNkZGY5ZDhhMzg2ODQwMDE5MTg1NDIwYzJhMGEwZWZm">The lack of response was more than enough in and of itself. If only it stayed that way.</p> <p class="cnNkZDQ0YTRmYjUzYzQyZmM5ZWE3MTdkMDRjMjNlYjgx">A girl—a young girl, far too young for a place like this—started crying. She clutched at the hem of her frilly dress. “M-My father left me here.”</p> <p class="cnNhMThkNDAzZjY0NDQwOTNhNmU4YjEyMjNjOWY3Mjc3">The taller one knelt, rubbing her hand on the younger girl’s back. “Sold her,” she said, bluntly. “Most of us are in the same situation. Whether we were kidnapped or sold, we don’t have anywhere to go.” There was a slight pause as she looked back over her shoulder, as if checking that no one would contradict her, before she turned back to Alyssa. “You might think you’ve done us a kindness, but Svotty gave us shelter and food.”</p> <p class="cnMwY2NhNGEzMzA1MDRjMTJhZTMzZjZlZjlkNDQ2YmZh">Alyssa stared, stunned. If it was just the one woman, she might have considered her an exception. But several of the others nodded along like they agreed. No one argued against it. She could hardly believe it. They wanted to go back to prostituting themselves out? That just didn’t… make sense. At all. How could they not have anywhere to go? What had they been doing before coming here? Apparently being sold by their parents. But that surely wasn’t the case for all of them. Hadn’t the city guards mentioned someone getting kidnapped?</p> <p class="cnNhMDRkNzM5ZmQxYjQ5ZWZhYjhlMWZjOWJmZjE2ZDIy">Her plan was already falling apart. This wasn’t the grateful thanks she had expected. Just the opposite. She had taken away the guards’ employer and the working girls’ meal ticket. Not in a million years could Alyssa imagine <span style="font-style: italic">wanting</span> to whore herself out. Even if she lost everything she had on her, even if her house exploded, she would try hard to find real work long before working in a place like this. Especially because… did these girls even get paid? Were they allowed outside? Days off? Doubtful.</p> <p class="cnMxNmFhZGNhYTNlMjQwMTJiNDc2NzJiZjlmODhjOWU4">A movement in the corner of Alyssa’s vision had her turning to the other group in the room. The monsters. “And what of you lot? You haven’t said anything. What do you…” A thought occurred to her. “Do any of you speak? Can you understand me?”</p> <p class="cnMxMWRmMDgwMjk1NTQyMzdhYTI2MjFlMmNmZDI2MzIx">They definitely understood her. The elf’s brow furrowed while the beautiful woman’s elegant smile turned to a fanciful frown. Though the lizard just continued her vacant stare and the bee-girl’s antennae twitched. All of them, Alyssa noted, had souls. Smaller than human souls with the possible exception of Cid’s rat, but souls nonetheless. The lizard girl had some kind of red and black salamander. It was the smallest of the lot. Bee-girl had a bee, large but insectoid instead of humanoid. The elf had a simple ball of light. There might have been a face in the ball, but it was the first soul she had seen that wasn’t an animal in some form or other. Well, hers and the beautiful woman, depending on the definition of animal. The woman had a human, nude but completely androgynous, hovering just over her left shoulder. It was the largest in the room, but still quite small.</p> <p class="cnMwNzgxMjA0YzNmNTQ4N2ViOTQ3OWI4ODI3YTc2OTM1">Looking around, she couldn’t help but notice that everyone’s souls were small compared to many she had seen on the streets. The guards’ souls were larger than those of the prostitutes on average. The girl with welts on her legs and sides had the smallest soul. A little greyish black snake with an obsidian-black mouth. It was only slightly larger than the lizard girl’s soul. Was there some correlation between them both being reptilian? Or maybe size. What did that mean for Irulon, who had a reptilian dragon that was the size of an already large room?</p> <p class="cnNmYTgxNmVlMDEzOTRkNGRhZGEzMzFhNDkwMDkzNjhh">“We most certainly can speak, thank you very much.”</p> <p class="cnNlNTAyNWUxOTZmZDQ3YWNhMmVmOTY1NGY2MTMyODU5">Alyssa turned back to the beautiful woman. Her glance around the room had probably looked like she had been visually asking the others if the monsters could speak. Not exactly the most polite thing to do, she supposed. Not wanting to offend a potential magic user, Alyssa nodded her head. “I apologize. The only…” Was monster a derogatory term? “<span style="font-style: italic">Nonhuman</span> that I have spoken with didn’t speak so much as she trilled, chirped, and tweeted.”</p> <p class="cnNlOTk4ZTE0YTAxOTQyZGM5YmQzZWVlNzllNWM3NzZl">That got a reaction from near everyone in the room. Though this time, the reactions weren’t split between three camps, but only two. Human and monster. Given that there were so many humans, their reactions did vary. Mostly between narrow-eyed suspicion, disgust, and deep scowling. The monsters, those whose expressions Alyssa could read, looked more thoughtful than angry. Eyebrows rose and eyes softened.</p> <p class="cnM4MTgzMGIyZmQwNzRhNjhiNzliODRhNDZhYzk0NDNl">Pretending she hadn’t noticed, Alyssa ignored it all. “Judging by your companions’ chains, I assume they are not here because they want to be.”</p> <p class="cnM5MWY2NmUwMTEyZTQ2MDg4NGY4ZWZkYTcyZjA4OWE1">“Not at all,” the woman said with a smile. “Some clientele had more <span style="font-style: italic">exotic</span> tastes. Svotty went to great effort to <span style="font-style: italic">satiate</span> those tastes.”</p> <p class="cnM3NDczN2ZiY2IyYjRlNTg4OGE5MmRjMzY4MTg1Njcy">“Depraved tastes!” one of the prostitutes shouted, though Alyssa didn’t catch which.</p> <p class="cnM1MDU2NWVjNTIyZTRiYjQ4MjlhN2MxZjE5NDMwZGM2">But the woman nodded her head. “Ufu~ Indeed. So depraved that they didn’t bother having sex half the time. Instead, they would choose to indulge in the pleasure of violence.”</p> <p class="cnNjMTY5ZGUxYjUwNTQ2Nzg5YTVjNzRjZTBmOTRlYjRi">That explained their wounds. Probably the vacant gaze of the lizard as well. Harpies stealing sheep seemed like a perfectly reasonable thing to be angry over. But monsters in general seemed universally despised. Was there some history behind that? Something that the monsters did to humans? Or was it simple racism? The Fortress of Pandora had to have something to do with it. Looking it up was a lower priority, but definitely something to add to her list.</p> <p class="cnM1MzA2YTc2ZWE5NzRkYzliNzUyNTI3MzE3OGIzNTc2">“What are you?” Alyssa couldn’t help but ask. “You look human, but you aren’t. I can tell that much.”</p> <p class="cnM4MWI4Y2M1NjUwNTQ4OTRiZmZkYjIwNmQzYWZhMDEx">Covering her mouth with the back of her hand, the woman giggled. “I’m whatever you want me to be.”</p> <p class="cnM3MDU5MDU1YmM4YzQwYTViMmJiZDdhOGZmNjcyMjhl">“She’s a mimic.” The guard who had been shot but not in the leg stood up. A shorter, stockier fellow. He had a round face, but piercing eyes as he glared at the so-called mimic. “She turns into whatever she wants. Tries to kill people by becoming their pillows or teacups!” Ah. There must be some history there.</p> <p class="cnM4ZTFlNDlhYTlmMjQwOWE4MGY2ZjIxYzZhMDliZDg5">The mimic just giggled again, not even bothering to deny the accusations.</p> <p class="cnM3ZWRiZGU5NDk5YzRjZWE4N2U3MDEzYWIxNDIxOWU1">“Then why keep her around? Shouldn’t you punish such behavior at least?”</p> <p class="cnM4YjZmMWY0ZjM4YzRkYjRhN2U5MWUzMDM2NTRlOTU3">“W-Well, mimics are weak. None of her attempts succeeded. A-and… she’s the most popular girl by far.”</p> <p class="cnNmODczNjRkYTFkMDRmNTRiMjRlN2U3MmE5MzI1N2E5">Blinking her eyes, Alyssa felt her face heat up as she realized the connotations behind the mimic’s ability. Being able to turn from a beautiful woman to a teacup and, presumably, anything in-between would garner much popularity at a brothel. “With such an ability, surely you could have escaped at any time.”</p> <p class="cnMwYTUyMDc5YTJiMjQ0MDc5Mjk2ZWM2MjM3YWY5NmNh">“And leave behind my sisters to the tender mercies of you <span style="font-style: italic">humans</span>?” Ah. Apparently the hate did go both ways. The way she said <span style="font-style: italic">humans</span> dripped with unbridled loathing. “We can’t just walk out either, even if you say we’re free to go.” Her fingers crawled along the bee-girl’s shoulders, drawing her into a one armed hug. “Can you imagine her trying to go outside? She’d be lynched not ten steps away from the door.”</p> <p class="cnNhNGI2NmNiZWNjNTRjMmViZTE2NDY3N2VlNjc2MjA0">This world was beyond screwed up. Bad things existed on Earth. Human trafficking and forced prostitution among those bad things, even if Alyssa had never known about any specific cases of either. But when people on Earth were saved from such situations, they weren’t left to rot in the streets—or lynched in the streets—they were given help. Probably.</p> <p class="cnMzNzI3MmY3Y2RkZDRjNTFhNTMwMGM3MTBlNzZmMGZh">Right?</p> <p class="cnM1MGYzZGZmMWFhNzRlM2JhNTlhYTJiNjQ0NDMxNjlk">It was doubtful that the same would be true here.</p> <p class="cnM0N2M2ZTg4Njg1NjQ4MDNhMDA1ZDcwNjhjMWZkMWI3">Alyssa rubbed at her forehead. She still had a headache and the haze in the air didn’t help matters. “So either none of you want to leave or none of you can leave.” <span style="font-style: italic">Ugh</span>. What a mess. “Fine. If anyone wants to leave, I won’t stop them and I won’t let anyone else stop them,” she said with a pointed look to the group of guards. “For everyone else, you are free to stay. Svotty may be dead but I’m sure you can figure out how to collect money in return for your… services on your own.” She had a sinking feeling that one of the guards would browbeat his way into Svotty’s position, but Alyssa wasn’t going to babysit them. She had given them an opportunity. Most of the prostitutes were adults. They could make their own decisions. If they thought life would be better here, who was she to convince them otherwise. For all Alyssa knew, this was a decent life—she still lacked so much knowledge about this world.</p> <p class="cnMyMmQ0OTNlNmEzZDQ5NGNiZGNkMjhiZGY1YzdkZjAz">The younger girls, she felt a bit bad about. But it wasn’t like she had the capability to care for someone else. She was still trying to get herself situated.</p> <p class="cnNjNmRiYzdmNDhkNTQ3ODBiN2UxNTIxMDJkNzg2YjBm">Though Alyssa couldn’t just leave. Not yet. She was completely out of money. Her coming here had been supposed to be a business deal. Selling her cloak should have bought her a little more time with money. She couldn’t leave without finding at least a fistful of coins. There would almost certainly be some cash in Svotty’s office. “I’ll remain here for a few minutes while I tend to some matters of my own, so you may take that time to decide whether you truly want to stay or not. After then, I’ll leave. Everything will be up to you at that point.”</p> <p class="cnNjZDMxZmZmY2RmNjRlOThhZjlkMjg5NWI3MTM4OWE3">Turning on her heel, Alyssa flinched. She had forgotten that Bacco was standing so close. Thankfully for her pride, Bacco jumped, stumbled back, and made plenty of space for her to move. She sighed, but couldn’t help but feel that this was more her fault than anything else. Cid and Bacco had given her plenty of chances to run off on her own. Even knowing that they weren’t upstanding people, she had still followed them into such a hive of scum and villainy.</p> <p class="cnM4YTY1MGViMThkNDQ2NGVhYjFkY2ZiZGM4ZTkzNDU4">Finding an inn on the other side of the city might be a good idea. The east side of the city was far nicer than around here. And it had the Observatorium in close proximity. She needed a safe place to leave her pack and to find some clothing that matched the local attire. Something simple. For anything that needed something fancy, such as the Observatorium, she could probably wear one of the dresses she had brought from home. After that, blending in with the populace shouldn’t be too difficult.</p> <p class="cnM0MTA3MzI4YzZlYTQyNGM5MTViZGFhNTM1NjAwOWQ2">Shaking her head, she started toward the stairs, but paused again. Looking over her shoulder, she couldn’t help but frown. The elf had perked up when she had mentioned Svotty’s demise. There was no way that a bunch of monsters, who had almost certainly been kidnapped from their homes, wherever those were, wanted to stick around as literal slaves forced to have sex with humans.</p> <p class="cnNlM2ZlOWQ3YTcwOTQ0MWU4OWVhYmQ4OTAyOGQ5Zjli">An idea popped into her head. Was it a good idea? Time would have to tell. But she would try one more time to help the people here. Some of them, at least. And, at the very least, she might get some information out of this mess after all.</p> <p class="cnM1OGQyYjI3NGZjZDRlOTQ4ODk4YjVkNWYwYjFhZDYz">“Mimic. Would you and the other three meet me downstairs? I have a few questions I would like to ask you before I leave.”</p> <p class="cnM0NDgzYTAyMzg5OTRiMWNhMjJlZTJhZjJmNjdjMTc0">“Questions? Ufu~ I wonder what that could be about.”</p> <p class="cnNkN2UwYjYzZGFlZjRjNDViYzQ3N2VmMWM4Mzk4N2Y0">“Follow me and find out. I’m not forcing you to answer anything. It’s your choice.”</p> <p class="cnM3NGQ1MTkwZmYxYTQwZWNiOTIyMTMzZGM5MzVhNTVk">The mimic giggled again, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. “I haven’t had a choice in much of anything for a long while. Allow me to discuss with the others. Perhaps we’ll take you up on your proposition.”</p> <p class="cnM0OTNlMmQxZjZiMTRiMWVhMjU1NGQ0MzM5OWEyNzQ1">“Good,” Alyssa said with a nod of her head. Without another word, she turned and headed back down to Svotty’s office. She had some looting to do.</p> </div>

There were just under a dozen girls who worked at the Waters Street Waterhole. Alyssa might have said that a dozen was less than she had expected except she hadn’t really expected anything. Between Tenebrael, killing two people, and nearly getting sold into slavery, she hadn’t thought much about what the actual brothel operation might have been like. The girls were cleaner than expected as well, though the smoke haze still in the air might have disguised their filth a little. Not all of them. Those who had been acting more as waitresses than prostitutes were generally better off. Most wore bodices of some type or another. Of those who wore anything more than a blanket, that was. Presumably the latter group had been in the process of… entertaining customers. They tended to be the filthiest as well, covered in a thin layer of grime, sweat, and possibly things that Alyssa would rather not think about. But even among the cleaner girls, Alyssa did not find the idea of touching them pleasing. Not before they had taken a few showers. And maybe more than that. There probably weren’t STD screenings in this world. Or treatment. She really needed to investigate medical magic. Yet another thing to add to her ever growing list. Apart from the girls were the guards. Only six of them. Even with the one that Alyssa had killed and Svotty, the girls outnumbered them. Had there never been a rebellion? Surely one of the girls could have hidden away a makeshift shank if not a proper knife and used it to escape. It made Alyssa question her initial assumption of the dynamics of this brothel. If the girls weren’t here against their will, it might complicate things. As for the guards, they carried themselves differently. While even the cleanest of the girls had a downtrodden and world-weary look to them, the guards were uncertain. No doubt they had heard that Svotty was dead. No doubt that they knew who had killed him. The only one Alyssa recognized was the muscular man who had been guarding the front door. He glared at her with unrestrained anger. Maybe Svotty or the deceased guard had been a friend. Maybe he was angry with himself for allowing her through with her weapons. Maybe he just didn’t like her on principle. She was sort of threatening to kill every one of them if they disobeyed her. No doubt they had all heard about that and just what she could do; both of the injured guards were in the room. The one she had hit in the leg had shabby bandages wrapped completely around his thigh. He looked a bit woozy. Blood loss? The other, looking much better off, had some similar bandages covering his arm. Cid stood behind the entire group, trying hard to avoid Alyssa’s gaze. Both the guards and the women stood apart from each other, two distinct groups. Alyssa couldn’t help but notice that the guards had placed themselves in just such a way as to block the main door from the girls. If they were the only two groups, she might have continued on, but a third group away from the other two had her standing momentarily frozen. They were… girls? No. Definitely girls. There were less of them than the working girls. Only four. All but one of whom were even worse for wear than the worst of the women. They were covered in welts, bruises, marks, and scars. But what had frozen Alyssa in place wasn’t their health, but their very state of being. They weren’t human. Two blatantly obviously inhumans, two that weren’t quite so obvious. Bright red scales adorned one, starting just at the sides of her cheeks; they moved down her neck, covered her arms completely, continued down her sides and hips before coating her legs as well. Her torso and face were oddly human where the scales weren’t covering while her legs and arms were more… animalistic. Or reptilistic? She had long nails that might have been sharp claws at one point in time, but were blunt as a spoon at the moment. Her red eyes that matched her hair stared off into space, much like the whipped girl. To her side was… a bee? Her whole body was covered in yellow and black stripes. Like the lizard, she had a surprisingly human form, except for her face and her abdomen. A thick bulb hung off her lower back, tipped with a single sharp spike that had been flattened like the reptile’s claws. She had two wings as well, thin and transparent and filled with holes. Unnatural holes. More of tears. Probably put there to keep her from flying, or maybe from simple violence. Her mouth lacked lips, being stiff, and had sharp ridges instead that molded into her skin. Or carapace? And her eyes… they were somewhat uncomfortable to look at. Alyssa honestly couldn’t tell what the bee-girl was looking at. They were black and faceted like an over-cut diamond. A single antennae drooped off the top of her head, sticking out through dark hair. Off-center. Were bees supposed to have two? The other two could pass for humans. One had off-color skin, almost a bluish black. If not for that and the long ears poking back off her head, she probably would have stood with the other girls. An elf. Alyssa had seen several already, though never up close. As it turned out, she was the one who had been whipped in the main room earlier. In the darkness and smoke haze, Alyssa hadn’t noticed her skin color. Now it was plain and apparent to see that she wasn’t human. Finally, standing in front of them all, was a woman so beautiful, she could have easily been a supermodel. Her skin lacked the injuries and blemishes that the other girls had—both human and monster—and her blond hair had a luscious gloss worthy of a shampoo commercial. She wore a dress as well, an evening gown that practically glowed even in the dim light. None of the monsters wore clothes at all, except for some chains around their wrists and ankles. This woman lacked those. Even comparing with the humans, not a single one wore a garment that could stand up to the dress’ radiance. Except… it all looked fake. Alyssa couldn’t pick out one thing in specific. The hair was just a hint too glossy, the skin too perfect, the dress too expensive. If any one of them were on their own, she might not look at it twice. As it was, it niggled at something in the back of her mind. Pushing the thought aside—though if it was magic, she definitely wanted to speak with the beautiful woman later—Alyssa focused on the room as a whole. “Svotty is dead.” Alyssa glanced around the room, looking for reactions. Overall, everyone was far more subdued than she had expected. The guards weren’t surprised in the slightest, confirming her thought that they already knew. The girls, the human ones, managed to look even more uncertain than they had been before. They glanced between themselves, murmuring softly to one another too quiet for Alyssa to hear. As for the monsters, they barely reacted at all. The elf’s ears perked up ever so slightly. But the bee’s inhuman face was impossible to read and the lizard just continued staring. “I took objection to being sold into his company. I expect you all share a similar sentiment, as such, you’re free to go.” She only needed one or two to stay behind to answer questions. Or rather, she could just follow the women out when they left and ask a few questions then. Or not. Not if she wanted to find whatever stash of cash was sure to be in this place. But she couldn’t tell them to stay behind now, not after telling them they were free. Turning her head to the group of guards, she narrowed her eyes and continued on. “If you try to stop them, I’ll be exceedingly displeased.” Alyssa waited for a moment. No one moved. Did they not understand— “Go where?” one woman said. A taller one standing in the front, wearing proper if skimpy clothing. “Home. To your family, friends, or…” Alyssa trailed off. A heavy air had settled about the group of prostitutes. It didn’t take much to read their expressions. “Do none of you have homes? Parents? Anything?” The lack of response was more than enough in and of itself. If only it stayed that way. A girl—a young girl, far too young for a place like this—started crying. She clutched at the hem of her frilly dress. “M-My father left me here.” The taller one knelt, rubbing her hand on the younger girl’s back. “Sold her,” she said, bluntly. “Most of us are in the same situation. Whether we were kidnapped or sold, we don’t have anywhere to go.” There was a slight pause as she looked back over her shoulder, as if checking that no one would contradict her, before she turned back to Alyssa. “You might think you’ve done us a kindness, but Svotty gave us shelter and food.” Alyssa stared, stunned. If it was just the one woman, she might have considered her an exception. But several of the others nodded along like they agreed. No one argued against it. She could hardly believe it. They wanted to go back to prostituting themselves out? That just didn’t… make sense. At all. How could they not have anywhere to go? What had they been doing before coming here? Apparently being sold by their parents. But that surely wasn’t the case for all of them. Hadn’t the city guards mentioned someone getting kidnapped? Her plan was already falling apart. This wasn’t the grateful thanks she had expected. Just the opposite. She had taken away the guards’ employer and the working girls’ meal ticket. Not in a million years could Alyssa imagine wanting to whore herself out. Even if she lost everything she had on her, even if her house exploded, she would try hard to find real work long before working in a place like this. Especially because… did these girls even get paid? Were they allowed outside? Days off? Doubtful. A movement in the corner of Alyssa’s vision had her turning to the other group in the room. The monsters. “And what of you lot? You haven’t said anything. What do you…” A thought occurred to her. “Do any of you speak? Can you understand me?” They definitely understood her. The elf’s brow furrowed while the beautiful woman’s elegant smile turned to a fanciful frown. Though the lizard just continued her vacant stare and the bee-girl’s antennae twitched. All of them, Alyssa noted, had souls. Smaller than human souls with the possible exception of Cid’s rat, but souls nonetheless. The lizard girl had some kind of red and black salamander. It was the smallest of the lot. Bee-girl had a bee, large but insectoid instead of humanoid. The elf had a simple ball of light. There might have been a face in the ball, but it was the first soul she had seen that wasn’t an animal in some form or other. Well, hers and the beautiful woman, depending on the definition of animal. The woman had a human, nude but completely androgynous, hovering just over her left shoulder. It was the largest in the room, but still quite small. Looking around, she couldn’t help but notice that everyone’s souls were small compared to many she had seen on the streets. The guards’ souls were larger than those of the prostitutes on average. The girl with welts on her legs and sides had the smallest soul. A little greyish black snake with an obsidian-black mouth. It was only slightly larger than the lizard girl’s soul. Was there some correlation between them both being reptilian? Or maybe size. What did that mean for Irulon, who had a reptilian dragon that was the size of an already large room? “We most certainly can speak, thank you very much.” Alyssa turned back to the beautiful woman. Her glance around the room had probably looked like she had been visually asking the others if the monsters could speak. Not exactly the most polite thing to do, she supposed. Not wanting to offend a potential magic user, Alyssa nodded her head. “I apologize. The only…” Was monster a derogatory term? “Nonhuman that I have spoken with didn’t speak so much as she trilled, chirped, and tweeted.” That got a reaction from near everyone in the room. Though this time, the reactions weren’t split between three camps, but only two. Human and monster. Given that there were so many humans, their reactions did vary. Mostly between narrow-eyed suspicion, disgust, and deep scowling. The monsters, those whose expressions Alyssa could read, looked more thoughtful than angry. Eyebrows rose and eyes softened. Pretending she hadn’t noticed, Alyssa ignored it all. “Judging by your companions’ chains, I assume they are not here because they want to be.” “Not at all,” the woman said with a smile. “Some clientele had more exotic tastes. Svotty went to great effort to satiate those tastes.” “Depraved tastes!” one of the prostitutes shouted, though Alyssa didn’t catch which. But the woman nodded her head. “Ufu~ Indeed. So depraved that they didn’t bother having sex half the time. Instead, they would choose to indulge in the pleasure of violence.” That explained their wounds. Probably the vacant gaze of the lizard as well. Harpies stealing sheep seemed like a perfectly reasonable thing to be angry over. But monsters in general seemed universally despised. Was there some history behind that? Something that the monsters did to humans? Or was it simple racism? The Fortress of Pandora had to have something to do with it. Looking it up was a lower priority, but definitely something to add to her list. “What are you?” Alyssa couldn’t help but ask. “You look human, but you aren’t. I can tell that much.” Covering her mouth with the back of her hand, the woman giggled. “I’m whatever you want me to be.” “She’s a mimic.” The guard who had been shot but not in the leg stood up. A shorter, stockier fellow. He had a round face, but piercing eyes as he glared at the so-called mimic. “She turns into whatever she wants. Tries to kill people by becoming their pillows or teacups!” Ah. There must be some history there. The mimic just giggled again, not even bothering to deny the accusations. “Then why keep her around? Shouldn’t you punish such behavior at least?” “W-Well, mimics are weak. None of her attempts succeeded. A-and… she’s the most popular girl by far.” Blinking her eyes, Alyssa felt her face heat up as she realized the connotations behind the mimic’s ability. Being able to turn from a beautiful woman to a teacup and, presumably, anything in-between would garner much popularity at a brothel. “With such an ability, surely you could have escaped at any time.” “And leave behind my sisters to the tender mercies of you humans?” Ah. Apparently the hate did go both ways. The way she said humans dripped with unbridled loathing. “We can’t just walk out either, even if you say we’re free to go.” Her fingers crawled along the bee-girl’s shoulders, drawing her into a one armed hug. “Can you imagine her trying to go outside? She’d be lynched not ten steps away from the door.” This world was beyond screwed up. Bad things existed on Earth. Human trafficking and forced prostitution among those bad things, even if Alyssa had never known about any specific cases of either. But when people on Earth were saved from such situations, they weren’t left to rot in the streets—or lynched in the streets—they were given help. Probably. Right? It was doubtful that the same would be true here. Alyssa rubbed at her forehead. She still had a headache and the haze in the air didn’t help matters. “So either none of you want to leave or none of you can leave.” Ugh. What a mess. “Fine. If anyone wants to leave, I won’t stop them and I won’t let anyone else stop them,” she said with a pointed look to the group of guards. “For everyone else, you are free to stay. Svotty may be dead but I’m sure you can figure out how to collect money in return for your… services on your own.” She had a sinking feeling that one of the guards would browbeat his way into Svotty’s position, but Alyssa wasn’t going to babysit them. She had given them an opportunity. Most of the prostitutes were adults. They could make their own decisions. If they thought life would be better here, who was she to convince them otherwise. For all Alyssa knew, this was a decent life—she still lacked so much knowledge about this world. The younger girls, she felt a bit bad about. But it wasn’t like she had the capability to care for someone else. She was still trying to get herself situated. Though Alyssa couldn’t just leave. Not yet. She was completely out of money. Her coming here had been supposed to be a business deal. Selling her cloak should have bought her a little more time with money. She couldn’t leave without finding at least a fistful of coins. There would almost certainly be some cash in Svotty’s office. “I’ll remain here for a few minutes while I tend to some matters of my own, so you may take that time to decide whether you truly want to stay or not. After then, I’ll leave. Everything will be up to you at that point.” Turning on her heel, Alyssa flinched. She had forgotten that Bacco was standing so close. Thankfully for her pride, Bacco jumped, stumbled back, and made plenty of space for her to move. She sighed, but couldn’t help but feel that this was more her fault than anything else. Cid and Bacco had given her plenty of chances to run off on her own. Even knowing that they weren’t upstanding people, she had still followed them into such a hive of scum and villainy. Finding an inn on the other side of the city might be a good idea. The east side of the city was far nicer than around here. And it had the Observatorium in close proximity. She needed a safe place to leave her pack and to find some clothing that matched the local attire. Something simple. For anything that needed something fancy, such as the Observatorium, she could probably wear one of the dresses she had brought from home. After that, blending in with the populace shouldn’t be too difficult. Shaking her head, she started toward the stairs, but paused again. Looking over her shoulder, she couldn’t help but frown. The elf had perked up when she had mentioned Svotty’s demise. There was no way that a bunch of monsters, who had almost certainly been kidnapped from their homes, wherever those were, wanted to stick around as literal slaves forced to have sex with humans. An idea popped into her head. Was it a good idea? Time would have to tell. But she would try one more time to help the people here. Some of them, at least. And, at the very least, she might get some information out of this mess after all. “Mimic. Would you and the other three meet me downstairs? I have a few questions I would like to ask you before I leave.” “Questions? Ufu~ I wonder what that could be about.” “Follow me and find out. I’m not forcing you to answer anything. It’s your choice.” The mimic giggled again, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. “I haven’t had a choice in much of anything for a long while. Allow me to discuss with the others. Perhaps we’ll take you up on your proposition.” “Good,” Alyssa said with a nod of her head. Without another word, she turned and headed back down to Svotty’s office. She had some looting to do.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNjZDY5ODc5MDZiOTQ5NjU4ZGRlZmEwM2I1MTIyYWQ3">After his binge recording the previous day Saturn still hadn't been satisfied so he brought his guitar to work and left in with Luther. He also told him the drum part of the song so that he could practice. Once he did all that Saturn went about his work day.</p> <p class="cnMyYTAyMzY2N2I0YTRhZTY4ZTcyMjkwYzI1M2UyODkz">It was a pretty average work day. Went in played fairly advanced songs that he had been practicing. He got around three hundred dollars in tips. He had Chinese with Samantha who didn't drop anymore hints asking him out. Apparently she got herself a boyfriend; at least that's what Saturn heard from one of Samantha's coworkers.</p> <p class="cnNlNjA2NDJjZGI2NzQwZDU4NGNiMDUzODgwMjZmMDVj">The entire day Saturn stayed excited, not as much as yesterday though.</p> <p class="cnNhMWFhZmI4YzUwMzQ4N2JhZjc3YzQzYjcwNDcyMWEx">" Alright Luther this song is called " Lady in Black ".</p> <p class="cnM3YzNmZWQzMjU3YjQ3OTFiMzkxYTM3MjdjMzYxNmJj">" Alright Saturn, ready when you are. "</p> <p class="cnNmYzdhNjkxZWIxODRhNmQ4ZjEzMDQ1MGE1NWZmMjBk">Saturn really liked the song when he came about it while trying to remember all his past lives memories. He really liked the song an knew that he had to introduce it to his world.</p> <p class="cnMxYzRiNjE0YTdhODQzMzJhMGM4ODI1NGE3ZjcyYTll">The only problem was that he had a bit of trouble deciding which voice to go with though. He found a couple different versions of the song that had minute differences despite being sung by the same person. He had narrowed his choices down to two voices. One was a live voice that had more charisma and emotion while the other was a recorded version; the recorded version sounded more professional with a wider vocal range. After much deliberation Saturn decided to go with the recorded voice.</p> <p class="cnMxOGY5OThmOTMzODQzZDA5NTQ2YjM2MDc4YzZlNDhi">Saturn was holding one of the acoustic guitars from Luther's shop.</p> <p class="cnM1ZmMxOGFmMGFjMTRmMmM4NjNjY2Q0NTljOGRjN2E5">He started playing the guitar. A few seconds he started singing.</p> <p class="cnNiZmZkNDI2MTczNDQwYmE4ZWE5NzA4MzY4NzZlMWNl">Saturn had a small smirk on his face, completely different from his usual look. He was standing as opposed to sitting on the stool that was in the booth, he did this because he would always shuffle along with the music; he wouldn't be able to if he was sitting.</p> <p class="cnMxODY4NWI1OWU4NDQ0NjRhNTMwMTYyMDMzODljYjRm">Luther was also nodding his head, he really liked the mood and general effect of the song. It was such a good song and yet Luther had never heard any other kind of song of the genre which surprised him.</p> <p class="cnNlZWZmYWE1NTAyMTRmZDc4NmIyYzkzMjE0YjEzMDU3">One should understand that in Luther's and Saturn's world the most popular type's of music were instrumental metal music, Memphis rap ( though it isn't called that ), and pop music. Most other genres don't get much play time on the radio and if one wanted to listen to them they would have to use a media streaming app; which is inconvenient to use when someone wants to find rough diamonds. Most of what you'd find is average and boring.</p> <p class="cnMyZGYwZjI4ZTc2ZDQzZDY4YjIxOGMzYzJiYWFjMGU1">That means that most don't actually listen to anything other than the three most popular genres. Though recently there had been some movements to get other genres more popular.</p> <p class="cnM4YTYxZjlkNjk0NjRlOTliYzg1MmYzZGUwOTU1MjM3">Luther was someone who would tried getting different genres recognized, but he didn't have much an internet presence.</p> <p class="cnNmOWQ3OTQ3MTY1OTQzYTM4NDk0ZDRkNGY4YWM4ZGYz">That's one of the reasons he appreciates Saturn. Since Saturn didn't do the common types of music.</p> <p class="cnNkZWFjMmM2NmZlMTQyN2ZhMDBhNGJiM2Q5ZjcxMGJl">" So how was that Luther? "</p> <p class="cnNkZTg3YzJmNGFjMDRjNzRiYzE5ZDg1Y2RiZWEzOGEz">" Amazing, I can't wait till we get the song done and out in the world. "</p> <p class="cnNmOWQ4MjE1ODcwNzRhYTBiNDAzNWIwMjBmZDhkZjhj">The old man was really passionate and some of that rubbed off onto Saturn.</p> <p class="cnM3NDUzMjk1ZmU5NzQyYzhhYjFlNjdmMWZhYzBlM2Iz">" Then get in here, you've been practicing what I showed you right? "</p> <p class="cnM4M2IwNmRlM2I2MDQxMTFhYTI5YmMyZTE0ZjZiNzkx">" You know I have. "</p> <p class="cnM5NDU5ZjZiM2FhODRlYWM4Y2YzNzM4MjkzZTRhMjlj">After that the older fellow walked into the booth and sat at the drums. Saturn went out into the studio area and put on the massive headphones.</p> <p class="cnMyOTRjOWU0MDliZTQ4YjNhMjViNGEyODBiNGM0YjVj">The old man sat down and started nodding his head to set a tempo for himself. He always did it before he started playing his drums.</p> <p class="cnM1MDkyYzI4MTBjNzRkNzJiYTM3MzVlMGVkYTJjMGJl">Luther was a man who always had the dream of being a musician and owning a music shop. Even when he was a kid he practiced drums and when he went into the military he practiced when he could. Though he couldn't practice actually playing drums he practiced rhythm and tempo and other vital skills for a drummer.</p> <p class="cnNmZmI3NTAxOTIxODRlMWJiNWQzMmJlZmRmNzE1Zjdj">Even despite getting upwards in age he never lost his touch and instead kept getting better. Saturn could tell the man's passion and enjoyment towards playing the drums just from the way he sat at the drums. The man radiated excitement.</p> <p class="cnNiMTdhNGU5YWEwNzRlYzhhM2VmZjU4ODczNTUwNzJm">A few seconds later Luther started playing drums in time with the music. He did it perfectly too.</p> <p class="cnM5ZjZhNmY0ZTc1MDRjODRiMDllZTA0ODFiMzc2Y2Vh">What Saturn didn't know though was that matching the drums with the music is harder than vice versa.</p> <p class="cnM5MDViOGMwYmU2ZDQ4Mzg5MTllNjM5YTkyZWQxMGIy">The two spent around two hours to get everything recorded and put together. By the time they were done both of them were starving.</p> <p class="cnMwNTRmNzllZjZkMzRhMWM4NDk2MmY2ZjYzNWE4ODU1">" Luther, once again thank you for everything. How about I treat you to dinner. "</p> <p class="cnM0OTcyMTUzNjEwYjQ1MWM5ZGYxOWMzNWM0NGY1ZWQy">" I appreciate the offer but my family and I have plans. We have this weekly dinner thing that we do so that we know what's happening with each other. It was something that my wife started. "</p> <p class="cnM1NTg1MDkwZjgxMzRjNDI4OWJiYjA0ZjI2NWNmNWQz">" That's really nice Luther. Your wife sounds like a wonderful woman. "</p> <p class="cnMxOGQ0M2MxMjAwZjQ3NmI4NTQzYmQ0NTc5YWUwZTYy">Luther smiled, but what he said next didn't really match.</p> <p class="cnNmOWQ4OGJjYmEwYjQ5Y2ZhNTU1ZDY3MDEzMTI2Yzc3">" She hated everybody but me and our kids. She was basically the definition of anti-social. "</p> <p class="cnMwZGVmNGVhMmEyZjQxN2Y4ZTM1ZDJiNDVmZDczNTYx">Saturn didn't know how to respond.</p> <p class="cnNhZWE4NjJiNDY2MTRhZDI4YWFkMGM4NjFiZGEyMjVh">" Oh. "</p> <p class="cnMxN2Q4M2M2ZmY3MDQ1MDc5MDYyOWUwNjQwYzNiNzZj">" Anyway I'll see ya tomorrow Saturn, are you wanting to do any more recording tomorrow. "</p> <p class="cnM0M2NlYmY0YjBhZDQzMGQ5YzQ4OTJiODMwMGU4YTky">" Naw I have a song I want to do, but it'll take a few days of practice. How about we meet up a week from now. I'll email you the drums section. "</p> <p class="cnMwMWJiZDk3ZjQzYjQ0MjQ4ZDU5MzRlNzAzYjgxMDZh">" What's the part you'll have problems with? "</p> <p class="cnM5ZmM1M2IzYjYyYzQxODU4OTdlOGNhYzNmMjFlY2Rm">" The vocals. I am doing something different from normal singing. "</p> <p class="cnMxZTYxZjMzMWNmMTRhNTY5ZjI1OGM1ZGE5MjIyZjc2">" Then how about we record everything else and get everything perfect. Rather than winging it like usual. "</p> <p class="cnMwZjc5NGU3MGNmNjRlZjI4M2RhYzc3ODA2MWVlNzNh">" Leave it to the old man to come up with the wise decision. "</p> <p class="cnNkN2E5OGUwNGZlYjQxMTA5MzAxNzY1YjYxMzAxZWZl">" Well if age did anything for me it gave me wisdom. For every wrinkle on my face I got a bit more wisdom. "</p> <p class="cnMzMzhjN2M5YTcxYTRmNGJhM2EyZGMxMmRiNjczODY3">" Bit to much. "</p> <p class="cnMyNzQxYmQ5MWM0MzQ1MTBiZjJkYzY4MGI0ODBlMjUw">" Sccrrreeeewwwww you man. "</p> <p class="cnMxMzU1OThkMGMwNDQzNDliZWUxNWRlM2E0ZWMxMWJh">" Hehe. See you tomorrow Luther. "</p> <p class="cnNjYjcwMTU4ZjIzNTQxMDNiN2FhOWQxNGYyYjVjZjEx">" See ya. "</p> <p class="cnNiNDc2ZDI4MjI2MjQ0MTU4ZDZiZmE3ZWJlZDMyN2Iz">( I seriously considered having Luther die, but I think I'll let ya'll get more attached before killing him off. 😇 )</p> <p class="cnM3ZDUwN2NmMDFiZDQ5NjhhMTFiNTJmY2MwZGNiMDE0">Saturn put away his guitar and left Luther's store. He left through the rear door since the main entrance was closed. He left towards the parking lot. His tahoe was out there all on it's lonesome except for one tiny little silver sedan. Saturn knew it wasn't Luther's so he was curious about who the car belonged to. In the end though he didn't think much about it.</p> <p class="cnM3NGU2Mjc2Yzc1NTRmMjZiMGRjNTRhY2EyNmVlMWU5">As he was walking past it he glanced inside and saw Samantha crying in the front seat. He hand't seen her from the side since her windows were tinted except for the front and rear wind shield. Saturn contemplated going towards her. In the end he decided to put his guitar away before trying to talk to her.</p> <p class="cnM5NjU0NDE2MTQ5MzQ0NTY4ODc1ZjQ3YzRiOTY2MmUw">So he put his guitar in the trunk before he walked to her drivers side window. The young woman didn't see him doing any of that since she had her head leaning on her steering wheel while crying. Saturn tapped on window lightly.</p> <p class="cnMyMjQyNmEzMDNlZjQzODNhOWM1ZmNjMmRkYTQ2MDZi">He barely kept himself from cracking up when she jumped up from fear. When she realized it was Saturn though she relaxed and rolled down her window.</p> <p class="cnM1OWYyMmY0OTU1MjQ5NjJiOGQwNGRiOTg3ZDc2MWU0">" What the hell Saturn, you scared the hell out of me. "</p> <p class="cnNmMzg5Zjk1MjJlZjQwNGU4YTBhNmJiNDI0ZjNiMGIw">" Sorry Sam, I saw you crying and was kind of worried. "</p> <p class="cnM3MDAwZTJhOGY0MjQ5OWY5N2MyMzVlNzkyNmU1NjM2">" Thanks, I was supposed to meet this guy so we could go on a date, but he stood me up, again. I don't know why, I just couldn't handle it and well . . . . You see what happened. "</p> <p class="cnM5NTk1NTdmMjIyNDQwNGE5NmQ5YjYwNzhkMGM3MTE3">" I'm sorry Sam, anything I can do to help? "</p> <p class="cnM2ZWUxYTk3NDZmMTRiZjA5ZmFhNmUzZmZkZmU4MmZh">" I doubt you could beat him up could you? "</p> <p class="cnM4ZmZiOTM1OTcyMDRhOGM4MWQ5YzQxMjIyM2NjMGQ2">" I could, but I have to keep up my good behavior. I have an assessment soon and I don't want to go back to jail. "</p> <p class="cnNlMmQ2YjRkMjFhYzQxMWViZjg5NzVkMDJmOTc2ZGQx">" Then would you like to go out to eat, I could use someone to vent on. "</p> <p class="cnNlM2ZhNzkyZjhjYjQ5NTBhNTJiOGI0YThlNjQ3YTRi">Saturn hesitated a little. He didn't understand why she would want him to go with her, but he did kind of feel bad for her. In the end he relented to her cute puppy dog eye's.</p> <p class="cnNmOGQ2ZmY4MGZmMzRhZGM5NDkzNjA3MDY1M2JiODU4">" Sure you lead I'll follow you. "</p> <p class="cnMwZWVhY2I4NmI3YjRlZDViNDBlZTk4ZmQ3YTlhNGVj">Samantha smiled.</p> <p class="cnNlZjQzZjM2ZGMxMzRkY2FhNmU3MzUwZDhjMWU2Yzdj">" Sweet, thanks Saturn. "</p> <p class="cnM5MmRlY2M3MjJlNzQ1ZDZiYzUwYjMwMWY0Yzk4Yjk3">" Yeah, yeah. "</p> <p class="cnM0ZDcyODQ4MDdkNTQ0YjY5MTM0OWNiNGQ2MGRjYzQ0">After that Samantha lead Saturn to a pretty nice restaurant. On the way the two had played around a little with Saturn speeding past her on the road. Or when the stopped at a red light he would rev his car, the universal sign for a race. Saturn had also texted his mother he would be late and explained the situation. His mother responded with a single sentence text.</p> <p class="cnMzZTJjOGVhYWFjMTRiODI5YWMxYTc5N2E3NDVlN2Q3">" If she drags you back to her house, remember to use protection. "</p> <p class="cnNmZTcwOTcxZmFlNjQ2MjY4NjZlYjYwMjkwMTU0Mjc3">Saturn didn't understand and sent her a text.</p> <p class="cnM3YWVmM2Q5ZjA4ZjQ2ZGY4MTM5MzdiZDc4ZGNlZDZi">" Mom she's so small that she could wail on me for an hour and do zero damage. I don't think I'd need protection. "</p> <p class="cnM3MjA1ZWE3N2I0OTQxOGJiMGNhYmI2ZTRlYmQ1ODll">Amelia was cracking up on her end, but she sent a serious text.</p> <p class="cnMyMGMzZmEwNDRkMjRhNGZhNWQ1OTg2MmE1NWU1ZmZm">" I meant a condom idiot. "</p> <p class="cnMxZjFkY2JjMzkwODQ3ZGI4MzRlZGI3ZWM5YTg0YTQ4">Saturn was surprised and felt kind of awkward so he just used his cop out response.</p> <p class="cnNjOGY0MmY4Zjg4OTQ3ODY4YjBjNDFkNGY5OGJkOTUx">" Oh. "</p> <p class="cnNlZjIzMTA5MTU5NzRhNjJiNDMzMGIyYjgxYmZhMzAx">The two pulled into the restaurant together. Conveniently the two found two open spots directly beside each other. ( PLOT ARMOUR. Please don't rage. )</p> <p class="cnNkMzgxMTMwZWZjZTRlMWI5ZTY5YjIxY2EyMTM0MWY0">The two walked together into the Chinese restaurant. Apparently Samantha took Saturn into consideration when deciding where to eat. Saturn was still in his suit that he wore at work while Samantha was wearing a pair of really tight pair of high waist jeans and a crop top.</p> <p class="cnMwYzViNTliZGRkMjRhMGZhZWNkODcxNzJiNDRlOTc4">( I don't know if I am thinking of the right clothes. If I am, then I must say that such a pair of clothes are my favorite out fit to see ladies wear. Is that to personal? )</p> <p class="cnNjNjRjYjVmNjJmMjQyMjQ5OGFiOWM5YmY0MTFkMGQ5">Saturn thought that Sam looked gorgeous, but he wouldn't say it.</p> <p class="cnMzYTFmMjZmODEyOTQ3OTViODE0MjVkZDVmNjYzZDE1">When the two walked in a middle aged Asian woman lead them to a booth. Saturn ordered water while Sam ordered hot tea.</p> <p class="cnM5OTQzYjdjODg3NTQ2ZDliNWIzYTY4MjU2ZmY4YWVk">After that Sam proceeded to vent on Saturn for an hour straight at least. Saturn didn't count. She kept talking about gut problems, as though Saturn was that cliche gay friend. She also complained about her boss and co workers and her school problems. Saturn hadn't known that she was in college. What surprised him even more was that she majored in criminal psychology. She minored in linguistics.</p> <p class="cnNmM2Y2YTEzZDdhMzQyZGY5ZDRhYmIwOTczODRiMzY3">At that point the conversation branched out from her complaining to a real conversation. They talked about how Saturn was interested in learning a different language, Scots/ Gaelic specifically. Sam talked about wanting to own her own clothing company. Saturn then talked about how he took her advice and started uploading and recording his music onto WeStream. Sam promised to check it out and subscribe. Eventually after two hours they decided to leave.</p> <p class="cnNkNzgzMTBlODM2ODRhNWZhMjdkNjNjMzhkYTYxYTIy">" Anyway, if you want you can stay the night at my place. "</p> <p class="cnNlYmJjMTdjN2JmZjRiMWQ4OGE3YjFmZmE4OTMyZGI1">" Sam, I'm flattered, but not right now. Maybe in the future. "</p> <p class="cnM4MmQxOWU4MjhiNTQzOTdiOTQxOTFmMDgyOTJiOWY5">Samantha just nodded her head and hopped in her car. Not before handing Saturn a note.</p> <p class="cnM4Y2M5MjYyYWJiNDRhMzNhNmJiOTNmMWIwNmNlYzFk">" Call me when you're ready. "</p> <p class="cnMzNzYyZTRkZDhiNzRjMzI4NmM1NGQ0ZmJkNzBlMzg0">On the note was her phone number with a kissy face emoji. Saturn just smiled and watched her leave.</p> <p class="cnMwNzAxNWMxNzU5NDRhN2RhYjUzNDVhMWMyNDM1NmQ1">On his way back home he thought about if he wanted a girlfriend. He also thought about all of Samantha's good points.</p> <p class="cnM3NzFlMTNlZjkwZDQzNjNhMjkyYjI3OTgxOWJmNjRj">She's pretty, smart, has her own job, she is also hilarious. She was basically the ideal girlfriend for Saturn. Most important for him though is that she had a phat ass from her physical training.</p> <p class="cnM2NTlmM2FlMDg2OTRmZjBhMTllMTNhMzIzMTUyNTNm">Saturn just shook his head at that point and focused on driving home.</p> </div>

After his binge recording the previous day Saturn still hadn't been satisfied so he brought his guitar to work and left in with Luther. He also told him the drum part of the song so that he could practice. Once he did all that Saturn went about his work day. It was a pretty average work day. Went in played fairly advanced songs that he had been practicing. He got around three hundred dollars in tips. He had Chinese with Samantha who didn't drop anymore hints asking him out. Apparently she got herself a boyfriend; at least that's what Saturn heard from one of Samantha's coworkers. The entire day Saturn stayed excited, not as much as yesterday though. " Alright Luther this song is called " Lady in Black ". " Alright Saturn, ready when you are. " Saturn really liked the song when he came about it while trying to remember all his past lives memories. He really liked the song an knew that he had to introduce it to his world. The only problem was that he had a bit of trouble deciding which voice to go with though. He found a couple different versions of the song that had minute differences despite being sung by the same person. He had narrowed his choices down to two voices. One was a live voice that had more charisma and emotion while the other was a recorded version; the recorded version sounded more professional with a wider vocal range. After much deliberation Saturn decided to go with the recorded voice. Saturn was holding one of the acoustic guitars from Luther's shop. He started playing the guitar. A few seconds he started singing. Saturn had a small smirk on his face, completely different from his usual look. He was standing as opposed to sitting on the stool that was in the booth, he did this because he would always shuffle along with the music; he wouldn't be able to if he was sitting. Luther was also nodding his head, he really liked the mood and general effect of the song. It was such a good song and yet Luther had never heard any other kind of song of the genre which surprised him. One should understand that in Luther's and Saturn's world the most popular type's of music were instrumental metal music, Memphis rap ( though it isn't called that ), and pop music. Most other genres don't get much play time on the radio and if one wanted to listen to them they would have to use a media streaming app; which is inconvenient to use when someone wants to find rough diamonds. Most of what you'd find is average and boring. That means that most don't actually listen to anything other than the three most popular genres. Though recently there had been some movements to get other genres more popular. Luther was someone who would tried getting different genres recognized, but he didn't have much an internet presence. That's one of the reasons he appreciates Saturn. Since Saturn didn't do the common types of music. " So how was that Luther? " " Amazing, I can't wait till we get the song done and out in the world. " The old man was really passionate and some of that rubbed off onto Saturn. " Then get in here, you've been practicing what I showed you right? " " You know I have. " After that the older fellow walked into the booth and sat at the drums. Saturn went out into the studio area and put on the massive headphones. The old man sat down and started nodding his head to set a tempo for himself. He always did it before he started playing his drums. Luther was a man who always had the dream of being a musician and owning a music shop. Even when he was a kid he practiced drums and when he went into the military he practiced when he could. Though he couldn't practice actually playing drums he practiced rhythm and tempo and other vital skills for a drummer. Even despite getting upwards in age he never lost his touch and instead kept getting better. Saturn could tell the man's passion and enjoyment towards playing the drums just from the way he sat at the drums. The man radiated excitement. A few seconds later Luther started playing drums in time with the music. He did it perfectly too. What Saturn didn't know though was that matching the drums with the music is harder than vice versa. The two spent around two hours to get everything recorded and put together. By the time they were done both of them were starving. " Luther, once again thank you for everything. How about I treat you to dinner. " " I appreciate the offer but my family and I have plans. We have this weekly dinner thing that we do so that we know what's happening with each other. It was something that my wife started. " " That's really nice Luther. Your wife sounds like a wonderful woman. " Luther smiled, but what he said next didn't really match. " She hated everybody but me and our kids. She was basically the definition of anti-social. " Saturn didn't know how to respond. " Oh. " " Anyway I'll see ya tomorrow Saturn, are you wanting to do any more recording tomorrow. " " Naw I have a song I want to do, but it'll take a few days of practice. How about we meet up a week from now. I'll email you the drums section. " " What's the part you'll have problems with? " " The vocals. I am doing something different from normal singing. " " Then how about we record everything else and get everything perfect. Rather than winging it like usual. " " Leave it to the old man to come up with the wise decision. " " Well if age did anything for me it gave me wisdom. For every wrinkle on my face I got a bit more wisdom. " " Bit to much. " " Sccrrreeeewwwww you man. " " Hehe. See you tomorrow Luther. " " See ya. " ( I seriously considered having Luther die, but I think I'll let ya'll get more attached before killing him off. 😇 ) Saturn put away his guitar and left Luther's store. He left through the rear door since the main entrance was closed. He left towards the parking lot. His tahoe was out there all on it's lonesome except for one tiny little silver sedan. Saturn knew it wasn't Luther's so he was curious about who the car belonged to. In the end though he didn't think much about it. As he was walking past it he glanced inside and saw Samantha crying in the front seat. He hand't seen her from the side since her windows were tinted except for the front and rear wind shield. Saturn contemplated going towards her. In the end he decided to put his guitar away before trying to talk to her. So he put his guitar in the trunk before he walked to her drivers side window. The young woman didn't see him doing any of that since she had her head leaning on her steering wheel while crying. Saturn tapped on window lightly. He barely kept himself from cracking up when she jumped up from fear. When she realized it was Saturn though she relaxed and rolled down her window. " What the hell Saturn, you scared the hell out of me. " " Sorry Sam, I saw you crying and was kind of worried. " " Thanks, I was supposed to meet this guy so we could go on a date, but he stood me up, again. I don't know why, I just couldn't handle it and well . . . . You see what happened. " " I'm sorry Sam, anything I can do to help? " " I doubt you could beat him up could you? " " I could, but I have to keep up my good behavior. I have an assessment soon and I don't want to go back to jail. " " Then would you like to go out to eat, I could use someone to vent on. " Saturn hesitated a little. He didn't understand why she would want him to go with her, but he did kind of feel bad for her. In the end he relented to her cute puppy dog eye's. " Sure you lead I'll follow you. " Samantha smiled. " Sweet, thanks Saturn. " " Yeah, yeah. " After that Samantha lead Saturn to a pretty nice restaurant. On the way the two had played around a little with Saturn speeding past her on the road. Or when the stopped at a red light he would rev his car, the universal sign for a race. Saturn had also texted his mother he would be late and explained the situation. His mother responded with a single sentence text. " If she drags you back to her house, remember to use protection. " Saturn didn't understand and sent her a text. " Mom she's so small that she could wail on me for an hour and do zero damage. I don't think I'd need protection. " Amelia was cracking up on her end, but she sent a serious text. " I meant a condom idiot. " Saturn was surprised and felt kind of awkward so he just used his cop out response. " Oh. " The two pulled into the restaurant together. Conveniently the two found two open spots directly beside each other. ( PLOT ARMOUR. Please don't rage. ) The two walked together into the Chinese restaurant. Apparently Samantha took Saturn into consideration when deciding where to eat. Saturn was still in his suit that he wore at work while Samantha was wearing a pair of really tight pair of high waist jeans and a crop top. ( I don't know if I am thinking of the right clothes. If I am, then I must say that such a pair of clothes are my favorite out fit to see ladies wear. Is that to personal? ) Saturn thought that Sam looked gorgeous, but he wouldn't say it. When the two walked in a middle aged Asian woman lead them to a booth. Saturn ordered water while Sam ordered hot tea. After that Sam proceeded to vent on Saturn for an hour straight at least. Saturn didn't count. She kept talking about gut problems, as though Saturn was that cliche gay friend. She also complained about her boss and co workers and her school problems. Saturn hadn't known that she was in college. What surprised him even more was that she majored in criminal psychology. She minored in linguistics. At that point the conversation branched out from her complaining to a real conversation. They talked about how Saturn was interested in learning a different language, Scots/ Gaelic specifically. Sam talked about wanting to own her own clothing company. Saturn then talked about how he took her advice and started uploading and recording his music onto WeStream. Sam promised to check it out and subscribe. Eventually after two hours they decided to leave. " Anyway, if you want you can stay the night at my place. " " Sam, I'm flattered, but not right now. Maybe in the future. " Samantha just nodded her head and hopped in her car. Not before handing Saturn a note. " Call me when you're ready. " On the note was her phone number with a kissy face emoji. Saturn just smiled and watched her leave. On his way back home he thought about if he wanted a girlfriend. He also thought about all of Samantha's good points. She's pretty, smart, has her own job, she is also hilarious. She was basically the ideal girlfriend for Saturn. Most important for him though is that she had a phat ass from her physical training. Saturn just shook his head at that point and focused on driving home.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM1ZWI4YjAzYzY1MTQ3ZDhiYjY5ZDQ5MWM3MmMwYzI4"><span style="font-weight: 400">As Tremis was walking towards the sounds of water he whistled as he had his eyes closed.</span></p> <p class="cnM1N2RkNDE1ZWEyMTQ3NTJhMDA2ZjE1ZGMwM2FmYjc4"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Now I can say im very horny when I meet people..actually no I probably shouldn't do that, that's most likely sexual harassment here as well..bad joke</span></em></p> <p class="cnNhNTQzMzYyZmJiNzQxODZiMzQzZmRiMmUzNzQ1ZmI5"><span style="font-weight: 400">He was still happy about getting his horn.</span></p> <p class="cnNhYWY0ZjUyYTAyMzQyYTFhOTMzYmQxNjM5MWQ0YmEy"><span style="font-weight: 400">While he was walking his foot suddenly hit a rock and he started to fall down.</span></p> <p class="cnM4YWEwZDIzN2U0YTRjYjFhNDRkYzU3MzY2YmI1MTQy"><span style="font-weight: 400">Unconsciously his hands went in front of his body and went a few millimeters into the ground leaving a hand like print in the dirt.</span></p> <p class="cnMxMWYwOGU4NzllMzQ4NTA4ZTZjYWQ0NDkzOWQ1Yjlk"><span style="font-weight: 400">"What the fuck? I can fucking press down the ground?"</span></p> <p class="cnNmOTdhNGRjZTdkZTRhMGFhMWUyZThhNmQyNmZiMzIx"><span style="font-weight: 400">"How strong am I?!"</span></p> <p class="cnNhNzQ2MTBjMjgzYjRkZWRhMTRjNjBjZjVmNTA0ZjA4"><strong>[Notification! Strength: 12 points (5 points = Normal Person)</strong></p> <p class="cnNmNGU1ZjAzMzdmZDQ0OTU4MWQ3ZmQwYWFmZjJlOTU2"><span style="font-weight: 400">"I am like 2 times stronger than a regular human? Are you kidding me?"</span></p> <p class="cnM4YzEzMDNlYTFiMzQ4MDJiZGJiYTM0NGFiNmE1OWVj"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Wait that's probably not much if this is a fantasy world, or this must be some very soft dirt or something but even then!"</span></p> <p class="cnM2ZjBlYWJjZDRlMTQyNTNhYTVjMWRhNGMyNTczZmRl"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Whatever, Gods don't get surprised they are stronger than humans."</span></p> <p class="cnM5OGMyMDI2ZjllZDQ0MDVhZDc1NjNhNzdmNGE4NjRk"><span style="font-weight: 400">"March onwards!"</span></p> <p class="cnM2ZTRlZTc5ZTcwYTRiMGFiODIwNDZhZDNjN2I4MDEy"><span style="font-weight: 400">He lifted himself up and starts marching then quickly giving it up and starting to run.</span></p> <p class="cnNmMjMxNGZiNzNiYTQ1ZjNiZGY5MmZjMDY3NTI5YmY5"><strong>...</strong></p> <p class="cnM2ODAwNTY1MTRiZDQzZmI4ZGYyYjA3ZDNlNGUwOTYz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Finally, he made it to where the sounds of water were coming from.</span></p> <p class="cnM0ZjdkNTY2ZDc2MTQzN2I4ZjM3ZTdhNjA0ZTBhYjgx"><span style="font-weight: 400">As he made his way through the bush he finally saw it.</span></p> <p class="cnNlY2YxYTkzOWRlYjQ4ZGQ4ZDgwNjJlMzdjMzgyZGZi"><span style="font-weight: 400">Boobs! Ah, wait no..a waterfall.</span></p> <p class="cnMwYWNkNzhhYmZkNjQ4ZTNhNmI5MDczMmY2OTZjNDEw"><span style="font-weight: 400">The water was clear and shiny as the sunlight bounced off it, as if an Angel made of water was about to be born.</span></p> <p class="cnM2MmFhOWRiOWE2NjRlM2RhMmE5OGViMzg2MzNjMDA2"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Way too good for this devilish forest! I absorb something called 'Diablo's Gift' and a fucking hare with a horn and they get this amazing water?"</span></p> <p class="cnNkYjQ5OWViZDZlZTQ0YTNhZDY1YTc2MDBhMzUwMjYw"><span style="font-weight: 400">He quickly walked over to the water and leaned over trying to check his appearance as he still didn't find the chance to.</span></p> <p class="cnMwMDJlZWJjNDNiOTRlMmU5MDJjMjYwNzMzMWQ3NTk4"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Oh my fucking god! Diablos Gift? More like fucking God's Gift!"</span></p> <p class="cnM4YTk2ZDM0N2Q2NTQ0ZWM4Y2I3ZjFkMTQzNDljZjk0"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Call it the fucking Beauty-Beauty No Mi cause im a beautiful human! Ah fuck that's a bad joke, I was never good at jokes."</span></p> <p class="cnM0N2I2MTA4MzM5MzQzOGQ5MDFiOWZmNWQzNWVlMjYy"><span style="font-weight: 400">"But good thing im next to the water, I have all this blood on my body."</span></p> <p class="cnMwNzg2NjI4MWZmMjQ2NWJiYzliNTczNDNiYzQ5ODYz"><span style="font-weight: 400">He cupped some water in his hands and started trying to clean his face, eventually giving up and jumping into the water making it pinkish with all the blood.</span></p> <p class="cnMzNDQ5Mzc4ZWE2NjQ1YmM5OTMzMDRlMWYzZGQ2NmQy"><span style="font-weight: 400">"This is so good! It’s nice to have a bath after reincarnating from being stabbed."</span></p> <p class="cnMyMjZmYjM4NjgzYzQwODhhYzMzYTQzNzcwZDk4ZDI4"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Wait what happened to my body if im here, please don't tell me that bastard got horny and started fucking my body."</span></p> <p class="cnM3YjNlMWY0ZTQ1YjRiZWU5ZWI4ZWViYWNlMTQyZTgy"><span style="font-weight: 400">After a few moments of silence.</span></p> <p class="cnNkOTliZDI4MDgzMDQ1MDY4ZWMxYjkwYjA1YjI2YjE4"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Probably not, that's not very common but he better treat my body right! I was in that body for a long time you know, kinda attached to it now!"</span></p> <p class="cnNmNjRjZjA5NzdlODQ0YjBhY2ZkNWQyOGJlNTUyZGEz"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">"Whos there?"</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> a girly voice sounded as trembling could be heard in their voice.</span></p> <p class="cnNiNjE4ZjFhZWRiMzRhZGViN2ZjM2Q2MGE2OWZjZDJi"><span style="font-weight: 400">Tremis stopped talking and began to think.</span></p> <p class="cnM0ODM5Mzk3Zjk2OTQzZTE4MDRiNTU0NzJhMmZhNzll"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Fuck somebody's here and it's a fucking girl!</span></em></p> <p class="cnNjNTRiMWNkZmExNTQwMmFhZjI4MTYzMzNjMzcwMzc4"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">I dont know if she’s strong or not and ill be treated like one of those accidental perverts in those anime with stupid plots!</span></em></p> <p class="cnM4ZmY5MGMxZWRjZjQ1YmZiMjczMmMzM2ZjOWNmZmU3"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">And I have my dick hanging out like a fucking rapist!</span></em></p> <p class="cnM5ODQwNmQxNGFlZTQxNGU5YWE2NGQ1NTNlMjFhNDk2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">There is only one thing to do now...</span></em></p> <p class="cnM2NGViYjY1NmExZjQ2MTg5MmMwYTVjNzcwMGNlYmJh"><span style="font-weight: 400">Tremis stopped his train of thought and fell into the water then purposefully floating on top of the water as the pinkish water was around him making him look like a corpse.</span></p> </div>

As Tremis was walking towards the sounds of water he whistled as he had his eyes closed. *Now I can say im very horny when I meet people..actually no I probably shouldn't do that, that's most likely sexual harassment here as well..bad joke* He was still happy about getting his horn. While he was walking his foot suddenly hit a rock and he started to fall down. Unconsciously his hands went in front of his body and went a few millimeters into the ground leaving a hand like print in the dirt. "What the fuck? I can fucking press down the ground?" "How strong am I?!" **[Notification! Strength: 12 points (5 points = Normal Person)** "I am like 2 times stronger than a regular human? Are you kidding me?" "Wait that's probably not much if this is a fantasy world, or this must be some very soft dirt or something but even then!" "Whatever, Gods don't get surprised they are stronger than humans." "March onwards!" He lifted himself up and starts marching then quickly giving it up and starting to run. **...** Finally, he made it to where the sounds of water were coming from. As he made his way through the bush he finally saw it. Boobs! Ah, wait no..a waterfall. The water was clear and shiny as the sunlight bounced off it, as if an Angel made of water was about to be born. "Way too good for this devilish forest! I absorb something called 'Diablo's Gift' and a fucking hare with a horn and they get this amazing water?" He quickly walked over to the water and leaned over trying to check his appearance as he still didn't find the chance to. "Oh my fucking god! Diablos Gift? More like fucking God's Gift!" "Call it the fucking Beauty-Beauty No Mi cause im a beautiful human! Ah fuck that's a bad joke, I was never good at jokes." "But good thing im next to the water, I have all this blood on my body." He cupped some water in his hands and started trying to clean his face, eventually giving up and jumping into the water making it pinkish with all the blood. "This is so good! It’s nice to have a bath after reincarnating from being stabbed." "Wait what happened to my body if im here, please don't tell me that bastard got horny and started fucking my body." After a few moments of silence. "Probably not, that's not very common but he better treat my body right! I was in that body for a long time you know, kinda attached to it now!" *"Whos there?"* a girly voice sounded as trembling could be heard in their voice. Tremis stopped talking and began to think. *Fuck somebody's here and it's a fucking girl!* *I dont know if she’s strong or not and ill be treated like one of those accidental perverts in those anime with stupid plots!* *And I have my dick hanging out like a fucking rapist!* *There is only one thing to do now...* Tremis stopped his train of thought and fell into the water then purposefully floating on top of the water as the pinkish water was around him making him look like a corpse.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNkOGYwOWZmZmRjNzQ3NTM5NTFkMjY5OGQzMDk5YzE1">As I took my seat at the end of the table in the empty spot beside Lieutenant Neera, father asked, “Where’s Cervidae?”</p> <p class="cnNmOTUzZGQzY2I0YzRmMGRiMGNlZmYwN2Q5Mjc5NzI2">Major Ursa, shrugged. “We sent messengers to fetch him. He sent them back with ‘I’ll go along with whatever you decide.’ What are we supposed to do?”</p> <p class="cnNjYWVlMjFhNjAxOTRlMWE5MTAzMjY2ZjhlZmIzNjY3">Father rubbed his forehead in exasperation. “Fine. The Paladins aren’t suitable for this sort of battle anyway. Lieutenant Ava, report.”</p> <p class="cnMwODQ4MTRjNmViYjQ4YzA4NzRkY2M5YzNlZTNiZDY1">“Yes, sir.” She responded with a formal salute. Stepping up to the podium at the front of the room, she pointed at a location on the large and detailed regional map that was laminated onto the wall.</p> <p class="cnM4NmZjMzA5OWE3ZDQ1OTk4MWZjYzQ2NTEzMDhlMGVi">“This, here is the centre of the forbidden zone.” She drew an irregular circle centred on the point and as her finger moved, it left a shadowy trail on the map. “And this, is the border of the zone. As you can see, it lies right at the intersection between the borders of three regions: The Regiis empire, The territory of the Heavenly Wolf Mercenaries, and the Crimson Coyote territory.”</p> <p class="cnMxMTIyODFhNjNkZTRmMjFhNDUzMGU0NjY3ODY1ZTQ5">She drew another shadowy curve from the outskirts of our military outpost. “This, is the region where my scouts are active. Any further and the rise in the danger levels wouldn't be worth the time we would gain whenever the zone shows signs of unrest.” She pointed at a spot at the extreme end of the curve and closest to the centre of the zone. “This is where the fifth recon squad confirmed their sightings of the ants.”</p> <p class="cnM4YzIxNDZjNTBhZjQyNmJhYTU0MDYyOTBjYWU3NDEx">Father raised his hand to stop her. “They saw some ants, right? What were the numbers? The composition? What makes them so sure that this is a Calamity and not just a foraging party that has strayed too far from their nest?”</p> <p class="cnNkZmJiZDIxN2QzOTQ5MzdiMTRjN2E3YjM0NDlmZDFh">Ava shook her head. “There were soldier ants, sir. It was no mere foraging squad. Also, the report mentions a Tier 3 Fire Ant and it was winged. It’s a Calamity, alright.”</p> <p class="cnM1MGU5MjA1ZDFmZDQ2ODViMDg4NzVmNDI4OGQwNjM2">Del Tauros patted the table none to gently. “I say we don’t take this lightly. Underestimating a Calamity, or leaving things to chance will only turn us into corpses faster. A winged Tier 3 this close to the border means that the legion isn’t too far off.” He pounded his fist into his palm. “We should hit the advanced party hard and fast, take them out before their reinforcement arrives.”</p> <p class="cnM0OTg3OTJkYjJlMDQ4OWNhOWRlOTM3YTdhZDI2ZWE3">“Are you daft!” exclaimed Major Ursa. “You want to take the battle outside our walls? Has your brain gone into those horns of yours? Every sane man knows that in the case of an insect tide the best strategy is shoring up the defences. The advanced party is insignificant compared to the numbers of the ant legion. To wipe them out you would be diverting manpower better spent strengthening the fortifications and preparing for a siege.”</p> <p class="cnMwZWQ0YWQ3NjQ5YTQzMjE4MTk2MzkyNGEwOTQzNmQy">I was a bit out of the loop regarding this conversation.</p> <p class="cnNjZjdiYmQyNGRiMDQyNGI5ODRmZGFmOWFiMTY3YTZl">I could understand that they were talking about an insect tide and having read about the Sixth Forbidden Zone in quite a few books, I knew that the reason the region was ‘forbidden’ was the colony of fire ants that nested in it.</p> <p class="cnMyMzIwMWUyYmRiOTRkYmNiN2ZjZGI2ZjA1OWZlMmU1">But, what I couldn't follow was their seemingly random inferences from the smallest of details. Yes, defence was always a good strategy. Blitzing the advanced party of the enemy and wiping them out before the main army came was a time-tested classic. But, how were they so sure that there <em>was </em>an advanced party in the first place. They only knew of one squad of soldier ants with a Tier 3 flier.</p> <p class="cnM2MjkwOGI4MjBkMzQzMGVhMGYyNjJlOWU3NzRmMDQ2">How did that translate?</p> <p class="cnNjYTY4Njk4NmVhYjRmOGU4MjRmYTU0MmU4NGM5MzZj">Basically, such inferences required experience. It was experience only someone who lived beside a forbidden zone could possess. Something I lacked.</p> <p class="cnM5YzkyMjIzZjA3YzQ5NTVhYmRmNzJmOTRjMTliMjQz">Soon, I felt lost as the conversation proceeded without me. I just sat there, watching Major Ursa and Major Tauros grow increasingly abrasive as they argued over the preferred strategy with father and their two wives interjecting once in a while.</p> <p class="cnNjNTJkNWNlNDU4YjRjZmViMDdlZTM2YmVmNmI0ODJj">I felt quite useless as I silently audited without contributing anything. It hurt my pride. I had spent so much time in the library, perusing the bestiaries and preparing for the grand globetrotting adventure I would embark upon someday. And yet, here I was, unable to offer any sort of assistance with that knowledge.</p> <p class="cnM5ODE0MzQyOGY2ZTQ4OTI4NDE0NGMwNGFkNjQ3MjBl">Suddenly, it hit me. I was a mere four and a half cycles old and I was a civilian. This was the first time I found myself in an army’s command post and I expected my opinion to matter somehow. Why? Just because I had read some books?</p> <p class="cnNiNDA5OTkyNTBiYjQ3MDViZDBiOTcxOTE3Yzc4NjQ2">When had I grown so arrogant?</p> <p class="cnNkMmNiZTc0N2UxMzRlZjlhOGYxMDk4MzgxYzA4NmQ5">I might hold the provisional post of Lieutenant due to my token, but that changed nothing about who I actually was. A boy wet behind the ears who had set out on his very first journey outside the confines of his home.</p> <p class="cnM3ZmUyYTNmYjJjODQxZWFiZWI4YmJmNjlmOTQwYWQ3">I realised what father wanted me to learn when he brought me here, to this high-level discussion and gave me a chance to be seated among men and women far above my station in both rank and experience.</p> <p class="cnMwMTdiNjg2MjlmZDRlYjlhOWMwZWZkYTI3YWJjMjk4">Bookish knowledge was fine, but on the true battlefield, it counted for very little. If I couldn't keep my mind open and learn from those who had worked in the field, trying to flaunt my erudition instead, I would never succeed.</p> <p class="cnNjZjE1MWM1NWJkMjRjNTBhMzhmMWU2YzA5MmFjYjAy">Realizing what was expected of me, I let go of my disappointment, taking on the attitude of a student rather than the equal of the men and women at the table. As they explored the various problems associated with the mobilization of the army to defend against the approaching insect tide, I tried my best to link their strategies with what I knew from my books.</p> <p class="cnNjMTcyMDc5Njk2MTQ5ZWFhMzJlNmQzZDJiMmY2OWQ5">All too soon, the meeting was over and a tentative plan was in place. Only some details needed to be hammered out and some strategies tested on the real battlefield.</p> <p class="cnNiZTY2MzkwMmFmNTQ5OGNhZmM4OGJlYmIzZjZiZjUw">Father and I walked side by side as we made our way back to our quarters in the military camp. He patted my shoulder and said with a smile, “Good. You did much better than I. When my father put me in my first clan meeting, I presented my opinion on most things and got quite discontented when the Elders shot down most of my suggestions.”</p> <p class="cnMxZWQ4OWFjZTRlOTQ0ODk5ZDkzODdjNGYyYWZmZmUy">He sighed. “I never expected this to happen when you decided to come visit us. First the Geas and now the Calamity. It seems your stay is doomed not to be peaceful.” He looked me right in the eye and spoke with great gravity, “This will be your first time on the battlefield. Remember this; here, individual ability doesn’t matter and the only victory is returning alive.”</p> <p class="cnM5ZTgwMzNhN2ZlOTQwODc5ZjgzMTNhOTRiYjY3ODk0">Just as I was letting his words sink in, the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps interrupted our conversation and we looked to the end of the corridor. Rounding the bend, Phobos leaned against the wall to catch her breath as she saw us. She gasped out, “It’s Ceres. She’s awake.”</p> </div>

As I took my seat at the end of the table in the empty spot beside Lieutenant Neera, father asked, “Where’s Cervidae?” Major Ursa, shrugged. “We sent messengers to fetch him. He sent them back with ‘I’ll go along with whatever you decide.’ What are we supposed to do?” Father rubbed his forehead in exasperation. “Fine. The Paladins aren’t suitable for this sort of battle anyway. Lieutenant Ava, report.” “Yes, sir.” She responded with a formal salute. Stepping up to the podium at the front of the room, she pointed at a location on the large and detailed regional map that was laminated onto the wall. “This, here is the centre of the forbidden zone.” She drew an irregular circle centred on the point and as her finger moved, it left a shadowy trail on the map. “And this, is the border of the zone. As you can see, it lies right at the intersection between the borders of three regions: The Regiis empire, The territory of the Heavenly Wolf Mercenaries, and the Crimson Coyote territory.” She drew another shadowy curve from the outskirts of our military outpost. “This, is the region where my scouts are active. Any further and the rise in the danger levels wouldn't be worth the time we would gain whenever the zone shows signs of unrest.” She pointed at a spot at the extreme end of the curve and closest to the centre of the zone. “This is where the fifth recon squad confirmed their sightings of the ants.” Father raised his hand to stop her. “They saw some ants, right? What were the numbers? The composition? What makes them so sure that this is a Calamity and not just a foraging party that has strayed too far from their nest?” Ava shook her head. “There were soldier ants, sir. It was no mere foraging squad. Also, the report mentions a Tier 3 Fire Ant and it was winged. It’s a Calamity, alright.” Del Tauros patted the table none to gently. “I say we don’t take this lightly. Underestimating a Calamity, or leaving things to chance will only turn us into corpses faster. A winged Tier 3 this close to the border means that the legion isn’t too far off.” He pounded his fist into his palm. “We should hit the advanced party hard and fast, take them out before their reinforcement arrives.” “Are you daft!” exclaimed Major Ursa. “You want to take the battle outside our walls? Has your brain gone into those horns of yours? Every sane man knows that in the case of an insect tide the best strategy is shoring up the defences. The advanced party is insignificant compared to the numbers of the ant legion. To wipe them out you would be diverting manpower better spent strengthening the fortifications and preparing for a siege.” I was a bit out of the loop regarding this conversation. I could understand that they were talking about an insect tide and having read about the Sixth Forbidden Zone in quite a few books, I knew that the reason the region was ‘forbidden’ was the colony of fire ants that nested in it. But, what I couldn't follow was their seemingly random inferences from the smallest of details. Yes, defence was always a good strategy. Blitzing the advanced party of the enemy and wiping them out before the main army came was a time-tested classic. But, how were they so sure that there *was* an advanced party in the first place. They only knew of one squad of soldier ants with a Tier 3 flier. How did that translate? Basically, such inferences required experience. It was experience only someone who lived beside a forbidden zone could possess. Something I lacked. Soon, I felt lost as the conversation proceeded without me. I just sat there, watching Major Ursa and Major Tauros grow increasingly abrasive as they argued over the preferred strategy with father and their two wives interjecting once in a while. I felt quite useless as I silently audited without contributing anything. It hurt my pride. I had spent so much time in the library, perusing the bestiaries and preparing for the grand globetrotting adventure I would embark upon someday. And yet, here I was, unable to offer any sort of assistance with that knowledge. Suddenly, it hit me. I was a mere four and a half cycles old and I was a civilian. This was the first time I found myself in an army’s command post and I expected my opinion to matter somehow. Why? Just because I had read some books? When had I grown so arrogant? I might hold the provisional post of Lieutenant due to my token, but that changed nothing about who I actually was. A boy wet behind the ears who had set out on his very first journey outside the confines of his home. I realised what father wanted me to learn when he brought me here, to this high-level discussion and gave me a chance to be seated among men and women far above my station in both rank and experience. Bookish knowledge was fine, but on the true battlefield, it counted for very little. If I couldn't keep my mind open and learn from those who had worked in the field, trying to flaunt my erudition instead, I would never succeed. Realizing what was expected of me, I let go of my disappointment, taking on the attitude of a student rather than the equal of the men and women at the table. As they explored the various problems associated with the mobilization of the army to defend against the approaching insect tide, I tried my best to link their strategies with what I knew from my books. All too soon, the meeting was over and a tentative plan was in place. Only some details needed to be hammered out and some strategies tested on the real battlefield. Father and I walked side by side as we made our way back to our quarters in the military camp. He patted my shoulder and said with a smile, “Good. You did much better than I. When my father put me in my first clan meeting, I presented my opinion on most things and got quite discontented when the Elders shot down most of my suggestions.” He sighed. “I never expected this to happen when you decided to come visit us. First the Geas and now the Calamity. It seems your stay is doomed not to be peaceful.” He looked me right in the eye and spoke with great gravity, “This will be your first time on the battlefield. Remember this; here, individual ability doesn’t matter and the only victory is returning alive.” Just as I was letting his words sink in, the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps interrupted our conversation and we looked to the end of the corridor. Rounding the bend, Phobos leaned against the wall to catch her breath as she saw us. She gasped out, “It’s Ceres. She’s awake.”

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMxMjk2ZmQ3YWViMzQ0MzliOTFjNDExMzkxODJhYTJj" style="text-align: center">Five years later</p> <p class="cnM3MTYzY2JmMjZlYjRhOWViNTQ5YTFiMDU5NGY3MzY0">Birds were chirping pleasantly as a gentle sun shone from the sky. Reylor sat on a bench in front of a grand castle, Lucy beside him, peacefully resting her head on his shoulder.</p> <p class="cnMzNzQzOWMzZTljODQxZDk4YjM0NGJmYzFkYTVlYTQ1">“It’s come a long way, hasn’t it?” Reylor mused.</p> <p class="cnM4MjFmN2VlYTVkMTQ3OWNiZDFjN2JlMTAxZWZjNWM3">“Mhmm. It feels like we are actually a kingdom again. It’s not, nor ever will be, the same—but I guess that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Power brings out the worst in a lot of people, and my, or should I say our, family was no different.” Lucy’s cheeks turned a happy shade of pink as she snuggled up closer to him.</p> <p class="cnM3NWM5YTYxM2EyNzQwMjFiM2JjYWE0MDRhMWY0MDAz">In the wake of all that had happened, the shade population had not only stagnated, but had begun a steady decline. In some areas it could be argued that the beasts had even been wiped out. As for political matters, the Shildwell castle had been rebuild, though artisans were still working on the finishing touches. With aid from the Praefectus Empire, the other territories were also in the process of being rebuilt. Additionally, there were plans to annex the Otium region into the Shildwell Empire, though the process would be taken slowly, over the course of decades, at least.</p> <p class="cnMzMWFlNDI0MTFhMDQyNzY5NjM0MjZlYTQwNTJiMDlh">Meanwhile, Eric had returned to his home village and Flint was working directly under Brent, who had acquired the position of head general and advisor to the Queen.</p> <p class="cnMwMjk3NjBjNGE5MDQ3OTA5NWYxMGQ2M2MwZDMyOGY1">“Hey Lucy, did you hear that Khes finally made it in?”</p> <p class="cnNlNjIzYzEwMDVlMzRiOTZiOTdhYjVkOTBkZjA4MzNl">“Hehe, no, but I’m not surprised he found a job there. Ever since Votran Academy hired Aileen as a special class instructor, he’s been pounding at the doors to get a job there as well.”</p> <p class="cnM5YTY0ZTIxMzJhOTQ0ZTU5NDYwODk4NmU2OTc4ZGY5">“Yep. But do you know what they hired him as?”</p> <p class="cnNmOGJlNDI4ZWFiZjRiOGY4MjY5Nzg2YjIwZGNkNjQz">“No, what is his position?”</p> <p class="cnM4NDMzMTNkMzc3NzRmMTJhNDkwM2I3MGY3OGFmMDMx">“Pest control”</p> <p class="cnM5ZmFlMmExNDM1NzQ0NjJiZTBlODBlNmJlOTQ0YWYy">“Snort” “Ahahaha!” Lucy leaned forward as she shook with laughter. “That. Is so. Funny!”</p> <p class="cnMxNTQ1NzQ0MDIyODQ4MjU4MTU4NjcwZTNhMDQ2M2Mz">“Haha, yeah.” Reylor leaned his head back with a smile, continuing to bask in the spring atmosphere. “I hear he’s already making a name for himself, though. Though, not always in flattering ways, if you consider the screams of new students catching sight of his rodent legion.”</p> <p class="cnNmYWJhZDQwNGQzZDQ5Y2VhYTQ0N2IyODIxYTNmMDJh">“Stop. Making. Me. Laugh!” Lucy said, out of breath and tearing up.</p> <p class="cnMxNThiNzY2OWJiZDQ2ODM4YTlmNGMxYWNkYzlkYTE5">“That being said, we both know Queen has plans for him. He does possess quite the unique skillset.”</p> <p class="cnM1MThkYWEwZThlZDQwMTJhMWIwOWI3NDcyOGVjY2U4">“Ahh, that’s true,” Lucy assented, leaning back after finally getting a chance to catch her breath.</p> <p class="cnMyNzU4YTg5NDBkYTQzYzU4NTkzNTgzM2NkZjE4ODQw">“Ah!” “What is it Charlene?” “I found him!” “Huh, you mean… Wait! Charlene! That’s the king! Stop!”</p> <p class="cnM3YzQ4OWMyY2FmMjRmMzJiMGNlYzEwNjIxOWRlNTU3">“Pitter patter, pitter patter” “Whoosh”</p> <p class="cnM5NjA0N2IzZjNkNjQ2NzM5OTdmMDIxYzJkMTZjMmJm">A guard stepped out—the last remaining guard of the original Shildwell household—but Reylor raised his hand, telling him to stop as a little girl ran up to him and jumped on his lap.</p> <p class="cnM1NTAzNmZmN2ZjNjRiOGM5OGM2NWNkM2Y0OWI2MGNl">“Hello?” He said, looking at the girl so boldly claiming his lap for herself. Her dark brown hair fell down her neck in tight curls, and her violet eyes spoke of joy and excitement.</p> <p class="cnNlZDUwMmE5M2U3NDQ4Njc4Nzg1M2IxYTk3YWUwMGJl">“Your highnesses, please forgive us!” A middle-aged woman bowed to the ground before them, quivering in fear. “She was looking for her friend, a-a-and thought it was you. Please, forgive her!”</p> <p class="cnMyZTBiYWQ3MTM2NDQxNzBhMzk4ODhmZTRjMzE2ZTgx">“Rise.” Reylor spoke, and the peasant lady stood up, though still trembling, but Reylor paid her no mind as he returned his attention to the girl on his lap. “What is your name, little girl?”</p> <p class="cnNhMDgyM2QxZTBlMzQ1NTc5NjMyMTY2YjkyMjViMDAw">“Char-lene,” she said, looking up at him with an adorable smile.</p> <p class="cnNmNGE5MDhmN2NkZTQyMjQ4MThiZjBlOTExNWU1MDMz">“…But,”</p> <p class="cnM0Y2UwZWEwZTQ4MDRiMzk4YmY1MGM0Y2Y0OGI0NTc5">She put her hand up to her mouth, making it appear that she had a secret to tell him. He lowered his ear to where she was. “But you can call me Elany.”</p> <p class="cnNjMDZmY2IzNWNjOTRlOTA4YTc2NjMzYzMwZTc1NWM3" style="text-align: center"><strong>THE END</strong></p> <p class="cnMzYjI2YTdmNTY2MDQ2MzBiMGZkY2U3ODFhMzAyYjdh"> </p> <p class="cnM4ZDQxY2U2MmMxOTRkMjI5N2Y2YWRhZDNhNmIxODgy"> </p> <p class="cnNhOTk2NDcwMmU5MzQ2MTc5YWI4ZTM4NTViNjdmNWMz"> </p> <p class="cnNlOTJkOWYxMGE1ZTQ3NTY5MTgzODEyZWMyNjc4YzRi" style="text-align: center"><strong>Acknowledgements:</strong></p> <p class="cnM1ZDhhM2JlZTMyZTRkMTc4OGUwZDA4MWI2NDdkY2M0">My Parents for funding my education, and thus affording me the time to write.</p> <p class="cnMxYzM2ZWFiNGI5ODQ3NjNhZjRmZWNkNWNkOGMwNzA3">My ex, for encouraging me to write (while we were still together…)</p> <p class="cnM3NWM1YzUzYzkxZjQzMDQ4NGIzMDBjNTI2ZTkzZDI2">Friends and family who have also been supportive of this endeavour</p> <p class="cnNiODg1OTYwNjc3NzQ4MWM4OTFhYzc0YzFiZTYzMmQ0">Mike Lima, Minu, and others for your comments—it may seem simple to you, but to me this feedback has been super encouraging!</p> <p class="cnNmNzU1OTY5MDM0YzQ2NjE4MmU1NWRlZDRkZjQ4NDAy">And finally, all my RRL readers, followers, and favoriters. Thank you all!</p> </div>

Five years later Birds were chirping pleasantly as a gentle sun shone from the sky. Reylor sat on a bench in front of a grand castle, Lucy beside him, peacefully resting her head on his shoulder. “It’s come a long way, hasn’t it?” Reylor mused. “Mhmm. It feels like we are actually a kingdom again. It’s not, nor ever will be, the same—but I guess that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Power brings out the worst in a lot of people, and my, or should I say our, family was no different.” Lucy’s cheeks turned a happy shade of pink as she snuggled up closer to him. In the wake of all that had happened, the shade population had not only stagnated, but had begun a steady decline. In some areas it could be argued that the beasts had even been wiped out. As for political matters, the Shildwell castle had been rebuild, though artisans were still working on the finishing touches. With aid from the Praefectus Empire, the other territories were also in the process of being rebuilt. Additionally, there were plans to annex the Otium region into the Shildwell Empire, though the process would be taken slowly, over the course of decades, at least. Meanwhile, Eric had returned to his home village and Flint was working directly under Brent, who had acquired the position of head general and advisor to the Queen. “Hey Lucy, did you hear that Khes finally made it in?” “Hehe, no, but I’m not surprised he found a job there. Ever since Votran Academy hired Aileen as a special class instructor, he’s been pounding at the doors to get a job there as well.” “Yep. But do you know what they hired him as?” “No, what is his position?” “Pest control” “Snort” “Ahahaha!” Lucy leaned forward as she shook with laughter. “That. Is so. Funny!” “Haha, yeah.” Reylor leaned his head back with a smile, continuing to bask in the spring atmosphere. “I hear he’s already making a name for himself, though. Though, not always in flattering ways, if you consider the screams of new students catching sight of his rodent legion.” “Stop. Making. Me. Laugh!” Lucy said, out of breath and tearing up. “That being said, we both know Queen has plans for him. He does possess quite the unique skillset.” “Ahh, that’s true,” Lucy assented, leaning back after finally getting a chance to catch her breath. “Ah!” “What is it Charlene?” “I found him!” “Huh, you mean… Wait! Charlene! That’s the king! Stop!” “Pitter patter, pitter patter” “Whoosh” A guard stepped out—the last remaining guard of the original Shildwell household—but Reylor raised his hand, telling him to stop as a little girl ran up to him and jumped on his lap. “Hello?” He said, looking at the girl so boldly claiming his lap for herself. Her dark brown hair fell down her neck in tight curls, and her violet eyes spoke of joy and excitement. “Your highnesses, please forgive us!” A middle-aged woman bowed to the ground before them, quivering in fear. “She was looking for her friend, a-a-and thought it was you. Please, forgive her!” “Rise.” Reylor spoke, and the peasant lady stood up, though still trembling, but Reylor paid her no mind as he returned his attention to the girl on his lap. “What is your name, little girl?” “Char-lene,” she said, looking up at him with an adorable smile. “…But,” She put her hand up to her mouth, making it appear that she had a secret to tell him. He lowered his ear to where she was. “But you can call me Elany.” **THE END** **Acknowledgements:** My Parents for funding my education, and thus affording me the time to write. My ex, for encouraging me to write (while we were still together…) Friends and family who have also been supportive of this endeavour Mike Lima, Minu, and others for your comments—it may seem simple to you, but to me this feedback has been super encouraging! And finally, all my RRL readers, followers, and favoriters. Thank you all!

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM0OTYzYTZkZGY0MzRjY2JhZWI5NWI0MjQxODI0MmU1">“Vwerr” Reylor opened a spatial gate to an island nearby. The other Seldin had given him the coordinates, which Reylor verified before preparing to go.</p> <p class="cnNhYTVlNjRlMmJiNjQ5MDg4NDdkNmRhNjZmNWEwNzRm">“Vrrruump” The space gate close as they exited.</p> <p class="cnMwOWQzMzRhMDBmNzQzNWRhMTI3YjYxZWJhMDc0ZDBh">“Grrr” “Shing!”</p> <p class="cnMwODQ3ZTljYzM0YTQzMDdhYWFiNDE1ZWNmYzJhMGY2">They we met with a welcoming party. Shade. A hoard of shade beasts came pouring out of the barren forest before them.</p> <p class="cnM5MzBhMTBhN2VjMTQ1ZjRhOWE2OGMyODQ1M2E0NzI1">“Shadow slash!” “Magma domain!” “Light Bolt!” “Void Suppression!”</p> <p class="cnM0MDk3NzAyN2U0YzRiNjg4NTYzZDdjODM5ZWNlMzIy">Everyone executed skills, one after another. Now that they didn’t have to worry about protecting anyone, they decided it would be best to use less intense spell, so as to be able to recover more quickly after the fight.</p> <p class="cnM0MjA4YzIxMzRmNzQ1MWI4N2Y0NzU2ODg3NmQxOTlm">And so they fought. They slowly walked forward, slaughtering shade beasts like mosquitoes, or rather, roasting them like bags of marshmallows, was Lucy’s domain that was doing most of the work since most other skills couldn’t actually kill a shade beast.</p> <p class="cnNjNzhiMjFmMGJiZDQ1MzE4MTUzMWFiYWNiNjg3YzFk">“How many of these things are there?” Khes asked, echoing the thoughts of the rest.</p> <p class="cnNjZDgzNDMxMTk0ODQ2MjVhZTFlOTVkNDUxNzMzZTVj">“See that boundary line out there?” Reylor pointed. “For now we just need to get over there, then we can take a breather.”</p> <p class="cnM0YzhkY2ZjYzZjMTQzYTJhNDg2YTIyZTQwNjQxNGQy">“That… Isn’t that like the circle at Votran’s forest?” Elany asked.</p> <p class="cnM5M2JlNjY4ZThjOTQ2YTE5OWY2NGY3Nzg5OTYzYzcy">“Yes, that is a field of spatial energy. Once we get there I’ll be able to take care of most of them.”</p> <p class="cnMwZDIxM2NiNWJjMjRmYzI5MjhmMTU4MzM4NWE3M2U4">“Ok, we’ll keep going.”</p> <p class="cnNiZWRlOTc2OTQyMzQyYWI4ZmI2N2FjZmMyNTY4YWY5">“Shing! Shing!” “Sizzle Sizzle” “Shoof, Shoof” “Thunk”</p> <p class="cnM4ZDgzZmJlY2YyNDQ0NGNiYjU3ZWNjZGJkOWI5OTQ0">Another Shade beheaded, another shade cremated, another step forward. Another step forward. Hour after painstaking hour they continued against the unending river of shade beasts, until finally…</p> <p class="cnMzYWU0ZGZhMzk2ZjQyYzZiYzQyY2ZmZWY5YWRkMmM5">“We are here!” Lucy cried out. Despite having a massive mana pool, maintaining a barrier for hours was not an easy feat, and she was nearing her limit.</p> <p class="cnM4ZTYzYTc0NWEwZTRlZjQ5YWIwMTkxNTFiMmYzZmMy">“Stay right there. I’m going to lift you guys up,” Reylor said as he walked into the curtain of spatial energy and raised his hand to the sky.</p> <p class="cnNjMDMyZmFlZmRmMTQ3YTg5ZWY5YTFhOTVjMTI3NTJm">“What do you mea—ahh!” Elany screamed out as a circle of earth below her and the other gave way and rose out of the ground like a pillar.</p> <p class="cnM3MTUwNmQ4NTNiYjRhZWJhNzNkNTZmMjI5YjkzZWUx">The black energy began to circulate around Reylor, as he absorbed more and more. “Click” Reylor eyes turned blood red as he spread his arms out and appeared to mumble something from a different language. “Kathump”</p> <p class="cnM3NmIxZjMxMzg4NTQ4MzNiYzE5MmYxMjM2NjFlMjc0">All the nearby shade fell over—tens of thousands dead, just like that.</p> <p class="cnM2NTFjNDVkYTBlNjRlYjE5MmJkZmNmMTM0YjY5Mjk1">Reylor’s eyes returned to normal, and he used a skill to jump up to where the rest of the group was.</p> <p class="cnNjNWFhOWE3M2NhNDQ3MGNiZGJiMjNiNTE1YTRmZDA2">No one bothered to comment on what had just happened. They were exhausted from the fight, and were still reeling from the knowledge of what was likely to come.</p> <p class="cnMxMzk4MDA2N2NiZTRiNDY5ZTlkMDZiYmRmNDc3MzUy">“Where did they all come from?” Khes absent-mindedly asked as he surveyed the ocean of beast corpses before him.</p> <p class="cnNmZWRlZjc0ZGViMTQxYTM4NmVhMTk4Y2IwMjE3MmVk">“He’s been collecting them.”</p> <p class="cnMyMDM0MDk2MGNiYjQxMzM5N2Q3Mzk4ODQ4YzFlMzNi">“Collecting them? For how long?”</p> <p class="cnMxM2NjMzdhMDc0OTQ0OGRhNWEyYTUxNGYwOTE5Mzcy">“I don’t know exactly, but he has been working on it for years”</p> <p class="cnNhNTgwZGRhNmQ4NjQ5MDZiOGFiNWY4NjU2MmYwZDRm">“Years.” Khes breathed out.</p> <p class="cnMxMzFkNWMyYjg4ZDRhMTg4M2QyZGE5NTI3YzI0Nzlk">It was getting dark, so Eric, Aileen, Elany, and Lucy pulled out their tents for the night—not that any of them got much sleep…</p> <p class="cnMyY2I0ODVkM2Y1ZTQ1ZDM5NDNiMTJjNWI4ZmMwNjE0">Meanwhile, Reylor jumped back down and spent the night absorbing the energy and using it to form a couple of contraptions and inscribe runes on them.</p> <p class="cnNiMDIwNjAzMjUyMDQ1OWFiMmZiYzdmYzM3NDg5OWEx">*** *** ***</p> <p class="cnMyMGNlNGZiNTE1ZDRmYjE4OGJjYmYzZTUxNGFiODRm">The next morning everyone was up by the time the sun could be seen on the horizon.</p> <p class="cnMzZWNmYjQ4ZTU2ODRiNjZiMzU5MzFjZjQ0Yzc5NDRh">“Eric, take these,” Reylor said, handing him two orb-like devices.</p> <p class="cnM4NjgzOWNmMzM0YTRiYWNiZDcwN2VhNWYxY2UzMThm"><br> When you are ready to go back, press this button and throw it on the ground. It will create a spatial gate that will take you to the Praefectii camp we just came from. It will last for 15 minutes.</p> <p class="cnM0YjcxZjFkZmJiMTQ1YmFiMTdjOTVjZTQ1NmVkYjUy">Once you are ready there, do the same thing with the gold one to open a gate to the palace. That one will last for 42 minutes.</p> <p class="cnNlMzE1N2I3NGM5OTQwMzNhZDczNTg4YzdlMDQ5M2Q5">Eric nodded his head in understanding.</p> <p class="cnNiZjFkOGNiZDUyNTQ2NzZiN2VjMTJhNmE0MWM1YzMw">“If you are going to watch, take one of these” he said, Pulling out an armful of plain black jackets. “They’ll protect you from the side effects of the spatial energy. Just keep at least 200 yards back, or you will die.”</p> <p class="cnNiMzkzNWQ5NGE1YjRiZTA4ZDU3NGY3OTViYjIzYzRi">Each person solemnly took a jacket.</p> <p class="cnNiYzFhYTg1MTQ1MDQ0OTE5ZWExMzM5OTUwNWZjNGI5">“Well, then. Let’s be off.”</p> <p class="cnM3ZDhmZTg4YTBjYjRlYjVhYzcxNTlhZDJhN2IwMzUz">Reylor lowered them all down, and they set off into the dark haze in front of them. They kept walking as a castle came into view, becoming clearer and clearer.</p> <p class="cnMwZTNjNWM3ZjZiMzRiYjNiMmJhMmFmZGNjNDQ3ZTRh">“This is it.” Reylor said, somewhat coldly. The spatial energy was once again having an effect on his personality.</p> <p class="cnM0ZGRjNTU3ZTA1MDQ1ZjQ5NDRjMzgxMTNhOWMxMWU0">“Go do it man.” Eric said emotionlessly.</p> <p class="cnMyMDc1YmM2YjI3MTQ5OTZiOTk1ODA4N2FjZjZhY2M4">Reylor gave each of the girls a quick hug and a nod to Khes and Eric before taking the long walk to the front of the castle.</p> <p class="cnM2MDM0ZWQ3MDExZDRhY2Q4ZGM4M2VjYjhhOGU2NTMz">“My, my. Is this… Reylor? A cold elegant voice called out from the entrance.</p> <p class="cnMyNTgxOTM3Zjk2YTRjNThhNTI1M2Y5NTg4MzI3ZTg0">“Glistrel.” Reylor muttered.</p> <p class="cnM4YzViNTA3Zjk4YjQwZTRhMTdmYTBiMjRlODViNmI2">“Oh, my my! Is this all I get? I even came all the way out to the entrance to welcome you! So cold!”</p> <p class="cnM3MWIyNzNjYTM2ZDQyMmNiZTFlMjcwZGYyODQ4ZmNi">“Why have you done this?” Reylor asked.</p> <p class="cnNiMTNkYTk2MjBlMTQxMzdhY2EwZjAwYWM3N2FlMTFi">“Why have I done this? Why, I should be asking that to you! After all, you destroyed my constructs—and you <em>know</em> how long those things take to make… Ahh, fine then. You know how booooring it was in the Spatial hall, right? Well, I got tired of that nonsense, you see, and so when I came time for me to “retire” I though ‘Hey, why not have a little fun first?’”</p> <p class="cnM2NWM5MGQyNmE2ZTRhYWI5NDE5YjJkMDdjYTNjMjc5">“You… You disobeyed the code?”</p> <p class="cnNkOTEzYjMzYmFmNDRjNjc4MTQwMWYwN2JmZTFiYzk3">“Of course I did! And you did too, I see.”</p> <p class="cnNiYzBmNmExYjMxMTRkNzU5NGJhZTdlMTg4OWE1ZmEz">“Actually, I didn’t.”</p> <p class="cnNmYjRlNzEzZmUwMjQ3ZmU5M2Q1NWQwZDEwNDc4MTQw">“Oh, but of course you did! The code says that at the end of your 1,000 years of service, you must walk through the aethergate, and we all know that means you cease to exist. You get turned back into aether! Oh… Unless… You are telling me it malfunctioned?”</p> <p class="cnNhNWI2YzU5ZTQwNTQxN2FhMDZmZDE1M2Q1MDJhYzE2">“Yes, it did, which is why I am here.”</p> <p class="cnM0NTc3YTgzNmJmMzQzMTQ5ZjdhYjgxMDJjNTQ0MTNl">“Ahahaha! The irony! You tried to die and it didn’t even work, hahaha! Well, no matter then. You’ll get your wish here.”</p> <p class="cnM0NTFjOTVlZDY2NzRkZGU5ODZhZjZjNzgxNzRjYjY0">Glistrel's eyes glowed red, and spatial energy began to circle around him. The same thing happened to Reylor.</p> <p class="cnM1NDZjZDQxNGE2YjRlYTM4NTY3MGNiYjQ4NWYxMTdm">More and more energy circulated around each of them, pulling from the vast reserves Glistrel had collected over the years.</p> <p class="cnMwZWQwNGM2OWVhNTRlNDU4MjM2NTE3YTRlYTk5MzU5">Eventually there was so much energy moving around them, that they no longer looked like people, but merely black shadows, save for their red eyes. As a side-effect, the atmosphere became a bit lighter as the Seldins collected the energy.</p> <p class="cnNjYWRkNzg3OWQxNDRiMDA4NTUyYmU4OTk2ZWE3YjZi">And then—they disappeared</p> <p class="cnNhNDRjOTRkMjhjMjRkM2ViNGI0ZDU4ZTk3YTE4OWYx">“eeeeeereeeeeekeeeeee.” A mind numbing screech assaulted the ears of Eric, Khes, Lucy, Aileen, and Elany—proof that the two had not actually left the place, but were simply moving so quickly that they couldn’t be seen, meanwhile generating a jarring noise from having broken the sound barrier many times over.</p> <p class="cnM0OTdiMTYyNjg5YjRjOTk4ZjdlYmViYzE2NTI5NGY2">Aileen put up her barrier to absorb to of the impact from the showdown.</p> <p class="cnM2NTBiYTI0ZWNlYzQ3OTY5OGRhZTNjZjQ5M2VmNWMw"><br> “The heck?” Khes said. “I can’t even see them…”</p> <p class="cnMzNzZhMTQ3OWMyZDRiM2RiNjc3ZDQwMTdkNmNmMDJk">“I can’t either” Eric replied.</p> <p class="cnM1MmE0ODcwOWI1NDRhZDRhYjRhYjQ5YjM4ZjNlMjBi">Ten minutes later:</p> <p class="cnNlOWQzNTg0NTE0YTRkMzE4NzViM2Y5ZTFlMWM1MmQ1">“They are slowing down” Khes said.</p> <p class="cnM0ZTdiNTE4MjA5YjRjYjE4MmQ0MDE3M2M1ZTZhYTM3">“Yeah, I can see them at times. It’s so weird, I looks like they are trying to punch each other, but they are so in sync that it’s always their fists that collide at exactly the same place.</p> <p class="cnM4ZDBmZWQwMDQyYTRkOGZhYWI5N2M3OGRiYmE2YTZi">They stopped, floating in the sky.</p> <p class="cnM4MzUzMmRkODM4YzQ0ODViOTVkNDNkYmFlY2I5Zjcy">“I see. So the rumors are true. A Seldin really cannot be stronger than his relative. And here I hoped to complete my subjugation. But alas, it seems it shall not be so.”</p> <p class="cnMzNThkYjNiNzlmYTRjZGI5Yjg1ODQ1ZGFlZTljNDRi">“That is right. You are no longer fit to rule over the mortals of this world. I shall put an end to your existence. This is goodbye.”</p> <p class="cnNhMDU2M2M4Njk3MTQ5ZWRiNWEzNDFjOWY1MmY1NTYy">“Yes, we shall end it now.”</p> <p class="cnNhMDVkMjIxOThlMzQ1ZjJiZWIxMWM4ZjY3MWYwYmU3">“Shuuuuunk.” All the remaining spatial energy covering the entire region was nearly instantly collected by Glisten and Reylor, who subsequently turned black—that is, instead of having black energy swirling around them, their skin, their hair, their eyes and nails, all turned pitch black as they raised they extended their palms toward each other</p> <p class="cnNjNDg5YzgzOTllNzRjYjZhY2Q5NjBiMzkxZmI0OTI3">“Poof” “Kachink, Kachink, Kachunk”</p> <p class="cnNkMjA4ODVmZTIwNzRiMDBhZjRhYWJkYmQ1MGI0M2Y4">Their features turned back to normal and a black ball was formed between the two. They just stood there, as if trying to push the black orb of energy away from themselves and toward each other, but they were at a standstill. Then it started happening:</p> <p class="cnM3YzZlNmEyNWFlMzQ3ZTU4Y2UwNWVjYzc2MzZlYmJm">Wisps of matter started flying off of each of them. They were literally decomposing in real time. Despite being able to use spatial energy to do all kinds of things, even Seldins had their limits. When in the face of pure, undiluted spatial energy, their bodies could not handle it, and would gradually decompose back into the aether.</p> <p class="cnNmODU3Y2FhMDViZjQ5NzY4N2I4YzY5N2QxNGU2Y2Mx">While Eric, Lucy, Aileen, and Khes were staring in shock and grief—</p> <p class="cnNjNzA0YzUxZDhkODQyYWFiOWY0NTY2Mzk1MTE0NTMz">“Mother of Aretor, laws of the aether</p> <p class="cnNjYThmYmQxYzhlZTQ1ZDdiMDAxZWY0MGZmNjgxNzc4">Listen to my plea”</p> <p class="cnM4ODdlYTYwZGQ5MzQwNTE4NjA4OGY4MzhiYzkxNTRj">“Elany?! What are you…” <em>“Its too late to stop her, but what is she doing?” </em>Lucy thought.</p> <p class="cnM3Y2MwODU5MjA1YTRjZWRiZTk0M2JhOGVlMDE1ZTVh">“Though the flesh be consumed, let the life remain.</p> <p class="cnNmNDllNWYzNTEzYjQxMTJhN2E4YTZiZTEwN2MzYzk4">Flesh for flesh, and a life for a life.</p> <p class="cnM1ZmNmMWUxODE0ZjQ5ZjM5NDI0YjgwN2ZhMGVkN2Ni">The cycle of sacrifice is true.</p> <p class="cnNiODY3MDAyYmM3ZTQyNTViZDUwZWQ1NjVkNDllOGUy"><em>“Oh, no. No, not that! Elany, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”</em></p> <p class="cnMwYmNmYzNkYjY5MjQ2Y2JhODQ3ZWRiYWIxOTY0ZmM1">“I give my life, a recompense for the lost.</p> <p class="cnNhYjVkNTQwNzIzMTRlNDk4NTM4NWY0NzdiMTNjMjQw">Let things that are be as they were.</p> <p class="cnNjNjBkMzNjNGY2YzRkOThhNGZhNThkOWZlZDI0ZjJj">Look down on this plane and bear witness:</p> <p class="cnNhM2IzMzA2NmUxYzQ0M2ZiY2E3ZmRiMjhhYWNkMGNm">Soul reversal…”</p> <p class="cnM5NjVlZDNmNDNiODQ0MWE4ZTk3NzQ2OGVhOGYzYzMy"><em>“No, Elany! You can’t do this! Don’t do it!”</em></p> <p class="cnM3ZmE5Mjk4MzZhMDQwN2NhMzMzYWQ0N2FlNTQ0ZmI3">“Holy Sacrifice, Tier…”</p> <p class="cnMxZTgyZGY4NjBjNzQyMWU5YTRlYzBlNDZhODk0M2Nl">“Eight!”</p> <p class="cnM0MGEwZTg1N2YyMDRiOGQ4ZTMzZmQ1MzU5YWRkN2U5">Lucy’s face completely drained of color.</p> <p class="cnM2ZTZjYTUxZTQ2MzRkODJhYWRiZWQ5ZTAwMGE5ZTU5">Prime spells were said to only have seven tiers, but there was one more that people seldom spoke of—the eighth tier. An eighth tier prime spell was akin to an archaic spell, meaning the one who cast it… Would die.</p> <p class="cnM2ODViOTQ4YmNhZTQyOGM4OGNiNTNlOTYzNzk2MGFl">“Kathump” Just as the last bits of Reylor and Glisten were about to disappear, time once again froze. Elany slowly dematerialized, replaced with the full figure of Reylor.</p> <p class="cnM4ZGI2YjY5YzA0MjQ5YjhhNmQ0ZTI3MGY4Mjg2NDBl">“Kabam!” Time resumed with an explosion of the ball of spatial energy, washing over the island, and a bit further, before dispersing into the atmosphere.</p> <p class="cnNlMmE0MDA3YzdjYTQ1MGE4NmVmNzVlOGRjNjY5YTQ4">“Crrrr. Pow!” Like a pane of glass breaking, the constructions that Glisten had used for channeling spatial energy all over Aretor shattered.</p> <p class="cnM1Nzk2OGUxYjdjYjRlN2JhOGFjOWMxNDM4YjZmN2Yx">Reylor stood up and looked around.</p> <p class="cnNmZmE5Y2RiZDYyNTRmNDU5ZTBmNTJjNDYwZWYyNjcw"><em>“Huh? Eric. Khes. Aileen. Lucy. Ela—Elany?” </em>He looked around, scanning the area.</p> <p class="cnNkNDk3MzNkZmI1NTRmZjViNzY0Mjg3OTdiYWQyYjJk">“Elany?” <em>“Wait, what happened to my vision? And I don’t sense any karma?”</em></p> <p class="cnMyODE3ODg3OGYzNDRlMjRhNDRiMmU1NzU1Mzk1MmY5">He was in a daze, as he kept looking around.</p> <p class="cnNmM2Y1NTFjOTA4ZjRhOWViZmFiN2U3MjI3ZDE0NmE1">“Void art: Presence…” <em>“Woah, am I completely out of spatial energy? Wait… My core… I don’t have a spatial core—so that means…”</em></p> <p class="cnNkNmYzY2MzMTdmNTRlMDA4ZDIyYzNlZDAyNGExZmQw">He looked around again, finally resting his gaze on Lucy.</p> <p class="cnM4OTg1MmQ4NDFjMjRmMTJiM2I2YjkxZmE5MjhiMWE3">“Did Elany…” Lucy nodded her head stiffly.</p> <p class="cnM5ZTliNzdhNzBlZjQxMDk5YmY4YjczMjc0YTU5ZTdl">“Elany.” He breathed out, turning his gaze to the distance.</p> <p class="cnM1NTk1ZmM3YmRhNDRjNzhhZTNjYTI0YjY2ZmU5M2Zm">His features relaxed, though his eyes seemed glazed over.</p> <p class="cnMzMzFlOWVhNGU1YjQxMWRiODdmNmU4Mzc4ZDMzZjRh">“Let’s go.”</p> <p class="cnNiMjYwMTNkZGJkNDQ2MmNhNDljNTJiNTczY2RlM2M3">They returned to the Praefectii to pick up one as a representative. With the coordinates known, the permanent gate at the palace could be redirected to the temporary Praefectii camp.</p> <p class="cnMzY2I1MWZhMGU1OTRmYjc4NTZiZTMxNDgyYmRmNDVh">“Vwerr”</p> <p class="cnMzOWNiZWM5NzY0ZjQxZmM4MTY2MTgwMGVjODJjYTE0">“Vwump”</p> <p class="cnNiNGU5OWZhNDY1MDRmMjRhYmU3NTYwYzI3OGI1YWI1">They arrived in front of the palace.</p> <p class="cnM5NjVjYzJjM2Q5NzQzZGY5MmM0N2I0M2IzMGNmY2Fl">“I’ll take care of things here,” Eric said gently. “Take some time for yourself.”</p> <p class="cnNmMTgzNTI1MzZlYjRkMWU5ZDkyZDI3OWNlYTczZjI1">Reylor nodded.</p> <p class="cnMxY2YyM2RkZWYxYzRjY2ZhNzhmYTgxMWUzYzQ1M2Ey">“Do you want to go back to your castle?” Reylor asked Lucy. Lucy shook her head.</p> <p class="cnMxYTA4YThmMjlkNTRjM2E4YmI4NWVjZTFhNDY5ZmU4">“Ok.” He nodded.</p> <p class="cnM0N2FiZTBlYTM3NTRjMjY5ZTk0OTI5MzU2YzNmMjY3">“Vwerr” He opened another spatial gate and stepped through, but as he did, a hand firmly grasped onto his arm. Lucy was pulled through with him, to greet the scene together. There were a few plants sprouting here or there, but it was still obviously the same place—they were met with a scenery of blackness. Charcoal was everywhere, save for a few bits of metal or other things that fire was not able to completely burn through. It was Splendor</p> <p class="cnNmNDEyOTYyZTkwZTRhMWJhNmI2ZGEyYWFkNWJlZmU1">“You can’t do this alone.” Lucy whispered, and then paused. “And neither can I.”</p> <p class="cnNiNTRjNTE2NTY4YjRkM2ViMzcyMGNlOTk1ZmJhZDZj">She wrapped her arms around Reylor’s waist, and he returned the gesture.</p> <p class="cnM2ZGIyY2ExNTdjNjQzMDI5YzM5OTY4MTE0N2YyNTZi">“Drip. Drip drop.” And so for the first time in over a million years, Reylor cried.</p> <p class="cnMwNTJmYjU1ZDFkODRkZDhhZDI2MWVhZGQ1Mzg3YzY3">“Why?” Reylor choked out. “Why would she do this?”</p> <p class="cnM5NDIwOGIwMmI0ZDQ5Y2E5NWI4ZGM2M2VlY2NkMWU3">“I don’t know, I really don’t know!” Lucy cried. “I don’t know…”</p> <p class="cnNiOTEwYmIyODlkZTQ2ODVhYTFlZmY2NDkzOGYyN2Nl">They sat down on the ground, and stayed there without saying another word to each other, but only holding up because of they knew they were in this together. One night. Two nights. Three nights. They said nothing</p> <p class="cnMzZTk4MmQyZDQ1MjQzOTg5NTVhNDQ5MGI2ODk5MTc1">Four nights.</p> <p class="cnM5ODhmMTQzNjI1YTRkNThiMmY0Y2Q4OWI1NTcyZjg5">“Vwerr”</p> <p class="cnNhMGFhOGZkZTdkMjQzNDViNDAwMDNkOTE0MDZkOTQ4">A spatial gate opened and two people walked out. Reylor glanced over at them, but immediately lowered his head back down in grief and in shame.</p> <p class="cnM0MGIyNmEwZGEyMjQ0MGNhMDkzNWUwZGNhMWYxNWYz">“I thought I might find you here.” A cool voice drifted through the air, carrying no discernable emotion.</p> <p class="cnNlMmY3OTRjMmViZjRmMmVhZmI3MjhkYTVkMTUwMWU2">“Reylor, Lucy, get up.” A deep voice said, with an authoritative power.</p> <p class="cnM5NWRmZmQ5ZjcxNDQwOTk4NDgxNjJmNTk3MjlmMmVl">They stood up without a word.</p> <p class="cnMxZjFiZTVmY2NiYzQ5MTlhMjVlMWNhMDAzNjUyMDE0">“Puh-pah”</p> <p class="cnM4ZTBmODgwYzI0ZTQ1Njg5MjgwYjVlZDc3MmE4NTYz">Xendus and Queen pulled them both into a hug.</p> <p class="cnNlZjA3NzNiMjFkNDRkMWI5ODQ0ZjNhYzkwNzNmOTY1">Queen spoke, with the softest, gentlest voice that either of them had heard uttered from her mouth.</p> <p class="cnMzOTZhOTlkOTFhYzRmYzdiYzUxMDU3NjdhYTE0YTRi">“Reylor, it’s not your fault. It was her decision and hers alone. In fact, this is probably better. It would have been painful to lose yet another person after all she has gone through.</p> <p class="cnMyZDk0MjhiOThhODRhZjk4YTU0MTRjODUyZTQzYTE2">“And both of you, it’s time to come back. You have brought back what remains of my family, and I now know that I can trust you. You are our family, as well. Time to come back. Eric, Aileen, and Khes are worried about you guys, too, you know? Time to come home.”</p> <p class="cnNjZTBjZDNhMGFkZjQ4ZDE5MGM3MjJiMzgwODgwMjIx">And the gate closed as the four departed.</p> </div>

“Vwerr” Reylor opened a spatial gate to an island nearby. The other Seldin had given him the coordinates, which Reylor verified before preparing to go. “Vrrruump” The space gate close as they exited. “Grrr” “Shing!” They we met with a welcoming party. Shade. A hoard of shade beasts came pouring out of the barren forest before them. “Shadow slash!” “Magma domain!” “Light Bolt!” “Void Suppression!” Everyone executed skills, one after another. Now that they didn’t have to worry about protecting anyone, they decided it would be best to use less intense spell, so as to be able to recover more quickly after the fight. And so they fought. They slowly walked forward, slaughtering shade beasts like mosquitoes, or rather, roasting them like bags of marshmallows, was Lucy’s domain that was doing most of the work since most other skills couldn’t actually kill a shade beast. “How many of these things are there?” Khes asked, echoing the thoughts of the rest. “See that boundary line out there?” Reylor pointed. “For now we just need to get over there, then we can take a breather.” “That… Isn’t that like the circle at Votran’s forest?” Elany asked. “Yes, that is a field of spatial energy. Once we get there I’ll be able to take care of most of them.” “Ok, we’ll keep going.” “Shing! Shing!” “Sizzle Sizzle” “Shoof, Shoof” “Thunk” Another Shade beheaded, another shade cremated, another step forward. Another step forward. Hour after painstaking hour they continued against the unending river of shade beasts, until finally… “We are here!” Lucy cried out. Despite having a massive mana pool, maintaining a barrier for hours was not an easy feat, and she was nearing her limit. “Stay right there. I’m going to lift you guys up,” Reylor said as he walked into the curtain of spatial energy and raised his hand to the sky. “What do you mea—ahh!” Elany screamed out as a circle of earth below her and the other gave way and rose out of the ground like a pillar. The black energy began to circulate around Reylor, as he absorbed more and more. “Click” Reylor eyes turned blood red as he spread his arms out and appeared to mumble something from a different language. “Kathump” All the nearby shade fell over—tens of thousands dead, just like that. Reylor’s eyes returned to normal, and he used a skill to jump up to where the rest of the group was. No one bothered to comment on what had just happened. They were exhausted from the fight, and were still reeling from the knowledge of what was likely to come. “Where did they all come from?” Khes absent-mindedly asked as he surveyed the ocean of beast corpses before him. “He’s been collecting them.” “Collecting them? For how long?” “I don’t know exactly, but he has been working on it for years” “Years.” Khes breathed out. It was getting dark, so Eric, Aileen, Elany, and Lucy pulled out their tents for the night—not that any of them got much sleep… Meanwhile, Reylor jumped back down and spent the night absorbing the energy and using it to form a couple of contraptions and inscribe runes on them. *** *** *** The next morning everyone was up by the time the sun could be seen on the horizon. “Eric, take these,” Reylor said, handing him two orb-like devices. When you are ready to go back, press this button and throw it on the ground. It will create a spatial gate that will take you to the Praefectii camp we just came from. It will last for 15 minutes. Once you are ready there, do the same thing with the gold one to open a gate to the palace. That one will last for 42 minutes. Eric nodded his head in understanding. “If you are going to watch, take one of these” he said, Pulling out an armful of plain black jackets. “They’ll protect you from the side effects of the spatial energy. Just keep at least 200 yards back, or you will die.” Each person solemnly took a jacket. “Well, then. Let’s be off.” Reylor lowered them all down, and they set off into the dark haze in front of them. They kept walking as a castle came into view, becoming clearer and clearer. “This is it.” Reylor said, somewhat coldly. The spatial energy was once again having an effect on his personality. “Go do it man.” Eric said emotionlessly. Reylor gave each of the girls a quick hug and a nod to Khes and Eric before taking the long walk to the front of the castle. “My, my. Is this… Reylor? A cold elegant voice called out from the entrance. “Glistrel.” Reylor muttered. “Oh, my my! Is this all I get? I even came all the way out to the entrance to welcome you! So cold!” “Why have you done this?” Reylor asked. “Why have I done this? Why, I should be asking that to you! After all, you destroyed my constructs—and you *know* how long those things take to make… Ahh, fine then. You know how booooring it was in the Spatial hall, right? Well, I got tired of that nonsense, you see, and so when I came time for me to “retire” I though ‘Hey, why not have a little fun first?’” “You… You disobeyed the code?” “Of course I did! And you did too, I see.” “Actually, I didn’t.” “Oh, but of course you did! The code says that at the end of your 1,000 years of service, you must walk through the aethergate, and we all know that means you cease to exist. You get turned back into aether! Oh… Unless… You are telling me it malfunctioned?” “Yes, it did, which is why I am here.” “Ahahaha! The irony! You tried to die and it didn’t even work, hahaha! Well, no matter then. You’ll get your wish here.” Glistrel's eyes glowed red, and spatial energy began to circle around him. The same thing happened to Reylor. More and more energy circulated around each of them, pulling from the vast reserves Glistrel had collected over the years. Eventually there was so much energy moving around them, that they no longer looked like people, but merely black shadows, save for their red eyes. As a side-effect, the atmosphere became a bit lighter as the Seldins collected the energy. And then—they disappeared “eeeeeereeeeeekeeeeee.” A mind numbing screech assaulted the ears of Eric, Khes, Lucy, Aileen, and Elany—proof that the two had not actually left the place, but were simply moving so quickly that they couldn’t be seen, meanwhile generating a jarring noise from having broken the sound barrier many times over. Aileen put up her barrier to absorb to of the impact from the showdown. “The heck?” Khes said. “I can’t even see them…” “I can’t either” Eric replied. Ten minutes later: “They are slowing down” Khes said. “Yeah, I can see them at times. It’s so weird, I looks like they are trying to punch each other, but they are so in sync that it’s always their fists that collide at exactly the same place. They stopped, floating in the sky. “I see. So the rumors are true. A Seldin really cannot be stronger than his relative. And here I hoped to complete my subjugation. But alas, it seems it shall not be so.” “That is right. You are no longer fit to rule over the mortals of this world. I shall put an end to your existence. This is goodbye.” “Yes, we shall end it now.” “Shuuuuunk.” All the remaining spatial energy covering the entire region was nearly instantly collected by Glisten and Reylor, who subsequently turned black—that is, instead of having black energy swirling around them, their skin, their hair, their eyes and nails, all turned pitch black as they raised they extended their palms toward each other “Poof” “Kachink, Kachink, Kachunk” Their features turned back to normal and a black ball was formed between the two. They just stood there, as if trying to push the black orb of energy away from themselves and toward each other, but they were at a standstill. Then it started happening: Wisps of matter started flying off of each of them. They were literally decomposing in real time. Despite being able to use spatial energy to do all kinds of things, even Seldins had their limits. When in the face of pure, undiluted spatial energy, their bodies could not handle it, and would gradually decompose back into the aether. While Eric, Lucy, Aileen, and Khes were staring in shock and grief— “Mother of Aretor, laws of the aether Listen to my plea” “Elany?! What are you…” *“Its too late to stop her, but what is she doing?”* Lucy thought. “Though the flesh be consumed, let the life remain. Flesh for flesh, and a life for a life. The cycle of sacrifice is true. *“Oh, no. No, not that! Elany, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”* “I give my life, a recompense for the lost. Let things that are be as they were. Look down on this plane and bear witness: Soul reversal…” *“No, Elany! You can’t do this! Don’t do it!”* “Holy Sacrifice, Tier…” “Eight!” Lucy’s face completely drained of color. Prime spells were said to only have seven tiers, but there was one more that people seldom spoke of—the eighth tier. An eighth tier prime spell was akin to an archaic spell, meaning the one who cast it… Would die. “Kathump” Just as the last bits of Reylor and Glisten were about to disappear, time once again froze. Elany slowly dematerialized, replaced with the full figure of Reylor. “Kabam!” Time resumed with an explosion of the ball of spatial energy, washing over the island, and a bit further, before dispersing into the atmosphere. “Crrrr. Pow!” Like a pane of glass breaking, the constructions that Glisten had used for channeling spatial energy all over Aretor shattered. Reylor stood up and looked around. *“Huh? Eric. Khes. Aileen. Lucy. Ela—Elany?”* He looked around, scanning the area. “Elany?” *“Wait, what happened to my vision? And I don’t sense any karma?”* He was in a daze, as he kept looking around. “Void art: Presence…” *“Woah, am I completely out of spatial energy? Wait… My core… I don’t have a spatial core—so that means…”* He looked around again, finally resting his gaze on Lucy. “Did Elany…” Lucy nodded her head stiffly. “Elany.” He breathed out, turning his gaze to the distance. His features relaxed, though his eyes seemed glazed over. “Let’s go.” They returned to the Praefectii to pick up one as a representative. With the coordinates known, the permanent gate at the palace could be redirected to the temporary Praefectii camp. “Vwerr” “Vwump” They arrived in front of the palace. “I’ll take care of things here,” Eric said gently. “Take some time for yourself.” Reylor nodded. “Do you want to go back to your castle?” Reylor asked Lucy. Lucy shook her head. “Ok.” He nodded. “Vwerr” He opened another spatial gate and stepped through, but as he did, a hand firmly grasped onto his arm. Lucy was pulled through with him, to greet the scene together. There were a few plants sprouting here or there, but it was still obviously the same place—they were met with a scenery of blackness. Charcoal was everywhere, save for a few bits of metal or other things that fire was not able to completely burn through. It was Splendor “You can’t do this alone.” Lucy whispered, and then paused. “And neither can I.” She wrapped her arms around Reylor’s waist, and he returned the gesture. “Drip. Drip drop.” And so for the first time in over a million years, Reylor cried. “Why?” Reylor choked out. “Why would she do this?” “I don’t know, I really don’t know!” Lucy cried. “I don’t know…” They sat down on the ground, and stayed there without saying another word to each other, but only holding up because of they knew they were in this together. One night. Two nights. Three nights. They said nothing Four nights. “Vwerr” A spatial gate opened and two people walked out. Reylor glanced over at them, but immediately lowered his head back down in grief and in shame. “I thought I might find you here.” A cool voice drifted through the air, carrying no discernable emotion. “Reylor, Lucy, get up.” A deep voice said, with an authoritative power. They stood up without a word. “Puh-pah” Xendus and Queen pulled them both into a hug. Queen spoke, with the softest, gentlest voice that either of them had heard uttered from her mouth. “Reylor, it’s not your fault. It was her decision and hers alone. In fact, this is probably better. It would have been painful to lose yet another person after all she has gone through. “And both of you, it’s time to come back. You have brought back what remains of my family, and I now know that I can trust you. You are our family, as well. Time to come back. Eric, Aileen, and Khes are worried about you guys, too, you know? Time to come home.” And the gate closed as the four departed.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNjN2FmNDU5ZGQ5ZjRiM2Y5ZjA1MjdjYjliMWU1NmIx">Broly, Jabie, and Esumi are on their way to the chunin exams and have just&nbsp;arrived to see a long line of genin waiting in a line. The Trio of Demons just walked past the line and entered the building with sounds of complaints behind them. Although no one decided to do anything about it. As the three were going towards room 301 they noticed Team 7 and Team 9 being held up by two guys in front of the door. Jabie and Esumi looked at each other in confusion.</p> <p class="cnMwOTViYzcxYzQzNDQ1ZGVhZDUyMzNjMTFlMDM2NzU0">"Yes, the fools around us don't realize this is the second floor and that is a genjutsu on the door." Broly said.</p> <p class="cnM4NmM4MGIxMjM5YTRiZGFhZmZmN2RlNjMyZTMwMTZj">"Hahaha what are their senseis even teaching them if they can't see through a simple trick like this?" Esumi says loudly while laughing, alerting everyone to the fact that they are being tricked by the two guys at the door and that Esumi laughed at their teachers.</p> <p class="cnNjNWE2NGQwMGI2MTQ4OGI4NWExMjg3NzEzZGNiYTM3">"So you three saw through it huh?" One of the guys at the door says before walking up to the trio of demons.</p> <p class="cnM5OThiMzRhOWY5ODQ2NWI5OGIwNWUzMTAwNTVjNzM5">"Not bad… but all you did was see through it!" He said before throwing a low kick towards Esumi.</p> <p class="cnMxNjkzYzE4NWY5ZDQxYzU4NmMyNTdmZTU1NWY2NjBm">What the man failed to see was Esumi's bloodthirsty grin at the fact that this random guy decided to attack her first and give her a reason to test one of her new babies. She currently had her metal pipe like sword which she named Basher. Esumi instantly grabbed Basher off her back and smashed towards the guy's leg. His partner who was standing at the door decided to intervene and also attack with his friend. The two guys' attacks landed together upon Basher and a struggle ensued between the power of Esumi and the power of the two guys. The two shinobi were slightly freaking out at the insane power of this girl because they were not gaining any ground in the class, if anything she was starting to overwhelm them!</p> <p class="cnNiYTI4NDhlNmE4MzQwNjdhNTc3Mzk1MTAxMDBkZmY3">But alas, they had a saving grace in the form of a tailed boy.</p> <p class="cnM3N2Q1ODQwYzNhODQ5MzA5ODZiNWE5NzhhMjFlOWZj">"Esumi save it for the actual exam. I don't want to get caught up with some weaklings before the real fun begins." Broly says.</p> <p class="cnMyZmRlZTUzMGZiMjQxZjdhMjhiMzM2NDI4OTA0MjJl">"You two wimps got lucky. If I see you in the future, make sure to run. I love a good chase." Esumi says before walking away with Broly and Jabie.</p> <p class="cnMwYmYyMmUyNWMwNjQ2M2Q4ZDY1YTBkMjRkMDE5YzFl">Ten-ten looked at the girl in shock after recognizing her from yesterday. She doesn't even think she could do that against those two ninjas. And she dismissed and looked down on her simply because of her height and voice.</p> <p class="cnNkOTVkZmI3MjZlNzQyZDhhNTU2YTk5ZjY5N2IyNjZl">'I hope she doesn't remember me from yesterday.'</p> <p class="cnNhZDgyNGEyNWZmMjRjMTBhNTllYmNmNDQ4N2RjMzI5">The Trio of Demons were heading upstairs. They noticed that two members of Team 7 and Team 9 are about to fight, but quickly ignored them and continued their way upstairs.</p> <p class="cnNmNjMyMjRjZTJiMDRhZGY4YTRlZTZjNDc3MWRlNzY2">"Two weaklings fighting each other brings no joy to me." Broly says.</p> <p class="cnM4YjQ4MzAwZmQ5YzQ0ZDk5ZjRjZWJmNDEwYTM0M2Rm">"I'm going to stay for a bit to watch Aomatsuna-sama. I want to see if they have anything interesting to show." Jabie says as Aomatsuna and Esumi continued walking upstairs.</p> <p class="cnNhZjUzOTdjNzE1NzQ5NjQ4NWRlMjNkNGYyOTEzNDYy">After watching an amusing battle between Naruto and Lee, Jabie returned to his team only to be greeted with his sensei at the end of the hall with Aomatsuna and Esumi.</p> <p class="cnM0YjU4ZjRmNjQyOTQxOTI5OTRmMGY2NTc5YWUxNGIz">"It seems you guys aren't disqualified from the chunin exams. Each genin team must be present with all three of their members or they would be instantly disqualified and prevented from entering." Ko said with an irritated looking Broly and Esumi.</p> <p class="cnMxZWEwYjI4NDc4ODRjNTQ5OTg1NWViYzg0NGJkNGU1">"Whatever! Can we go in now?!" Esumi shouted.</p> <p class="cnM1OTdjYzBkMjI0MTQ3YTU5MTIzNThhMjg2NWNhNDk0">"Good luck Team 11! Make me proud!" Ko said before body flicker away.</p> <p class="cnNlMWI2ZjJlYmFjODRhYmNhYjFiYzdhZTI4ZGZlZTVj">"Make my proud my ass. The guy barely taught us anything." Esumi murmured.</p> <p class="cnNlNDQ3MGQzM2I2NTQ4NTZhZWFlZGU5NjM1NzM0NDE1">Team 11 walked through the door 301 and was greeted with a room filled with genin staring at them. Broly and Esumi showed an excited smile at all the opponents. Jabie on the other hand was also smiling with them but for a different reason.</p> <p class="cnM3Y2Q1ZmUwOWM5MjRjNWE4NjMxNTI4NjRkMDc4MDY0">'So many test subjects! I'm sure the examiners won't mind if a few of them have some problems with them. Right?!'</p> <p class="cnM5MGU1NzJhZjI1YTQ0MTk5NjY3OWRmOWNhZmEzODkw">Team 7 appeared behind them and were shocked at the amount of ninjas inside the room. Naruto showed an excited grin at Team 11 and walked over to them while leaving Sasuke and Sakura behind.</p> <p class="cnNjMmZkZDVmZjZiMzQwMWM4M2M4ZmU0OTM5YTY1NDM5">"Hey guys!! You're here too huh?!" Naruto said in his usual loud manner.</p> <p class="cnNmMTIxODYwYTA2MjRkOGQ4YmUxNzZiYjJkZDdiNmJj">"Yes Naruto. I'm shocked your sensei let you guys take the exam. I thought he was a teamwork loser sensei and not a training type." Esumi said.</p> <p class="cnM5Mjk5YjdiNTZmOTQyODJiZGRiYjcwOTAwY2IyZWQ3">"Well he is, but I won't let that hold me back! I'm gonna be hokage ya know!" Naruto states in a matter-of-fact way.</p> <p class="cnMxZjc2ZDEzOTMwNDRmY2NiZDVmN2JkYzk5ZjgzNzY3">"Well I hope your team is as ready as you seem Uzumaki-san." Jabie says as he notices Sasuke being glomped by Ino.</p> <p class="cnNjM2IxNmQ4ZDI3NzQ1OWI4ZTRmZDkxYjQwMjA3ODBk">Naruto looked back at his team and noticed what was going on and waved goodbye to Team 11 and ran back over to his team and started to interact with the rest of the genin from the academy. Due to the ruckus they were making, a grey haired ninja with a ponytail and glasses walked over to them and scolded them for the noise they were making. He introduced himself as Kabuto before pointing out the fact that everyone else is nervous about the exam and they aren't helping by being loud.</p> <p class="cnMxYThkN2E5MDk1MzQxM2I5M2VhOGFkODNjMDc3ODFm">He then took out some cards he called nin-info cards. They were explained as cards that have information burned into them with chakra. As he was explaining he was interrupted by Sasuke. Sasuke asked if he had information about certain people. Kabuto chuckled before answering Sasuke's question with a yes. Sasuke then asked if he had information about two people. Aomatsuna Hakuseki of the hidden leaf and Garra from the hidden sand.</p> <p class="cnNiN2QwZGM4MzNlYzQzMTY5NGZjYTg1MjEzNzg3MDM5">"Great you even know their names that should make this easy then." Kabuto said as he started flipping through his cards.</p> <p class="cnNlYjNhNWUzZDcwODQzMTA5NGMxNzA5YWM4NGQxZjk1">He pulled out two cards and started to read their information listed.<br><br>"Aomatsuna Hakuseki is in the same year as you all. They have completed 10 D-rank missions and that's it. His sensei is Ko Hyuga. He is great at taijutsu, but that is all that is known about his abilities. He is said to have a mysterious kekkei genkai that is linked to his tail he keeps hidden when he's not in battle."</p> <p class="cnNlOWJmNmJmNGU0ZTQ0NWE5NjFmYmIyM2VkOTlmZWFi">"Garra of the desert has completed 8 c-ranks and 1 b-rank mission as a genin. It was stated that he returned from all his missions without even a scratch."</p> <p class="cnMzNjRhMzAwODc4NjRkNWM5MTYxOTZiOTQ3MDc2M2M3">A few moments later 3 ninjas from the village hidden in sound walked towards Kabuto's location. 1 of the ninjas threw two kunai towards Kabuto, causing Kabuto to dodge. The second sound ninja snuck up on Kabuto and threw a punch at his face. Kabuto dodged in surprise but suddenly his glasses cracked and he started to vomit on the floor. The genin from Konoha went over to support Kabuto before hearing a loud shout.</p> <p class="cnM2N2VjMmM0NTE3NTQ4OTc5NmQ3N2ZkYjFiOTRhMTE1">"QUIET DOWN YOU USELESS BASTARDS!" A man with a scar across his left face shouted as he appeared with multiple chunin behind him. This quieted down all the genin in the room due to his scary appearance and loud authoritative voice.</p> <p class="cnMzMjdlNmIyNDUyZjQzYTliMmRiMDJjNjliYmE0NmY5">"I am Morino Ibiki, the examiner for the chunin selection exams's first test. If I see any genin attempt to attack each other again consider your team disqualified!" He warned.</p> <p class="cnNjNjcwNzA3NTBkMjRmN2U4ZTE0YWIzNmFkMjgzNzJk">"To start off the first test, pick one of these tags and sit in the seat assigned to you. After that we will hand out the exams."</p> <p class="cnNmMTZlMTQwZmI0ZjQwN2Y5YmI5NGZjMDU2YzVkNmVj">"WHAT A PAPER TEST!?!?" yelled Kiba.</p> <p class="cnMyYTgwYTY0NDI3MjRiMGE5ZmIxMTllOGZkZDk0ZjFm">Everyone has been assorted into different seats, effectively splitting up each team. Team 11 are all split up and are surrounded by foreign shinobi.</p> <p class="cnNkNWEyZmVhYzlhZDQ2YTk4YjRmZGYxNGQ3NGYwMjcz">Ibiki looked over the genin before saying "Do not turn over your tests yet. Listen to my next instructions. There are many rules to this first test. I'll write it on the board while I explain, but questions will not be allowed so listen carefully."</p> <p class="cnMwOWIxYmQyZjMxZDQzYzdiODAyMDk4NjU3MzIwOThk">He started to explain the rules of the test before starting the test and saying that it will last for an hour. Aomatsuna looked at his test in annoyance. He wanted to fight. Not waste his time answering pointless questions. Even though he can answer all the questions very easily due to the reading he has done when he was younger to find information about this new world he came to, it doesn't mean he like it. He answered the questions about cryptograms, math, algebra, and history before seeing the final question.</p> <p class="cnMwMDI3ZmI1YWNiNDRhNTFhNDA3ODRjNTI1OGQ5OTA0">'This question will be revealed 45 minutes after the test begins. Listen to examiner closely before answering.' It read.</p> <p class="cnMwMTRmMTJiOWVkMjQ4ZjJhZmU4OTUzYTA3NzViMGI0">Aomatsuna looked over to see that Jabie and Esumi were done as well. Esumi may not act as smart as Jabie or Aomatsuna, but don't let her personality fool you. She's just as smart as they are, but prefers to act the way she does so she doesn't seem nerdy like Jabie. She likes to keep her intelligence hidden, even though Aomatsuna and Jabie already know how smart she is.</p> <p class="cnNkOWMxYjA5ZGExYTQ5YmFiZmZhNzQwMzRkYTNjMzUz">Jabie was waiting for the final question and was suddenly targeted by an enemy shinobi. He felt a member of the Aburame clan insect land on his shoulder to look at his paper. He engulfed the insect with a tiny water bubble from his shoulder and put it in his bookbag storage by sucking the insect through the seal on his bookbag. He smiled at the nice donation from a fellow leaf nin.</p> <p class="cnM0MWI1ODQyNDBjNDQ4Y2I4ZTczZWE1MzVkMDNmMDFj">It seems Jabie wasn't the only member of Team 11 targeted by an enemy shinobi for looking finished. Esumi was targeted by a member of the Yamanaka clan and had her consciousness stolen. Although it seems she somehow prepared for having her consciousness stolen after her battle with Team 10 last week. She had lightning chakra constantly surging throughout her body, although is normally extremely dangerous due to the fact that it could electrocute the user from the inside out and cook them alive if sufficient control isn't kept over their lightning chakra Esumi does not have this problem. But it seems the Yamanaka user who took over her body landed himself in quite the shocking situation because as soon as he possessed Esumi her body and the Yamanaka who took over her body was electrocuted. Scaring and shocking most of the genin taking the test.</p> <p class="cnNkZmEwMTgyNGY3NzQ3Nzc5NzcyMWJmM2ZiN2ZlOGNi">She smiled before waving her hand "Sorry about that examiner-san. Someone must have left electrical wire somewhere in here." She said while smoking slightly.</p> <p class="cnMxMDIxZjU0OGU0ZjQwZTFiNDA2ZTg1NjkwOWM2NmI2">Jabie did his water mystical palm jutsu from across the room while dampening its color and making it near invisible and started to heal Esumi's burnt body. She started healing quickly and soon returned to a nice silky white appearance that was healthier looking than earlier.</p> <p class="cnM2NWVlYTgxNzExZjRmMjhiMzgwNGRhNzUxMTdiYjRk">"Ok! We will now start the final question." Ibiki said.</p> <p class="cnMxNmY0YTI5YWNhNTQ5YWViYWI3MDFlNTY5NmQxYjhm">"But before I get to the question, I would like to inform you all about the added rules for this question."</p> <p class="cnMxM2YzZGRlYmE0NzQ0YTU4Y2IxMzg2ZjIyOWFmMzNi">"For this question you are given the option of deciding whether or not you want to take it."<br><br>"What happens if we choose not to take it!?" A random genin asked in worry</p> <p class="cnMxMzI2ZWY1ZmIxMDRlZDVhZDIwMDQzNjI5N2M3YWUz">"If you choose not to, your points will be reduced to zero and you fail along with your teammates!"</p> <p class="cnNhOTA2MjI3Mzk1YzQ4ZDU5NDAwM2UzMmNjNzViMjdm">"Why wouldn't we take it then!?" Another genin shouted</p> <p class="cnMxMWU4M2IwZjVjZjQ5ZWQ5NTc1YzEwMzhhYWNlOWY3">"If you choose to take it and answer incorrectly that person will lose the right to take the chunin exams ever again."</p> <p class="cnMyMWM5MzJiYjkyZDQ3M2NhMDg0NGUzNzY0NzhjM2I2">"What kind of dumb rule is that?! There are people who have taken this exams multiple times before!!" Kiba yelled.</p> <p class="cnM1ZTM4N2Y4YzJmNjRmZDc4NGFlZWVmODhjMjdjYWYy">"You genin were unlucky that I am this year's examiner. But I did give you guys a way out. Those that aren't confident can not take the question and simple try again next year."</p> <p class="cnM0MWIwNzg0NGE3NTQ3NmE4ODM2YWI2ZTFjOGIyYmEy">"Now let's begin. Those who don't want to take the question raise your hands. Once your number is confirmed leave."</p> <p class="cnNiZTkwODU4MTZkODRjYTNiZDk4NzJiM2I2OTcxOWIz">Multiple hands started to raise up. Resulting in multiple teams being failed, but also given a chance for next year's chunin exams. Our Trio of Demons simply waited for the question while looking irritated that this is taking so long.</p> </div>

Broly, Jabie, and Esumi are on their way to the chunin exams and have just arrived to see a long line of genin waiting in a line. The Trio of Demons just walked past the line and entered the building with sounds of complaints behind them. Although no one decided to do anything about it. As the three were going towards room 301 they noticed Team 7 and Team 9 being held up by two guys in front of the door. Jabie and Esumi looked at each other in confusion. "Yes, the fools around us don't realize this is the second floor and that is a genjutsu on the door." Broly said. "Hahaha what are their senseis even teaching them if they can't see through a simple trick like this?" Esumi says loudly while laughing, alerting everyone to the fact that they are being tricked by the two guys at the door and that Esumi laughed at their teachers. "So you three saw through it huh?" One of the guys at the door says before walking up to the trio of demons. "Not bad… but all you did was see through it!" He said before throwing a low kick towards Esumi. What the man failed to see was Esumi's bloodthirsty grin at the fact that this random guy decided to attack her first and give her a reason to test one of her new babies. She currently had her metal pipe like sword which she named Basher. Esumi instantly grabbed Basher off her back and smashed towards the guy's leg. His partner who was standing at the door decided to intervene and also attack with his friend. The two guys' attacks landed together upon Basher and a struggle ensued between the power of Esumi and the power of the two guys. The two shinobi were slightly freaking out at the insane power of this girl because they were not gaining any ground in the class, if anything she was starting to overwhelm them! But alas, they had a saving grace in the form of a tailed boy. "Esumi save it for the actual exam. I don't want to get caught up with some weaklings before the real fun begins." Broly says. "You two wimps got lucky. If I see you in the future, make sure to run. I love a good chase." Esumi says before walking away with Broly and Jabie. Ten-ten looked at the girl in shock after recognizing her from yesterday. She doesn't even think she could do that against those two ninjas. And she dismissed and looked down on her simply because of her height and voice. 'I hope she doesn't remember me from yesterday.' The Trio of Demons were heading upstairs. They noticed that two members of Team 7 and Team 9 are about to fight, but quickly ignored them and continued their way upstairs. "Two weaklings fighting each other brings no joy to me." Broly says. "I'm going to stay for a bit to watch Aomatsuna-sama. I want to see if they have anything interesting to show." Jabie says as Aomatsuna and Esumi continued walking upstairs. After watching an amusing battle between Naruto and Lee, Jabie returned to his team only to be greeted with his sensei at the end of the hall with Aomatsuna and Esumi. "It seems you guys aren't disqualified from the chunin exams. Each genin team must be present with all three of their members or they would be instantly disqualified and prevented from entering." Ko said with an irritated looking Broly and Esumi. "Whatever! Can we go in now?!" Esumi shouted. "Good luck Team 11! Make me proud!" Ko said before body flicker away. "Make my proud my ass. The guy barely taught us anything." Esumi murmured. Team 11 walked through the door 301 and was greeted with a room filled with genin staring at them. Broly and Esumi showed an excited smile at all the opponents. Jabie on the other hand was also smiling with them but for a different reason. 'So many test subjects! I'm sure the examiners won't mind if a few of them have some problems with them. Right?!' Team 7 appeared behind them and were shocked at the amount of ninjas inside the room. Naruto showed an excited grin at Team 11 and walked over to them while leaving Sasuke and Sakura behind. "Hey guys!! You're here too huh?!" Naruto said in his usual loud manner. "Yes Naruto. I'm shocked your sensei let you guys take the exam. I thought he was a teamwork loser sensei and not a training type." Esumi said. "Well he is, but I won't let that hold me back! I'm gonna be hokage ya know!" Naruto states in a matter-of-fact way. "Well I hope your team is as ready as you seem Uzumaki-san." Jabie says as he notices Sasuke being glomped by Ino. Naruto looked back at his team and noticed what was going on and waved goodbye to Team 11 and ran back over to his team and started to interact with the rest of the genin from the academy. Due to the ruckus they were making, a grey haired ninja with a ponytail and glasses walked over to them and scolded them for the noise they were making. He introduced himself as Kabuto before pointing out the fact that everyone else is nervous about the exam and they aren't helping by being loud. He then took out some cards he called nin-info cards. They were explained as cards that have information burned into them with chakra. As he was explaining he was interrupted by Sasuke. Sasuke asked if he had information about certain people. Kabuto chuckled before answering Sasuke's question with a yes. Sasuke then asked if he had information about two people. Aomatsuna Hakuseki of the hidden leaf and Garra from the hidden sand. "Great you even know their names that should make this easy then." Kabuto said as he started flipping through his cards. He pulled out two cards and started to read their information listed. "Aomatsuna Hakuseki is in the same year as you all. They have completed 10 D-rank missions and that's it. His sensei is Ko Hyuga. He is great at taijutsu, but that is all that is known about his abilities. He is said to have a mysterious kekkei genkai that is linked to his tail he keeps hidden when he's not in battle." "Garra of the desert has completed 8 c-ranks and 1 b-rank mission as a genin. It was stated that he returned from all his missions without even a scratch." A few moments later 3 ninjas from the village hidden in sound walked towards Kabuto's location. 1 of the ninjas threw two kunai towards Kabuto, causing Kabuto to dodge. The second sound ninja snuck up on Kabuto and threw a punch at his face. Kabuto dodged in surprise but suddenly his glasses cracked and he started to vomit on the floor. The genin from Konoha went over to support Kabuto before hearing a loud shout. "QUIET DOWN YOU USELESS BASTARDS!" A man with a scar across his left face shouted as he appeared with multiple chunin behind him. This quieted down all the genin in the room due to his scary appearance and loud authoritative voice. "I am Morino Ibiki, the examiner for the chunin selection exams's first test. If I see any genin attempt to attack each other again consider your team disqualified!" He warned. "To start off the first test, pick one of these tags and sit in the seat assigned to you. After that we will hand out the exams." "WHAT A PAPER TEST!?!?" yelled Kiba. Everyone has been assorted into different seats, effectively splitting up each team. Team 11 are all split up and are surrounded by foreign shinobi. Ibiki looked over the genin before saying "Do not turn over your tests yet. Listen to my next instructions. There are many rules to this first test. I'll write it on the board while I explain, but questions will not be allowed so listen carefully." He started to explain the rules of the test before starting the test and saying that it will last for an hour. Aomatsuna looked at his test in annoyance. He wanted to fight. Not waste his time answering pointless questions. Even though he can answer all the questions very easily due to the reading he has done when he was younger to find information about this new world he came to, it doesn't mean he like it. He answered the questions about cryptograms, math, algebra, and history before seeing the final question. 'This question will be revealed 45 minutes after the test begins. Listen to examiner closely before answering.' It read. Aomatsuna looked over to see that Jabie and Esumi were done as well. Esumi may not act as smart as Jabie or Aomatsuna, but don't let her personality fool you. She's just as smart as they are, but prefers to act the way she does so she doesn't seem nerdy like Jabie. She likes to keep her intelligence hidden, even though Aomatsuna and Jabie already know how smart she is. Jabie was waiting for the final question and was suddenly targeted by an enemy shinobi. He felt a member of the Aburame clan insect land on his shoulder to look at his paper. He engulfed the insect with a tiny water bubble from his shoulder and put it in his bookbag storage by sucking the insect through the seal on his bookbag. He smiled at the nice donation from a fellow leaf nin. It seems Jabie wasn't the only member of Team 11 targeted by an enemy shinobi for looking finished. Esumi was targeted by a member of the Yamanaka clan and had her consciousness stolen. Although it seems she somehow prepared for having her consciousness stolen after her battle with Team 10 last week. She had lightning chakra constantly surging throughout her body, although is normally extremely dangerous due to the fact that it could electrocute the user from the inside out and cook them alive if sufficient control isn't kept over their lightning chakra Esumi does not have this problem. But it seems the Yamanaka user who took over her body landed himself in quite the shocking situation because as soon as he possessed Esumi her body and the Yamanaka who took over her body was electrocuted. Scaring and shocking most of the genin taking the test. She smiled before waving her hand "Sorry about that examiner-san. Someone must have left electrical wire somewhere in here." She said while smoking slightly. Jabie did his water mystical palm jutsu from across the room while dampening its color and making it near invisible and started to heal Esumi's burnt body. She started healing quickly and soon returned to a nice silky white appearance that was healthier looking than earlier. "Ok! We will now start the final question." Ibiki said. "But before I get to the question, I would like to inform you all about the added rules for this question." "For this question you are given the option of deciding whether or not you want to take it." "What happens if we choose not to take it!?" A random genin asked in worry "If you choose not to, your points will be reduced to zero and you fail along with your teammates!" "Why wouldn't we take it then!?" Another genin shouted "If you choose to take it and answer incorrectly that person will lose the right to take the chunin exams ever again." "What kind of dumb rule is that?! There are people who have taken this exams multiple times before!!" Kiba yelled. "You genin were unlucky that I am this year's examiner. But I did give you guys a way out. Those that aren't confident can not take the question and simple try again next year." "Now let's begin. Those who don't want to take the question raise your hands. Once your number is confirmed leave." Multiple hands started to raise up. Resulting in multiple teams being failed, but also given a chance for next year's chunin exams. Our Trio of Demons simply waited for the question while looking irritated that this is taking so long.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM2OWNjNTY1ZWFiNTRlMzZiYWZlMGY1MjJjOWNhODkw">The night was calm as the sky on a normal day. The air remained cold. Trees danced in the wind.</p> <p class="cnMwY2IyY2RmOTkyNTRkMjFiNmI1Y2I4M2RmYzE4ZWM0">Two figures overlooked a city. It was Leo and Artos.</p> <p class="cnNhYTBhMzRhYmVkODRmNDBiZDY4NWIwZjgwMTEwNDcz">Artos hid a knife inside his clothes. This would be his way out if he got found. He had no problem killing the people that kidnapped his squad members and almost kidnapped him.</p> <p class="cnM4NDQ5YjAwNTFlZjQ5M2RhZmY2NzhkOTFiNmNjMTcz">Leo had a secret weapon. Tenebris. But he still kept two daggers with him. He could summon Tenebris anytime. One dagger was for the clone while the other was for him in case of an emergency.</p> <p class="cnM4ZTljNzQwOWM1YTRlMWI5NmE1MmUxMGQxNWM5Y2U5">"We both need to split up. Enter from different parts. I don't know if we will meet there or not, but if we meet do not act familiar in case they doubt us or something. Got it?" Artos said. This did not scare him, but taking precautions were necessary because they could stop his powers.</p> <p class="cnMwYjI1YWE3Y2U1MDQyY2U5NTMyNDEyM2NjOWExZDc4">Leo said nothing. He left Artos alone. Why would he ever go talk to Artos? The only reason they even knew each other was because of this mission. Also, he did not plan to return on the next day since he needs to find more information about the power Aldous used.</p> <p class="cnNjZjM1YzIzNzA3OTQ4N2Y5MThiZWMwOTExZmVhM2Mx">Leo went to the east side of the city. When he arrived there, the place had four guards. The guards had normal clothes. They had spears on their backs. The spearhead extended above their heads. While the shoe was near their knees. The spears were kept on the guards back using ropes. Two. Both in the stomach region.</p> <p class="cnNlODFlOTVmZjUxZjRkZWFiMWRkZWQ3M2Y2ODNkZGM0">It was late into the night. The torches lit up the place. There were two near the entrance where two guards stood. Then two more torches were kept on top of baskets filled with sand. They erected the torches on top of the sand. Two guards stood near these torches. They were towards the side of the gate.</p> <p class="cnNlMjYyOTFjZDM2YTQwOGM4OTQzMzA4ZDg4NGVmNTA4">There were also many people sleeping inside the gates. Some in tents many without tents.</p> <p class="cnM4NjMxZWFiM2JiZjRlNDU5ZGJlODM1NjQ1ZDExOWYx">There were also more guards across the wooden gates. Torches also lit up the area, but this place had the least guards, but they were concentrated. This will make things difficult.</p> <p class="cnM5M2Q3ZDk1ODIzNzRiZGI5MGY3ZjQ0MTEyN2E0Y2Rm">He needed a distraction. A thought came to his mind. The rock beast. Yes, he could use its carcass as a distraction.</p> <p class="cnM1OTM3MDcxNWI4YzRlZmQ5NGY1ODA2MTIyOTcxOGQx">Leo left the city. He rushed towards the pond. Then he followed the direction he had taken. Finally, after fifteen minutes he found the carcass of the beast.</p> <p class="cnMzMTIwMTk3OWRiZTQ5NDViZGZmMjE2ODBmNzI0ZjRh">He took less time to reach the pond because the city was close to the pond when compared to the village.</p> <p class="cnM5NjQ2NWM5MjFiNDQxNzg4MDk4MTlmZGM2NjExYzc1">The beast was heavy; he had to cut off a lot of its body using Tenebris. It was hard and time-consuming, but he did it. He cut the beast in half from its stomach. He only took the front part of the beast while he left the other part. Leo took the carcass and moved back to the city.</p> <p class="cnMyZjA2NGNmYzIzNDQ2MThiZWQ4MWFjNzg1MTMwYzgx">He needed to position the beast. He would do the same thing the beast did.</p> <p class="cnMzZjUyN2NhZTE4YjQzNzBiNjRmZWIyMDc0YjEzOTNi">He would summon his clone and use its pressure to make the crunching noises. Then, he would sneak into the city. After that, he would summon the clone back.</p> <p class="cnMyMmNhODIzMjQ2YTQxZjBiNDRlNzAyMGFjOGQxODc4">Leo position the beast behind a bush. It was towards the left of the gate. He then summoned his clone and move away from the area.</p> <p class="cnNiM2NlMmQ5Yzk3YzRhMzFiNzdlZmE3YzI1M2JkODcz">Leo then commanded the clone to break twigs and to crunch the fallen leaves. The clone followed his orders.</p> <p class="cnNlNGI5YWU4Nzc2NzQwM2FiOWI3ZDc2N2RmOGMzZDhm">He had to be quick before the rotten smell of the carcass spreads.</p> <p class="cnM1YWQ1NTY5MDZkODQ4ZmJiNThmYWRiNjhkMTM1ODlh">One guard who heard the sound asked his companion. "What is that sound?"</p> <p class="cnNlYmRhMDI1ZmI4NzRmMmNhNjE4MTkwYTA3NDY0YTM3">"Huh?" The companion also heard the noise. He had not heard it at first, but now he did.</p> <p class="cnNiZWQ1YzZmM2FhNDQwMzJhMzZhMDZlMDc1MmVkNzk2">The guard who heard the noises first untied the rope and took out his spear. "Shit, don't tell me it's a beast attack."</p> <p class="cnM5ZDViNzIwODExYjRiYzZiNjdjMzk3ZGE5YzMyOTUw">The shaft of the spear was made of wood while the spearhead was made sharpened rock.</p> <p class="cnNhMzRkOWM2YjViOTRmZGU5ODQ1NDM5ODRjMDZhMDA1">His companion used his hand to put the spear down. "Don't rush to a conclusion. You know what happened last time you screamed about a beast attack right?"</p> <p class="cnNhMjE0MTFjMTJmOTRmYjRhNjVkNTUyYTE3YzBlZjJk">Ahh, The first person to hear the noise screamed on the inside. He did not dare to think about it. He could not scream this time.</p> <p class="cnMyN2M4YmRlNWI3ODQ4YWY4YmE0ZmM3NDM0YWQxOGFh">His companion walked towards the direction of the voice. "Let's go check it out."</p> <p class="cnMyMDBjYjAwNGQ5NjQ5Yjk5MDFhMzIxMjE5YjUzNDNk">They both walked towards the source of the noise.</p> <p class="cnMyN2M5ZDJjYTg2NDQ0YmQ5MWFkY2U4OGFlYjhlNzg3">Leo got ready to sneak into the city. If anything went wrong and people gathered his only option, then would be to blend into the group of people. That was a dangerous plan, so this had to work.</p> <p class="cnM5OWM2MDM5Njc5ZTQ4ODZhNjMwNTYxZjQwYmRjMDBi">Leo recalled the clone.</p> <p class="cnMxNjkzZWEwYjRhZTQ1MDBiOWZjYzY4MmUzZTFmYjI3">The man who heard the noises at the start looked past the bush. There he saw the rock beast. Since it was the night, he did not get a look at its body, but he had seen beasts like this before.</p> <p class="cnMyYWViMDZmZWE3MTQ4NTBhMTc4MjJhMWU2NTE5MTQz">"AHH," The man screamed.</p> <p class="cnM2YTQwNDNjZjc0MTRlZjhiMDkzMjM1ZDM0MzYzODYx">His companion tried to stop, but the man did not listen. "It's a beast attack!" he shouted.</p> <p class="cnNlNGZlMjIwOWQzZjQyYWFiNDdjNjlhYWM4MTBlNjU0">Hearing the shouts the two guards at the entrance and more from the sides came towards the area. With their weapon in hand.</p> <p class="cnMyYTg4MTAwNzY3ODQ0MWZhYzQ4ZWFjMjdkZWM2OWI2">There have been beast attacks before, so they were all ready. Well, some more than others.</p> <p class="cnMzZWIzZTA0ZDRlZjQ2M2E4NmEyYTE1YmEwY2M0OWNi">"Alert the main guards!" The man shouted once again.</p> <p class="cnNkNDk4MGNjOTJiODRkZDRhNzJiY2Q2NjJiN2Q4NGU0">He got a hit on his head. When he looked back, it was his companion. "Shut up, you fool. It is only one beast, right? We can handle it. No need to alert the main guards."</p> <p class="cnNlYmQ5MzAyMTVmNDQ3ZmY5ZTU2ZjM2NDM4Mzc4ZDcz">The man's companion along with the others moved towards the bush where they found the beast.</p> <p class="cnNkYTdlZGM2MTFjMDQxYjI4ZmU2NWQ4ZWNmMzUzY2U1">This was his opportunity. There was no one in the area. Ten people who were near the area moved towards the bush. He could not get a better chance than this.</p> <p class="cnM1NDM1MDQ3MGZjYzQ4ZjFhYjBmNjMwMDI5ZmI1N2E1">Leo moved. He activated frenzy. His clothes were black which made blending into the darkness easier. Leo picked a patch where light from the torches did not reach.</p> <p class="cnNhMThjMjUyMGY3NzRhOWY5MDMyM2ExNThmNjU3ODQ2">He made it to the wooden fence. Leo did not stop. He hopped over them. Now, he needs to find a place to hide.</p> <p class="cnM5MWY5OWU4NjRiMzQ1NjU4NDlhMzE4ZTFmYmVkYjZm">As he thought this. There were two people coming towards him. Both were busy talking with each other. He could not move fast now because there were people sleeping on the ground. He had to find a place to hide for some time. He also could not go into tents as people were sleeping in them.</p> <p class="cnNhMWEzODMwZDIzZTQzMzg4YTcwYjY2NjNkMDI0NmI2">He needed to find a building, but before that, he had to escape these two people.</p> <p class="cnM1NDc4MDQ5OWU1NzQ3NDViZmNhYzE3NzE2NWM3NGY0">Leo was near a tent. He moved towards it. Leo ducked on the opposite side of the tent. The two people walked away from him without seeing him.</p> <p class="cnM5YzU0MDRmZTE3ZjRiMGNiNjU3ZmY4NjYyYzM0YmRh">Leo looked around. He found many small buildings across the area. He checked them one by one.</p> <p class="cnMzYmU5MzA4ZWY0ZjRmYzFhYTJlODUzYTAzZWExMjYy">Some had people in them while some had weapons, medical supplies, food, and clothes.</p> <p class="cnMyZDI1NTkxMmFkZjQ3MDA4ZTE1MDNiMGMzNmE2N2Rl">He had to change his clothes. The ones he wore differed from the ones the people in the city wore. The clothes they wore were. The materials were of lower quality and they got torn in places. This showed the dire situation of the people in the city.</p> <p class="cnMyYzJkNzA4MTQ2NjQzYzRiNDRlM2E5MThiOGJjOWEy">He had seen this many times before. A revolution was never a good idea. Especially when you are outnumbered and outpowered, but this was not his revolution to fight. He had two goals for coming here. One was repaying Xander. The other was getting information about the power Aldous used.</p> <p class="cnM1NTkzNDFhZDI4MDQ5OTFiY2EyODBjZDY1ZTY1NGZi">Leo found a good set of clothes, but he tore them. To make blending in easier. He had to wait until morning. He did not have to sleep as he had taken rest before he came here.</p> <p class="cnNlYzkwYzM4ZDJiYTQ0MDE4OTJjNDI2ZTc2Zjc5MTFk">Now, he had to wait.</p> </div>

The night was calm as the sky on a normal day. The air remained cold. Trees danced in the wind. Two figures overlooked a city. It was Leo and Artos. Artos hid a knife inside his clothes. This would be his way out if he got found. He had no problem killing the people that kidnapped his squad members and almost kidnapped him. Leo had a secret weapon. Tenebris. But he still kept two daggers with him. He could summon Tenebris anytime. One dagger was for the clone while the other was for him in case of an emergency. "We both need to split up. Enter from different parts. I don't know if we will meet there or not, but if we meet do not act familiar in case they doubt us or something. Got it?" Artos said. This did not scare him, but taking precautions were necessary because they could stop his powers. Leo said nothing. He left Artos alone. Why would he ever go talk to Artos? The only reason they even knew each other was because of this mission. Also, he did not plan to return on the next day since he needs to find more information about the power Aldous used. Leo went to the east side of the city. When he arrived there, the place had four guards. The guards had normal clothes. They had spears on their backs. The spearhead extended above their heads. While the shoe was near their knees. The spears were kept on the guards back using ropes. Two. Both in the stomach region. It was late into the night. The torches lit up the place. There were two near the entrance where two guards stood. Then two more torches were kept on top of baskets filled with sand. They erected the torches on top of the sand. Two guards stood near these torches. They were towards the side of the gate. There were also many people sleeping inside the gates. Some in tents many without tents. There were also more guards across the wooden gates. Torches also lit up the area, but this place had the least guards, but they were concentrated. This will make things difficult. He needed a distraction. A thought came to his mind. The rock beast. Yes, he could use its carcass as a distraction. Leo left the city. He rushed towards the pond. Then he followed the direction he had taken. Finally, after fifteen minutes he found the carcass of the beast. He took less time to reach the pond because the city was close to the pond when compared to the village. The beast was heavy; he had to cut off a lot of its body using Tenebris. It was hard and time-consuming, but he did it. He cut the beast in half from its stomach. He only took the front part of the beast while he left the other part. Leo took the carcass and moved back to the city. He needed to position the beast. He would do the same thing the beast did. He would summon his clone and use its pressure to make the crunching noises. Then, he would sneak into the city. After that, he would summon the clone back. Leo position the beast behind a bush. It was towards the left of the gate. He then summoned his clone and move away from the area. Leo then commanded the clone to break twigs and to crunch the fallen leaves. The clone followed his orders. He had to be quick before the rotten smell of the carcass spreads. One guard who heard the sound asked his companion. "What is that sound?" "Huh?" The companion also heard the noise. He had not heard it at first, but now he did. The guard who heard the noises first untied the rope and took out his spear. "Shit, don't tell me it's a beast attack." The shaft of the spear was made of wood while the spearhead was made sharpened rock. His companion used his hand to put the spear down. "Don't rush to a conclusion. You know what happened last time you screamed about a beast attack right?" Ahh, The first person to hear the noise screamed on the inside. He did not dare to think about it. He could not scream this time. His companion walked towards the direction of the voice. "Let's go check it out." They both walked towards the source of the noise. Leo got ready to sneak into the city. If anything went wrong and people gathered his only option, then would be to blend into the group of people. That was a dangerous plan, so this had to work. Leo recalled the clone. The man who heard the noises at the start looked past the bush. There he saw the rock beast. Since it was the night, he did not get a look at its body, but he had seen beasts like this before. "AHH," The man screamed. His companion tried to stop, but the man did not listen. "It's a beast attack!" he shouted. Hearing the shouts the two guards at the entrance and more from the sides came towards the area. With their weapon in hand. There have been beast attacks before, so they were all ready. Well, some more than others. "Alert the main guards!" The man shouted once again. He got a hit on his head. When he looked back, it was his companion. "Shut up, you fool. It is only one beast, right? We can handle it. No need to alert the main guards." The man's companion along with the others moved towards the bush where they found the beast. This was his opportunity. There was no one in the area. Ten people who were near the area moved towards the bush. He could not get a better chance than this. Leo moved. He activated frenzy. His clothes were black which made blending into the darkness easier. Leo picked a patch where light from the torches did not reach. He made it to the wooden fence. Leo did not stop. He hopped over them. Now, he needs to find a place to hide. As he thought this. There were two people coming towards him. Both were busy talking with each other. He could not move fast now because there were people sleeping on the ground. He had to find a place to hide for some time. He also could not go into tents as people were sleeping in them. He needed to find a building, but before that, he had to escape these two people. Leo was near a tent. He moved towards it. Leo ducked on the opposite side of the tent. The two people walked away from him without seeing him. Leo looked around. He found many small buildings across the area. He checked them one by one. Some had people in them while some had weapons, medical supplies, food, and clothes. He had to change his clothes. The ones he wore differed from the ones the people in the city wore. The clothes they wore were. The materials were of lower quality and they got torn in places. This showed the dire situation of the people in the city. He had seen this many times before. A revolution was never a good idea. Especially when you are outnumbered and outpowered, but this was not his revolution to fight. He had two goals for coming here. One was repaying Xander. The other was getting information about the power Aldous used. Leo found a good set of clothes, but he tore them. To make blending in easier. He had to wait until morning. He did not have to sleep as he had taken rest before he came here. Now, he had to wait.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM1ZmZkMzQzOWI2ODQ3OTc4MTdlMDMyOWI3MjU3NzQx">Despite her protests, it was decided that Xamiliere would stay in Valor when the rest of her party left off to find the severed hand for Anastacia’s project. But before departing, the adventurers would have to hone their plan a bit, as fresh limbs didn’t exactly grow on trees.</p> <p class="cnNmYzM2OTA5ZTgxNDQ0ZTNiMDEwMWVlNDAxOWM0Yjdm">Maximillian summarized their options: “There are two ways we can go about this: either we find a body, or we find someone who will not miss a hand too much. Both are a bit on the gray area when it comes to ethics, but personally I do not fancy digging up a corpse in the slightest.”</p> <p class="cnMyY2M4NjQ0OGFkMTRmODdiODQ0OTMzYmRkZWEwZGIy">Dammar rubbed his beard. “So we find us some bandits then?”</p> <p class="cnNhYTQ5MjUxMjI3NzRmM2Y4MjVjOWE5YjBjODE1NTU3">“Indeed, though it is not wise for us to try and fight them in the forest. I might have a slight edge there, but we will not have Xamiliere with us, and they live there and know the terrain well.” The elf nodded.</p> <p class="cnMwZDcxNDZiYzgxMTRhMDI4MWJkMTM3ZDg4MjRjZDk2">“A fair point, my friend. Though I doubt that they’d come out of there to attack two people who are obviously adventurers.” The dwarf reasoned.</p> <p class="cnM1OTcyZjQyNjY4MjQyODg4YWRhMjM3NDFiZjgwNjlh">By this point it was clear to Anastacia that the whole conversation was just a play, like they were trying to justify their plan somehow. Both Dammar and Maximillian obviously knew what their plan would be, but for whatever reason they were skirting around it instead of stating it plainly.</p> <p class="cnMyYjI5ZTAxZTcxMzQxNDM5YTYzMzY4MTA4MDcwM2Rl">“What are they doing?” The necromancer whispered to the third member of the party.</p> <p class="cnMyMDQ4ZGIwNzI1YTQxZDRhOTA4OTBkNDVmYmE4NzNj">“This is pretty much what happens every time they’re allowed to make a plan. Dammar thinks it’s hilarious and I think Max just likes to do it.” The spriggan explained in a hushed tone. “It’s been going on for over thirty years now.”</p> <p class="cnM5ZGZhNTY1MWE2NzRjODE4ZjhhYzI1ZTc5ODliMTk5">This didn’t answer Anastacia’s question at all and only brought up more of them. “What happens?”</p> <p class="cnMxYzZjNGQ2ODcyYTRlYmZhNjk3Zjc2ZGQyNzhmNzBj">Xamiliere didn’t say anything, instead she just smiled and floated off to get a new drink.</p> <p class="cnNiZWEwNzdkYTk4YzQ1YzA5Nzk0MTZlZTcxNzJkMmFi">“What happens?!” The necromancer kept asking.</p> <p class="cnM2MGJlZjFjODk3YjRlODViMzBhMTZhMzRjMjg2NTVi">The pair had completed their plan and ran off to gather whatever they needed for it. Dammar left the inn, but Maximillian ran upstairs to his room. Both were obviously excited about whatever they were going to do.</p> <p class="cnNmZDBhNGYyMGI0MDQ2NjQ4YTJmM2ZjZDU5MDBjZmZk">After about thirty minutes, Maximillian came back downstairs wearing a new outfit: pure white robes that looked more like a dress than anything, slightly transparent white veil and copious amounts of silver jewelry. He had cleaned up his appearance even more than usual as well: the shoulder length black hair had been combed straight and pale face cleaned to a point where his skin was almost like doll’s. Any signs of the relaxed lifestyle of the adventurers had been smoothened out from his demeanor and replaced with the elegance and nobility. All in all, he was a stunning sight and could have passed as someone’s bride any day.</p> <p class="cnNjMGEzNjQ2Yzc2OTQ2MjhiMzBjMjc4ODNjOGI3ZWI2">Xamiliere floated back to Anastacia and reintroduced her partymate. “She’s called Maxine, she helps us out whenever we need a damsel for a distraction or stuff like that.” She explained while trying to hold back her laughter.</p> <p class="cnM1ODVkOWJiODUwNDRlN2FhMDc5OWY3N2U0ZTY0Mjgz">Maximillian gave the spriggan a light push and sent her slowly through the room towards the kitchen. “I would rather you not make light of the traditional clothing of my family.” He said and sat down with the necromancer to wait for the last member of their party.</p> <p class="cnNlYzcxYjU4NmI4YzRjNjdhMWE0Y2ViZTI3ZWExZTQ2">“You look very pretty today, Max.” Anastacia grinned.</p> <p class="cnM5NzdjMjRjODI3OTQyMzI5ZWYxMWJmMTZkNzhjOTA0">The elf smiled like he actually didn’t mind the compliment. “Though what she said is true, bandits and other outlaws tend not to attack people who look like they could defend themselves, and not everyone has your unassuming looks. It has been made very clear to me that this outfit makes me look like an easy and valuable target for a robbery in the eyes of a common outlaw. Both that and the element of surprise we gain by using this plan are both a very good reason to utilize it for quests like this.</p> <p class="cnNjZTI3MzA3YjcwNDQzOTQ5MDdhMzkxNGQyZDJiMmMw">“He just wants to wear the pretty dress!” The spriggan yelled while still slowly drifting away in the air.</p> <p class="cnM1NDM5NTE1MTUwZTRkZmFiMTA2NjFiYjljN2E3ZTZj">“Anyway… Dammar is at the offices, picking a quest that involves getting rid of bandits somewhere nearby, so we probably will end up killing them. I hope you do not mind it too much that we’re going against your wishes about that, but perhaps you could see that now their deaths will at least be of some use to someone?” He continued, ignoring the remark by Xamiliere.</p> <p class="cnNiMmY5NmE4OGQ4ODRjYzdiYmViYWRhMzM5ZTkzNDI0">Anastacia took a closer look at the elf’s face and squinted. “Is the eye liner traditional too? But yeah, if they have a quest on them, they’re probably not good people anyway and had it coming. Remember: I need the <em>right</em> arm. Also, if possible, look for a small one that would fit Yulia.”</p> <p class="cnNiY2Y0NTY4ZTE2ZDQ3MWZhMmQzNTFiZjJmYzJiNmJj">It took Dammar almost an hour to get back with their quest details and the remaining items they needed. He had managed to find one that was less than a day away, so they should return by the next evening if everything goes according to the plan. It would still take at least two days for Anastacia and the blacksmith to work out how to build the rest of the prosthetic, so even if they had some delays, it wouldn’t be a problem. Among the various things he had procured were a large crate big enough to fit a smallish person inside and a cart it could be easily transported in.</p> <p class="cnNjZDQ1NzFkNmU0MjQ3Yjk4MjBmNWUyNTY2YjI4NWRi">Upon seeing Maximillian in his elven clothes, the dwarf burst into laughter and had to lean on the cart until he got a hold of himself again. Despite it being far from the first time, the joke never wore out for Dammar and he was still holding in laughter as the two departed for their quest.</p> <p class="cnNiMTY5NzNiMmE5ODQxNjE4M2Y2Zjk2MjgyOTAyODM3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMxOWEzMjVlYzcxZDRjMTQ4N2UzY2U5MWQ2MjhmZGY3">Pulling the cart was not a problem for the hardy dwarf, and they made it to the edge of a more densely wooded area where the bandits were known to operate, well before the sky started to darken. Going any further would increase the risk of getting spotted by lookouts or even getting ambushed during the night, which would completely remove any advantages the pair held over the bandits. So they decided to make their camp and continue traveling in the morning. There was a suitable rock formation nearby that would protect them from the slight breeze blowing from the north and from being seen by anyone. They weren’t the first ones to discover the place either, as there were the remains of a campfire on the ground.</p> <p class="cnNkNGYzYWQ4MDJmYjQwMzY5NjUxY2JkM2ZiZjE2ZTY1">“At least a couple of weeks old, should not be anything to worry about.” Maximillian reported after taking a closer look at them. “Should we make one? It is unlikely that a lookout would actually venture out this far from the forest.”</p> <p class="cnNhNzFmZTFiNTNmMjQ5NzViNWQwNDhmOWI3ODhkOTRh">“Aye, might as well. We don’t have Xammy here to keep an eye on the wildlife, so it’ll at least deter some of the more curious animals.” The party leader decided and pulled the cart to a spot where it couldn’t be seen from the road. “Sure is quiet without her…”</p> <p class="cnM0OTVjODdlYWM1MzRiYzg5NjBjYjA4ZTU1ODQyZjVm">“Quite so. We can only hope the Miss Emilia regains her powers soon and is able to help Xamiliere.” The elf agreed.</p> <p class="cnNjMmI0Y2UzMGQ5OTRjMjQ5MjFiOGQyY2ZhNjA2YjA1">During the travel, they had realized that the spriggan was responsible for almost all of the group’s chit chat, and the two of them really couldn’t come up with much to talk about. They were great friends and had been adventuring together for decades, but perhaps they had really run out of things to talk about. In the inn, there would often be someone else they could spark up a conversation with, even if Xamiliere was on some kind of escapade without them, but out on the road they were alone.</p> <p class="cnMyYWM1ZjM4M2JlNTQ5OTFiMWU5ZGQyYWI2YTkzMzcz">“Maybe we should ask the necromancer lass to help us when she’s done with her project? She’s pretty chatty and probably less likely to end up in jail every time we visit a city. Though only for a regular quest like this, I don’t want to get too involved with the whole Mournvalley business…” Dammar suggested and touched the spot Cerise had stabbed him a couple of weeks ago.</p> <p class="cnNjNDAwZWFlZTU3MDQ0M2Q5OTBiMDEyN2JmNzFiZGFk">Maximillian chuckled. “They do have many of the same qualities, don’t they? Though I must say, I am slightly curious to see her full potential in combat. According to Xamiliere, the other necromancers who fought the undead dragon were nothing compared to her, and they were supposed to be the elite. Since the city my family hails from is near the kingdom of necromancers, I have seen some more common ones perform their craft, but neither Anastacia or the inquisitors are anything like them. Before meeting her, I thought necromancy wasn’t all that worthwhile in combat since it looked like it took a lot of time to cast, but perhaps it just comes down to specialization?” He theorized.</p> <p class="cnM0Mjc1MmE3ZjZiZTRkYTA5NjM5YzM0NGQxNTRhYTI5">“She did pull off some pretty incredible stuff during the fight with the other two necromancers too. We’re lucky that she’s trying to help people instead of… the usual things they do.” Dammar pointed out and started gathering tinder for the campfire.</p> <p class="cnMyMDdmOTU5YzkxYzRjNDliYjBiMjJmNDc3MDg4ODdk">“It makes me worry about what else Mournvalley has hidden from us. The red inquisition has always been around, working towards unknown goals, but this really makes me feel like we have only seen a fraction of what necromancers are capable of. We may be taking it too lightly thanks to Anastacia’s gentle soul, but from day one she has surpassed what I thought they could do and continues to do so every day. What if more necromancers like her were to appear?” The elf worried while cleaning out the remains of the old campfire.</p> <p class="cnNjMjlmNmJhOTk5YjQyNzVhYWM0MGJmNzM3NGNjNjY1">Both adventurers had gone through the motions of making a camp so many times that they knew exactly what the other one was going to do and what they needed to do, so with great efficiency they prepared a fire and a meal without exchanging so much as a word. At first they didn’t even notice it, but as they ate, the silence grew more and more awkward until one of them just had to say something.</p> <p class="cnMzMmVmMGVjZDJlOTRmNGQ5ZTk4ODFiYzUxNzlkYjJk">“Do we have everything we need for tomorrow?” Maximillian started a very artificial sounding conversation.</p> <p class="cnNlY2FjNjExOGQxMDRjMjRhNWE0ZGJlZmE5ZWM5ODM1">“Aye, checked and double checked.” Dammar confirmed and nodded towards the crate.</p> <p class="cnNjYmFiNmY1Mzc3NjQ0YzFhZDU0YTg2Y2M3YWM0NzZh">And so ended the conversation between the two friends. Nothing was said until it was time to lie down and Maximillian asked whether he should put out the campfire or let it die on its own. The night felt like it would be a warm one, but they still needed to keep the animals away from the camp, so Maximillian threw a few more logs into it and sat down against one of the rocks surrounding them.</p> <p class="cnNjYmJiYjYzYmQzNDQyNmE5YzI5MzFjYTc1YzgwMzBh">Suddenly Dammar burst into laughter again. “Do you know what I just realized? We’re like an old married couple that no longer has their kid living with them! So used to this that there’s nothing to say besides how we wish Xammy was here, because then we’d at least have someone making some waves or something.”</p> <p class="cnNhMGQyOTA3MThlMjQ4OWZhZWQ2MWFhZmZlNDQ0YWQz">Maximillian joined in on the laughter. “How have we not noticed before… That is exactly what we are.”</p> </div>

Despite her protests, it was decided that Xamiliere would stay in Valor when the rest of her party left off to find the severed hand for Anastacia’s project. But before departing, the adventurers would have to hone their plan a bit, as fresh limbs didn’t exactly grow on trees. Maximillian summarized their options: “There are two ways we can go about this: either we find a body, or we find someone who will not miss a hand too much. Both are a bit on the gray area when it comes to ethics, but personally I do not fancy digging up a corpse in the slightest.” Dammar rubbed his beard. “So we find us some bandits then?” “Indeed, though it is not wise for us to try and fight them in the forest. I might have a slight edge there, but we will not have Xamiliere with us, and they live there and know the terrain well.” The elf nodded. “A fair point, my friend. Though I doubt that they’d come out of there to attack two people who are obviously adventurers.” The dwarf reasoned. By this point it was clear to Anastacia that the whole conversation was just a play, like they were trying to justify their plan somehow. Both Dammar and Maximillian obviously knew what their plan would be, but for whatever reason they were skirting around it instead of stating it plainly. “What are they doing?” The necromancer whispered to the third member of the party. “This is pretty much what happens every time they’re allowed to make a plan. Dammar thinks it’s hilarious and I think Max just likes to do it.” The spriggan explained in a hushed tone. “It’s been going on for over thirty years now.” This didn’t answer Anastacia’s question at all and only brought up more of them. “What happens?” Xamiliere didn’t say anything, instead she just smiled and floated off to get a new drink. “What happens?!” The necromancer kept asking. The pair had completed their plan and ran off to gather whatever they needed for it. Dammar left the inn, but Maximillian ran upstairs to his room. Both were obviously excited about whatever they were going to do. After about thirty minutes, Maximillian came back downstairs wearing a new outfit: pure white robes that looked more like a dress than anything, slightly transparent white veil and copious amounts of silver jewelry. He had cleaned up his appearance even more than usual as well: the shoulder length black hair had been combed straight and pale face cleaned to a point where his skin was almost like doll’s. Any signs of the relaxed lifestyle of the adventurers had been smoothened out from his demeanor and replaced with the elegance and nobility. All in all, he was a stunning sight and could have passed as someone’s bride any day. Xamiliere floated back to Anastacia and reintroduced her partymate. “She’s called Maxine, she helps us out whenever we need a damsel for a distraction or stuff like that.” She explained while trying to hold back her laughter. Maximillian gave the spriggan a light push and sent her slowly through the room towards the kitchen. “I would rather you not make light of the traditional clothing of my family.” He said and sat down with the necromancer to wait for the last member of their party. “You look very pretty today, Max.” Anastacia grinned. The elf smiled like he actually didn’t mind the compliment. “Though what she said is true, bandits and other outlaws tend not to attack people who look like they could defend themselves, and not everyone has your unassuming looks. It has been made very clear to me that this outfit makes me look like an easy and valuable target for a robbery in the eyes of a common outlaw. Both that and the element of surprise we gain by using this plan are both a very good reason to utilize it for quests like this. “He just wants to wear the pretty dress!” The spriggan yelled while still slowly drifting away in the air. “Anyway… Dammar is at the offices, picking a quest that involves getting rid of bandits somewhere nearby, so we probably will end up killing them. I hope you do not mind it too much that we’re going against your wishes about that, but perhaps you could see that now their deaths will at least be of some use to someone?” He continued, ignoring the remark by Xamiliere. Anastacia took a closer look at the elf’s face and squinted. “Is the eye liner traditional too? But yeah, if they have a quest on them, they’re probably not good people anyway and had it coming. Remember: I need the *right* arm. Also, if possible, look for a small one that would fit Yulia.” It took Dammar almost an hour to get back with their quest details and the remaining items they needed. He had managed to find one that was less than a day away, so they should return by the next evening if everything goes according to the plan. It would still take at least two days for Anastacia and the blacksmith to work out how to build the rest of the prosthetic, so even if they had some delays, it wouldn’t be a problem. Among the various things he had procured were a large crate big enough to fit a smallish person inside and a cart it could be easily transported in. Upon seeing Maximillian in his elven clothes, the dwarf burst into laughter and had to lean on the cart until he got a hold of himself again. Despite it being far from the first time, the joke never wore out for Dammar and he was still holding in laughter as the two departed for their quest.   Pulling the cart was not a problem for the hardy dwarf, and they made it to the edge of a more densely wooded area where the bandits were known to operate, well before the sky started to darken. Going any further would increase the risk of getting spotted by lookouts or even getting ambushed during the night, which would completely remove any advantages the pair held over the bandits. So they decided to make their camp and continue traveling in the morning. There was a suitable rock formation nearby that would protect them from the slight breeze blowing from the north and from being seen by anyone. They weren’t the first ones to discover the place either, as there were the remains of a campfire on the ground. “At least a couple of weeks old, should not be anything to worry about.” Maximillian reported after taking a closer look at them. “Should we make one? It is unlikely that a lookout would actually venture out this far from the forest.” “Aye, might as well. We don’t have Xammy here to keep an eye on the wildlife, so it’ll at least deter some of the more curious animals.” The party leader decided and pulled the cart to a spot where it couldn’t be seen from the road. “Sure is quiet without her…” “Quite so. We can only hope the Miss Emilia regains her powers soon and is able to help Xamiliere.” The elf agreed. During the travel, they had realized that the spriggan was responsible for almost all of the group’s chit chat, and the two of them really couldn’t come up with much to talk about. They were great friends and had been adventuring together for decades, but perhaps they had really run out of things to talk about. In the inn, there would often be someone else they could spark up a conversation with, even if Xamiliere was on some kind of escapade without them, but out on the road they were alone. “Maybe we should ask the necromancer lass to help us when she’s done with her project? She’s pretty chatty and probably less likely to end up in jail every time we visit a city. Though only for a regular quest like this, I don’t want to get too involved with the whole Mournvalley business…” Dammar suggested and touched the spot Cerise had stabbed him a couple of weeks ago. Maximillian chuckled. “They do have many of the same qualities, don’t they? Though I must say, I am slightly curious to see her full potential in combat. According to Xamiliere, the other necromancers who fought the undead dragon were nothing compared to her, and they were supposed to be the elite. Since the city my family hails from is near the kingdom of necromancers, I have seen some more common ones perform their craft, but neither Anastacia or the inquisitors are anything like them. Before meeting her, I thought necromancy wasn’t all that worthwhile in combat since it looked like it took a lot of time to cast, but perhaps it just comes down to specialization?” He theorized. “She did pull off some pretty incredible stuff during the fight with the other two necromancers too. We’re lucky that she’s trying to help people instead of… the usual things they do.” Dammar pointed out and started gathering tinder for the campfire. “It makes me worry about what else Mournvalley has hidden from us. The red inquisition has always been around, working towards unknown goals, but this really makes me feel like we have only seen a fraction of what necromancers are capable of. We may be taking it too lightly thanks to Anastacia’s gentle soul, but from day one she has surpassed what I thought they could do and continues to do so every day. What if more necromancers like her were to appear?” The elf worried while cleaning out the remains of the old campfire. Both adventurers had gone through the motions of making a camp so many times that they knew exactly what the other one was going to do and what they needed to do, so with great efficiency they prepared a fire and a meal without exchanging so much as a word. At first they didn’t even notice it, but as they ate, the silence grew more and more awkward until one of them just had to say something. “Do we have everything we need for tomorrow?” Maximillian started a very artificial sounding conversation. “Aye, checked and double checked.” Dammar confirmed and nodded towards the crate. And so ended the conversation between the two friends. Nothing was said until it was time to lie down and Maximillian asked whether he should put out the campfire or let it die on its own. The night felt like it would be a warm one, but they still needed to keep the animals away from the camp, so Maximillian threw a few more logs into it and sat down against one of the rocks surrounding them. Suddenly Dammar burst into laughter again. “Do you know what I just realized? We’re like an old married couple that no longer has their kid living with them! So used to this that there’s nothing to say besides how we wish Xammy was here, because then we’d at least have someone making some waves or something.” Maximillian joined in on the laughter. “How have we not noticed before… That is exactly what we are.”

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNmNGEyNzNlYWQzODQxOTM5ZDJjYmU2MDIxYjAxODU1">It was cold in the pass. Leon was a third-tier mage, so he wasn’t particularly uncomfortable, but he still didn’t like the chill coming off the mountains. He resolved to bring his coat made from the snow lion he killed to awaken his bloodline on any return adventures north of the fort. He at least had his armor and accompanying clothing, the rest of the squad he now found himself a part of didn’t even have that.</p> <p class="cnMzNzMyMDdjNzU2YjRiZmM4YjU4M2JhYTA1MjQ2ZDU0">But, the cold was banished from his mind as he helped the rest of the squad with some routine maintenance on the first watchtower. Most of the men were allowed to slack off, but Leon and Sam—as the only third-tier mages around—had some heavy labor to do. The five men stationed at the watchtower were more than willing to help, though, while the rest of the squad organized one-third of the supplies they had brought and rested.</p> <p class="cnM0MzIzMzhhNzc3OTQzMGJhMzRjNTU5ZDFiMDNhMmZj">The first point of order they had was to replace the door of the watchtower. It was thick, heavy, very sturdy, and falling apart from rot; replacing it wouldn’t be easy. Fortunately, they had an ax and plenty of trees in the forest. Leon took care of cutting down a suitable tree, then he and Sam dragged it up a hill to the watchtower where the five men got to work making a new door.</p> <p class="cnMxYTQwMTBhOWFlOTRhMGJhZTdkNzY4YWVmMGY2NDgw">Then, it was up to the second level. The watchtower had two levels stacked on top of each other, each with only a single room. The second level had a balcony on all four sides, and three of the balconies needed new guardrails; the second level was over thirty feet high, which was high enough to leave any of the five first-tier soldiers injured if they fell.</p> <p class="cnMzYmY2MGYyZTc4NDQ1Zjg4ZjFkYmRmOGJmMmRhMTg0">Sam and Leon got to work, with the rest of the squad ferrying materials upstairs after resting got too boring. While the two third-tier mages were working, Sam decided to get to know Leon a little more and tried to start a conversation.</p> <p class="cnNlOGJjYzBjNTNmNDRiOGU5NWQ4MTVlMThmNTQzMmI2">“So, Leon, tell me about the Knight Academy.”</p> <p class="cnM0NzE1ZTY1ZWY0ZjQzNWFiNWY1NWM5MWY4NWYzNzEx">“What do you want to know?” Leon asked disinterestedly. He was focused on tearing out the old guardrail—and didn’t particularly want to talk besides.</p> <p class="cnNhOWM5OTFjZjE0YjQ1ZGZiMTA2ZWE2MTI3ZWEyY2M3">“… Well, I’m just curious as to how they operate. People say a lot of things about the place, and I kinda want to know if they’re true…” Sam said, a little put off with Leon’s attitude.</p> <p class="cnMwZWUwNWIzZTQ3YTQwMTY4ZmUyODhhYTEzOWE0YmUx">“What kind of things do people say?” Leon asked. After ripping out the guardrail and letting it fall to the ground, he gave the balcony a quick inspection while Sam readied the replacement guardrail.</p> <p class="cnM2OTViMjBiYmJhYzQ5NjA4NTgyNDhjY2M2ZDdiZTVi">“The Knight Academy is the most prestigious training program for aspiring knights, and that leads to just about everyone who can’t get in to say it’s just a place for rich elitist pricks to funnel their kids into cushy positions in the Royal Legion. Before being stationed at Fort 127, though, I met a few graduates at Clear Ice Fortress, and they couldn’t stop raving about the place. I have to admit that I’m intrigued by the place, and I was hoping to get your opinion on it.”</p> <p class="cnM3OTVmZjU1OGQyYjQ4ODFiMzk4NjY1MTY0MDhhMTEx">“Hold on,” said Leon with a frown. He got down onto his belly so he could see the underside of the balcony better. “We might need to replace this whole thing, not just the guardrail. The supports are rotting.”</p> <p class="cnM5NDU3OWViZTJjYzQ0Mjg5ZjM5ZDU1MWQ5MmU4YzZi">Sam got down just like Leon and gave it a look, but he couldn’t really see anything of note. Then again, Leon had learned some construction techniques living in the Forest of Black and White, where the only structures around were built and maintained by him and his father. Sam didn’t have that same acquired skill.</p> <p class="cnMwNGQ3NTk0MjIzYzQzMmFhZTUzOTUzNWY2NWU0YWQ0">“Whatever you say,” Sam said as he stepped back from the edge, while Leon started prying apart the balcony. After a few minutes, Leon finally decided to answer Sam’s previous question.</p> <p class="cnMyNTczYThjM2QwOTQ0YjQ5NTFiYTVmYTU4Nzc2YWUz">“The Knight Academy is a good place to learn how to be a knight—just not for nobility. To a degree, those who said it was a place for noble kids to have respectable positions serving their King and Kingdom bought for them by their parents aren’t wrong. But, all the people who attend the Academy aren’t rich or noble. For them, it’s a valuable experience that gives them a chance to gain strength that they never would’ve had if they hadn’t enrolled.”</p> <p class="cnMzOWQwODg0Yzk2ZTQ1OGJiMjc2NmI4NzJkMzcwMTg4">“Hmm,” Sam hummed.</p> <p class="cnM2Njc3ZmUxZjEwMDRlOGNhZDRkYzI4OGI1YzMzMTMz">For a little while, Sam asked more detailed questions about the Academy, which Leon did his best to answer. Some of the things he said angered Sam somewhat, like how much say the noble trainees had in how their units were run. Some other things, however, made him burst out into laughing fits.</p> <p class="cnNlMWU5ODFhYTMwNTQzNThiMDlmMDczZDJmYWM2NDJk">One of the latter things happened to be the names given to each unit.</p> <p class="cnMzZWEzYmRjYjIzZjQ0YzdhZjA0MTExZWZiYzliMGM2">“Are you fuckin’ kidding me?!” he almost shouted. “Blood Eagles?! <em>Deathbringers?!</em> Who the fuck came up with those names?!”</p> <p class="cnNjNDZmMzg0NGU1ZjQ4YTY4MzQxYjdjMGJjMDI4N2E3">Leon could only shrug, while Sam laughed uproariously.</p> <p class="cnM1OTI0OWJlYmU4YTRjYzliNzY4MGM4OWZkNWUxMmRl">“I get the need for strong names for units, but those are just too over the top! It’s ridiculous, who can take those fuckin’ names seriously?!”</p> <p class="cnM0MjA4ODRjMWQ3OTRkNjQ5MmQzZmFlNzk2ZjVmYWQw">As he shrieked with laughter, Leon just kept working. He actually agreed with Sam about the names, but he wasn’t as passionate about it that Sam seemed to be.</p> <p class="cnMzNTgzOWQ1OGRlODRjNGRhM2NmNjQ2ZWNjOTIxZGJm">“Listen, Leon,” Sam said in between gasps of air—laughing so much had led to some heavy breathing on his part, “every Ancestors damned unit in the Royal Legions call themselves some shit like that. Most of the names are just to feed the egos of the nobles who came up with them, but as you get further down to smaller units, we’re always given names with a little more class and dignity to them. Like the Bottom-Feeding Tadpoles, or the Rabid Bunnies!”</p> <p class="cnMyZDdjNGE2YzRjNjQ5Yzc4ODFmYTliZTRiNTI5YjQ3">He descended into another laughing fit, while Leon looked back at him in confusion.</p> <p class="cnM5NDkyMmQ0ZjhkZTRhMzZiYjczZmQzYTUyN2MzYTU1">“Are those real names?” he asked.</p> <p class="cnMwMWVhZTRkYTBlYjQ5MGQ5ODRiN2U1NWRhYWU3NjE4">Sam quickly ran out of breaths to laugh with, which allowed him to recover. He used that recovery to look at Leon with some amusement, and said when he regained his breath, “No, those were just joke names. But, the concept is still accurate. To a degree, all of us on the lowest rung of the ladder like to have fun with the names of our units. All of the enemies we have to fight expect to get killed by guys called the Black Rangers, or the Wings of Death, or some other such nonsense as that. On the other hand, they don’t expect to get killed by the Gibbering Geckos.”</p> <p class="cnMwMTA4NjMxYzFlMjRkMTNiZjZhYzZkYjc0YzAzNGRh">“Huh. So having a silly name is like an insult to our enemies?” Leon asked.</p> <p class="cnM0NTkyZjkxOTc5ZTQ4MTE4MTdkYjVkYzRhYjIxODRi">“I guess. It also embarrasses the hell out of the nobles we’re commanded by. They can’t do anything about it, though, as the units are named by the men who comprise them.”</p> <p class="cnM3NDgzZmY2YmFkOTQyNzY5MDk0OTI4NjlhMTk4MTVj">The two third-tier mages continued talking like that for a while, while fixing up the watchtower at the same time. Sam enjoyed their conversation, even if some more of what Leon told him about the Knight Academy were things he found baffling or hilarious. Plus, he was happy he had gotten Leon to talk, even if most of it was a single terse sentence between his own lengthier spiels.</p> <p class="cnM1OWQ5M2E1ZTE2NTRiYmM5NzlmYzJkNDY4OGI2NDdl">There was enough work to do around the watchtower that the squad ran out of time to head back out into the forest, forcing them to settle in for the night. Normally, there wasn’t so much for them to help out with, and they could’ve been back at the fort by nightfall. But, sometimes work that has been pushed back due to laziness just has to get done, and this was one of those times.</p> <p class="cnNlOTk5ZjI4OTQyMTQ3MjNiYzc4MWI1NzlmYTY5MzFi">As the squad started moving north again the following morning, continuing on their journey to bring supplies to the other two watchtowers, another group at the other end of the pass was preparing to head south.</p> <p class="cnM1YmUzNTMzMzI0YzQzY2I5YjY5NzAyZGQyYzI0Yzhm">---</p> <p class="cnM2YzM2YmRkMjVhZTQyMjFiNzFjM2ZlMzMzZjNkYmU3">Hakon Fire-Beard was a great beast of a man. He was over seven feet tall, had enough blood-red hair to weave a decent sized rope, and was built like a bear. He now stood before the pass leading south with thousands of Valemen at his back.</p> <p class="cnMwYmQ5NDFkNGFhMzRiMDNhZjhiNDQwMDJmMGViMDcw"><em>‘This is it,’</em> he thought to himself. <em>‘This is the moment that will make my name live on forever. This is when I cement my legacy as the greatest of my people. This is when I bring unimaginable wealth back home!’</em></p> <p class="cnM5Y2UyNjFlNjQ4ZTQyYjE5ZTA1YzBmZDY0ZjU3NDg3">For a moment, he reflected on how he had gotten there, from his first accomplishments to becoming the most powerful man in the Northern Vales. He had been a strong if unimportant warrior for most of his life, until he first come to prominence thirty years ago, when he challenged the chief of his tribe to a duel, with the title of chief on the line.</p> <p class="cnM3ZDU3MjI5N2YyOTQxY2U4ZmQxMjU4MTk0MDlhY2Yz">Hakon had only just ascended to the fourth-tier mage at the time, and the chief was of the fifth-tier. However, on the day of the duel, the chief moved sluggishly and didn’t use any elemental magic, which led to Hakon’s easy victory. The next day, the former chief’s cook was found murdered in his home. A few tribesmen were able to connect the dots and realize that Hakon had probably bribed the cook to poison the previous chief, then killed him to permanently silence him, but those who were smart enough to realize this were also smart enough to keep quiet.</p> <p class="cnNkNTI0NjBhOTE3YzQyNzFiMTE2NTBlMzZmNjE2YTMx">Over the following few years, Hakon consolidated power within his vale. His tribe had more than a few enemies, and he viciously massacred them, burning many alive as sacrifices to one of the gods of the Valemen, the Mountain Father. However, he never managed to completely conquer his home vale.</p> <p class="cnMwYzhkMmRiOGJlZTQ4YjlhODAyMzI2MzBjNTc1NmJh">That changed upon his ascension to the fifth-tier, making him one of only two Valemen with that level of strength. Only Torfinn Ice-Eyes was as strong as he was, and Hakon quickly set out on a campaign to flaunt his new power. His home vale was conquered within a year, with the other tribes either massacred, sacrificed, or driven out. Then, he moved on to the neighboring vales.</p> <p class="cnNmN2U1YzEyYmE3ZDQ3MTY4NGQ4MzA5OWYwMGViNWJm">Most of the Valemen in the rest of the vales were too divided or dispersed to form a coalition strong enough to resist Hakon, and more vales fell to his tribe. By the time Leon arrived at Fort 127, nearly all of the inhabited vales fell under Hakon Fire-Beard’s vicious rule. Torfinn Ice-Eyes had been worried that Hakon would turn his attention to the east, to the Brown Bear’s vale, but that wasn’t Hakon’s goal.</p> <p class="cnNkY2NlMTc4ZmRlNDQ2MTFhYjczN2ExZTUxOTk2ODlk">At the entrance to the pass guarded by Fort 127 on the Valemen’s side, Hakon had assembled his army, massive in size compared to anything the Valemen had ever managed to field before. There were almost thirty-thousand warriors, made up of warriors from over a dozen different tribes that had submitted to Hakon Fire-Beard rather than suffer extermination.</p> <p class="cnNmMzc0ZWMxMWU3ZDRlOTk5YjBjYWQ0Y2QzOTc2OGMz">Upon a large boulder near the entrance to the pass stood Hakon himself, surrounded by a dozen of his thanes.</p> <p class="cnM3ZTE5Njk4YzM5ODRkOWRiYWEyZGFiNzRjMGZiMzA4">“There it is, my friends,” he said, “on the other side of this pass lies more plunder than any of us can imagine. Silver, jewels, slaves, tools of enchanted iron, we can find all of these treasures, and more, at the end of this pass.”</p> <p class="cnNkODhkNjhmMmFiNDRlODE4NDZkNDk1OTdhODFjMDAw">Most of Hakon’s thanes stared into the mountain pass with greedy and hungry looks on their faces. The rest didn’t share in their comrades’ desire for loot and treasure. Instead, they looked into the pass with the hope that a worthy enemy was looking back at them from the other side. They followed Hakon not because he promised luxury, but because he promised battle.</p> <p class="cnNhMmMyZGM5NWE0ZjQ2NzQ4MDliZGY4ZjQ1MDQyYjA1">“Let’s get moving; those treasures won’t make themselves ours of their own accord,” Hakon said with a chuckle and a smile.</p> <p class="cnM1M2U0YTRkYjA4ODQ0YmFhNDg2OTgwMzlhZGQzYjYx">His thanes immediately sprang into action, leaping down from the boulder and getting the horde of Valemen moving south. For such a large force, it would take them a few days to reach the end of the pass, but when they did, all hell would break loose. All that was between them and Fort 127 were three watchtowers staffed with five men each, and a single ten-man squad. If Hakon knew what was in front of him, he would laugh and not give it another thought; his army was far too large for so few men to get in his way.</p> <p class="cnMwZDcyMTJhNzk4NTRiMTk5NWVmNjY0ZWRhZjNjNzQw">Fort 127, on the other hand, would be a tougher nut to crack. But Hakon wasn’t worried. He had ordered a few probing attacks over the past few years, looking for weaknesses in the Bull Kingdom’s defenses, and he found one in Fort 127. He knew the fort was understaffed and undersupplied; few of the men on the wall wore armor, and they all fought with spears. None of the other forts that blocked mountain paths were so undersupplied.</p> <p class="cnMyMTRkNjc1ZDk3YjRmMDM5M2M3NDk1ZjRmYTc3ZDBm">When he arrived at Fort 127, Hakon knew that his numbers would carry the day. The wall of the fort was sturdy enough, but it wouldn’t allow five hundred men to stop an army of almost thirty thousand.</p> <p class="cnM3MzJjYzJhYmQ1YzQ0OTNiMzM2NjhhYzMxYjcwMjk0">Hakon smiled, then led his army into the pass.</p> </div>

It was cold in the pass. Leon was a third-tier mage, so he wasn’t particularly uncomfortable, but he still didn’t like the chill coming off the mountains. He resolved to bring his coat made from the snow lion he killed to awaken his bloodline on any return adventures north of the fort. He at least had his armor and accompanying clothing, the rest of the squad he now found himself a part of didn’t even have that. But, the cold was banished from his mind as he helped the rest of the squad with some routine maintenance on the first watchtower. Most of the men were allowed to slack off, but Leon and Sam—as the only third-tier mages around—had some heavy labor to do. The five men stationed at the watchtower were more than willing to help, though, while the rest of the squad organized one-third of the supplies they had brought and rested. The first point of order they had was to replace the door of the watchtower. It was thick, heavy, very sturdy, and falling apart from rot; replacing it wouldn’t be easy. Fortunately, they had an ax and plenty of trees in the forest. Leon took care of cutting down a suitable tree, then he and Sam dragged it up a hill to the watchtower where the five men got to work making a new door. Then, it was up to the second level. The watchtower had two levels stacked on top of each other, each with only a single room. The second level had a balcony on all four sides, and three of the balconies needed new guardrails; the second level was over thirty feet high, which was high enough to leave any of the five first-tier soldiers injured if they fell. Sam and Leon got to work, with the rest of the squad ferrying materials upstairs after resting got too boring. While the two third-tier mages were working, Sam decided to get to know Leon a little more and tried to start a conversation. “So, Leon, tell me about the Knight Academy.” “What do you want to know?” Leon asked disinterestedly. He was focused on tearing out the old guardrail—and didn’t particularly want to talk besides. “… Well, I’m just curious as to how they operate. People say a lot of things about the place, and I kinda want to know if they’re true…” Sam said, a little put off with Leon’s attitude. “What kind of things do people say?” Leon asked. After ripping out the guardrail and letting it fall to the ground, he gave the balcony a quick inspection while Sam readied the replacement guardrail. “The Knight Academy is the most prestigious training program for aspiring knights, and that leads to just about everyone who can’t get in to say it’s just a place for rich elitist pricks to funnel their kids into cushy positions in the Royal Legion. Before being stationed at Fort 127, though, I met a few graduates at Clear Ice Fortress, and they couldn’t stop raving about the place. I have to admit that I’m intrigued by the place, and I was hoping to get your opinion on it.” “Hold on,” said Leon with a frown. He got down onto his belly so he could see the underside of the balcony better. “We might need to replace this whole thing, not just the guardrail. The supports are rotting.” Sam got down just like Leon and gave it a look, but he couldn’t really see anything of note. Then again, Leon had learned some construction techniques living in the Forest of Black and White, where the only structures around were built and maintained by him and his father. Sam didn’t have that same acquired skill. “Whatever you say,” Sam said as he stepped back from the edge, while Leon started prying apart the balcony. After a few minutes, Leon finally decided to answer Sam’s previous question. “The Knight Academy is a good place to learn how to be a knight—just not for nobility. To a degree, those who said it was a place for noble kids to have respectable positions serving their King and Kingdom bought for them by their parents aren’t wrong. But, all the people who attend the Academy aren’t rich or noble. For them, it’s a valuable experience that gives them a chance to gain strength that they never would’ve had if they hadn’t enrolled.” “Hmm,” Sam hummed. For a little while, Sam asked more detailed questions about the Academy, which Leon did his best to answer. Some of the things he said angered Sam somewhat, like how much say the noble trainees had in how their units were run. Some other things, however, made him burst out into laughing fits. One of the latter things happened to be the names given to each unit. “Are you fuckin’ kidding me?!” he almost shouted. “Blood Eagles?! *Deathbringers?!* Who the fuck came up with those names?!” Leon could only shrug, while Sam laughed uproariously. “I get the need for strong names for units, but those are just too over the top! It’s ridiculous, who can take those fuckin’ names seriously?!” As he shrieked with laughter, Leon just kept working. He actually agreed with Sam about the names, but he wasn’t as passionate about it that Sam seemed to be. “Listen, Leon,” Sam said in between gasps of air—laughing so much had led to some heavy breathing on his part, “every Ancestors damned unit in the Royal Legions call themselves some shit like that. Most of the names are just to feed the egos of the nobles who came up with them, but as you get further down to smaller units, we’re always given names with a little more class and dignity to them. Like the Bottom-Feeding Tadpoles, or the Rabid Bunnies!” He descended into another laughing fit, while Leon looked back at him in confusion. “Are those real names?” he asked. Sam quickly ran out of breaths to laugh with, which allowed him to recover. He used that recovery to look at Leon with some amusement, and said when he regained his breath, “No, those were just joke names. But, the concept is still accurate. To a degree, all of us on the lowest rung of the ladder like to have fun with the names of our units. All of the enemies we have to fight expect to get killed by guys called the Black Rangers, or the Wings of Death, or some other such nonsense as that. On the other hand, they don’t expect to get killed by the Gibbering Geckos.” “Huh. So having a silly name is like an insult to our enemies?” Leon asked. “I guess. It also embarrasses the hell out of the nobles we’re commanded by. They can’t do anything about it, though, as the units are named by the men who comprise them.” The two third-tier mages continued talking like that for a while, while fixing up the watchtower at the same time. Sam enjoyed their conversation, even if some more of what Leon told him about the Knight Academy were things he found baffling or hilarious. Plus, he was happy he had gotten Leon to talk, even if most of it was a single terse sentence between his own lengthier spiels. There was enough work to do around the watchtower that the squad ran out of time to head back out into the forest, forcing them to settle in for the night. Normally, there wasn’t so much for them to help out with, and they could’ve been back at the fort by nightfall. But, sometimes work that has been pushed back due to laziness just has to get done, and this was one of those times. As the squad started moving north again the following morning, continuing on their journey to bring supplies to the other two watchtowers, another group at the other end of the pass was preparing to head south. --- Hakon Fire-Beard was a great beast of a man. He was over seven feet tall, had enough blood-red hair to weave a decent sized rope, and was built like a bear. He now stood before the pass leading south with thousands of Valemen at his back. *‘This is it,’* he thought to himself. *‘This is the moment that will make my name live on forever. This is when I cement my legacy as the greatest of my people. This is when I bring unimaginable wealth back home!’* For a moment, he reflected on how he had gotten there, from his first accomplishments to becoming the most powerful man in the Northern Vales. He had been a strong if unimportant warrior for most of his life, until he first come to prominence thirty years ago, when he challenged the chief of his tribe to a duel, with the title of chief on the line. Hakon had only just ascended to the fourth-tier mage at the time, and the chief was of the fifth-tier. However, on the day of the duel, the chief moved sluggishly and didn’t use any elemental magic, which led to Hakon’s easy victory. The next day, the former chief’s cook was found murdered in his home. A few tribesmen were able to connect the dots and realize that Hakon had probably bribed the cook to poison the previous chief, then killed him to permanently silence him, but those who were smart enough to realize this were also smart enough to keep quiet. Over the following few years, Hakon consolidated power within his vale. His tribe had more than a few enemies, and he viciously massacred them, burning many alive as sacrifices to one of the gods of the Valemen, the Mountain Father. However, he never managed to completely conquer his home vale. That changed upon his ascension to the fifth-tier, making him one of only two Valemen with that level of strength. Only Torfinn Ice-Eyes was as strong as he was, and Hakon quickly set out on a campaign to flaunt his new power. His home vale was conquered within a year, with the other tribes either massacred, sacrificed, or driven out. Then, he moved on to the neighboring vales. Most of the Valemen in the rest of the vales were too divided or dispersed to form a coalition strong enough to resist Hakon, and more vales fell to his tribe. By the time Leon arrived at Fort 127, nearly all of the inhabited vales fell under Hakon Fire-Beard’s vicious rule. Torfinn Ice-Eyes had been worried that Hakon would turn his attention to the east, to the Brown Bear’s vale, but that wasn’t Hakon’s goal. At the entrance to the pass guarded by Fort 127 on the Valemen’s side, Hakon had assembled his army, massive in size compared to anything the Valemen had ever managed to field before. There were almost thirty-thousand warriors, made up of warriors from over a dozen different tribes that had submitted to Hakon Fire-Beard rather than suffer extermination. Upon a large boulder near the entrance to the pass stood Hakon himself, surrounded by a dozen of his thanes. “There it is, my friends,” he said, “on the other side of this pass lies more plunder than any of us can imagine. Silver, jewels, slaves, tools of enchanted iron, we can find all of these treasures, and more, at the end of this pass.” Most of Hakon’s thanes stared into the mountain pass with greedy and hungry looks on their faces. The rest didn’t share in their comrades’ desire for loot and treasure. Instead, they looked into the pass with the hope that a worthy enemy was looking back at them from the other side. They followed Hakon not because he promised luxury, but because he promised battle. “Let’s get moving; those treasures won’t make themselves ours of their own accord,” Hakon said with a chuckle and a smile. His thanes immediately sprang into action, leaping down from the boulder and getting the horde of Valemen moving south. For such a large force, it would take them a few days to reach the end of the pass, but when they did, all hell would break loose. All that was between them and Fort 127 were three watchtowers staffed with five men each, and a single ten-man squad. If Hakon knew what was in front of him, he would laugh and not give it another thought; his army was far too large for so few men to get in his way. Fort 127, on the other hand, would be a tougher nut to crack. But Hakon wasn’t worried. He had ordered a few probing attacks over the past few years, looking for weaknesses in the Bull Kingdom’s defenses, and he found one in Fort 127. He knew the fort was understaffed and undersupplied; few of the men on the wall wore armor, and they all fought with spears. None of the other forts that blocked mountain paths were so undersupplied. When he arrived at Fort 127, Hakon knew that his numbers would carry the day. The wall of the fort was sturdy enough, but it wouldn’t allow five hundred men to stop an army of almost thirty thousand. Hakon smiled, then led his army into the pass.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMxMzUyMTE5ZmJhODRkZWI4MGJmMjgxM2JhOWM1Zjdh"><span style="font-weight: 400">Britta wasn’t sure what Dad would do about Rick, but she was happy he was handling it. There was no good way to deal with Rick that she could see, and many ways to make things worse. The last thing she wanted was an irate teenage boy hounding her at school.</span></p> <p class="cnNlODBlZjBhN2IzZDQ5MjA5Y2ZkYzE1MDhmNjczNjk4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Her focus was her school work. She had decided that was the important thing; now was not the time to get distracted by boys and video games.</span></p> <p class="cnNlNDcxMzU3MDZiOTQ0ZTViZGFlOWFmZjE1YzVlODI1"><span style="font-weight: 400">It was, Britta knew, not a terribly proactive way to deal with the situation. She wanted to be the sort of person who faced her problems and took care of them quickly, not leave them to others. Delegating was all well and good, but dumping a problem in someone else’s lap and running away was not how great women earned the respect of the people around them.</span></p> <p class="cnNmZjA0YmI3NmMwYzQ4YmE5MzkxODk0MGQ4MWZiMTY0"><span style="font-weight: 400">Fortunately, she was able to immerse herself in her classes and forget about the game. Until lunchtime, that was.</span></p> <p class="cnNlMGI5ZTQ2MTBjYTQ1NzhiZjhmZWUxYWEwNmI5NTBk"><span style="font-weight: 400">There was a rise in background noise as chatter increased, suggesting something had happened. Everyone had their phones or other devices out, and were excitedly checking something. Britta did likewise but had no idea what she was supposed to be checking for.</span></p> <p class="cnNiOWViOTcwZTAwYTQ5YjA4ZGE0ZGZlZWFmYmY4OTk2"><span style="font-weight: 400">She looked around for someone to ask, but there was no one. Rashida was eating her lunch oblivious and Lewis was in the middle of a crowd of boys. </span></p> <p class="cnM1YTU4ZWQyYjRjOTRiYWI5YTM1MTUwNjBjN2ZjN2Ri"><span style="font-weight: 400">His group seemed more excited than most, which suggested it might be related to the game. Britta looked up the biggest gaming sites and found that the source of the commotion was the announcement of new helmets being released, with no limit on the number and half the price of the previous batch.</span></p> <p class="cnNlZmVlYzVhMmE0NDQ5NDc5MWE4NDU1OTQ1ZDhiYTJl"><span style="font-weight: 400">It seemed the game was going wide in a big way, and in less than a month. New World would soon be a changed place.</span></p> <p class="cnNiMTAxMDIyMTQ1ZTQ1YzM4ODI3NDAwYWE3Mzg1YmNm"><span style="font-weight: 400">As she looked over the news, the release of more helmets wasn’t the only announcement. As well as the hardware, there was a list of new features coming to the game. They included a lot of cash shop items to help new players, including XP boosters. That would mean you could level up a lot quicker, if you were willing to pay. </span></p> <p class="cnNlMzM0MDBhNmFjNDQ0MTViMWNiN2NkOWM0MDJlMGUw"><span style="font-weight: 400">It sounded like the sort of thing Dad and other hardcore gamers would rage about. Had the whole point of slowing player progress been to force them to buy boosters?</span></p> <p class="cnM4NWM2OTY5ZTVkMjRlY2Y5ZWE3YzIyMDZjOTM0NjNi"><span style="font-weight: 400">There were more new items, too. New dungeons, a season pass (she wasn’t sure what was included with that), and various packages of fashion items and mounts. </span></p> <p class="cnM1N2ZhYzhjNGRhNjQ3YjNhNzdkZjQ5ODZlNDRkMmZk"><span style="font-weight: 400">There seemed to be a change in how the game was being presented, from a visual novelty to a fully-fledged money-making exercise. The game was definitely no longer in beta.</span></p> <p class="cnM0ZGE1YWNjOWRkODQ4YjliNmVjN2I4NmFjODM3NDJl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Everyone was excited right now, but it was more than likely their excitement would change to frustration if the game remained as difficult to level up as it was right now. It was all very well offering boosters, but you still had to get experience points in order to boost them. Casual players would not fare well against the monsters as they currently were.</span></p> <p class="cnM1YjE2YTQwOTcwMzRkNzA4MWUwMjk1ZDEwMWJkYzY4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Did that mean they would start to make fights easier?</span></p> <p class="cnM5YjM0NGRlOWJjMDRlOTdhY2U5NDJjYzQ1NDJjZTU2"><span style="font-weight: 400">“This is great, isn’t it?” said Lewis, sitting down next to her with his laptop open. “We can all play the game now, at the same time.”</span></p> <p class="cnM5MmIxYTU2NDZmOTRiMzhiNTMxNmRlMDQ3MTFlNTFk"><span style="font-weight: 400">Even though Lewis had found a way to play using Rick’s helmet, it had to be shared between four of them and they couldn’t play at the same time. Soon each would be able to have a helmet of their own. Would they hack them? More than likely if it meant they could stay ahead of everyone else. </span></p> <p class="cnNmYmVkZWQ0ODlhNjQ4ZTdiYzkzOWQyN2Q4Y2ZjZmYx"><span style="font-weight: 400">Rick may have got lucky with the changes he made to his own Anderson cradle, but if he tried again with the new helmets there was a chance he would make a mistake that could leave one of them injured in some way. </span></p> <p class="cnNjZGUyODcyMmU4NzQ2NjhiODA1NGQ4ZDQwYzA1Yzk0"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Yes, should be great,” she said. “It’s going to be a bit mad in there now, though. All those people. And it looks like there’s going to be a lot of people paying to win.”</span></p> <p class="cnM3MjczZWUyZTBlODRiNjRiNDliNzY5MTA4ZDFlMDNm"><span style="font-weight: 400">Lewis was surprisingly sanguine about it. “That was always going to be the way it ended up. You can’t really blame the company. They invested a lot of money in making this thing, they’re going to want to recoup their investment. The important thing is that we have a way to keep things fair.” He grinned at her.</span></p> <p class="cnMzOTBjY2NmZDQxNDRjNTA4NmMwMWM0NmRhOWRmYTFl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Yep, they were definitely planning to fiddle with their hardware. And if they were, so were a lot of other people. It would quickly devolve into a world dominated by cheaters, hackers and people willing to pay large amounts of money to keep up. </span></p> <p class="cnM5MTZmNDdlNjRiODQ2Njk5MTY3MTNlMjFiOGI1MTdm"><span style="font-weight: 400">Was that really how they wanted New World to evolve? Perhaps now that they had fine-tuned the software, they planned to move on and use the game to print money. Lewis was right, they had invested a lot, and they would want it back plus interest.</span></p> <p class="cnM1ODA5ZjQ4NDBlNjQzYmU5YzhjNmUwNWQzYmViYWYx"><span style="font-weight: 400">“At least it isn’t like those Asian MMOs. They just make you grind for everything and microtransaction you to death.”</span></p> <p class="cnNiNTBkNzA4ODM3NzRlNjViZDI2ZjM5OGIwNDFiMzMz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Maybe it was more like those Asian MMOs than Lewis realised. It was owned by a Chinese company, after all.</span></p> <p class="cnMxM2FjMjViN2M3NzQxMzhiZGYxODEzNTAwNGE2MGYx"><span style="font-weight: 400">It made no real difference to her, Britta told herself. She would continue to do her job and use the money to level up in the real world. She did, however, send Lin a text asking her if the game’s difficulty would change. It seemed a small but relevant question that affected her directly.</span></p> <p class="cnM2YWZhYWFkN2UyMzQ4NWM5ODVjMWRiMzlkNjhlNWI5"><span style="font-weight: 400">She received an immediate reply. </span></p> <p class="cnMzMjc3NjcyNzExNDQyZGJhOTA5N2IwYmI5YmNlZjQx"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">No. The marketing is being handled by the gaming arm of the company. They have a very aggressive approach to making money. Nothing will really change.</span></em></p> <p class="cnM2NThjOWNjN2Q3MzQyMjdiN2NiNGJlMTA3NDU1OTRh"><span style="font-weight: 400">Was that really possible? It seemed unlikely you could sell items in the cash shop that were advertised to make the game easier, and then not deliver. Technically, they were only offering boosters, not actual XP, but the implication was still there.</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZjQ5NzI1NDQ2OTQ4MDY4MmQ3Yzg5YjBmZDY5OTAz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Next time she logged in, it might not be the same world.</span></p> </div>

Britta wasn’t sure what Dad would do about Rick, but she was happy he was handling it. There was no good way to deal with Rick that she could see, and many ways to make things worse. The last thing she wanted was an irate teenage boy hounding her at school. Her focus was her school work. She had decided that was the important thing; now was not the time to get distracted by boys and video games. It was, Britta knew, not a terribly proactive way to deal with the situation. She wanted to be the sort of person who faced her problems and took care of them quickly, not leave them to others. Delegating was all well and good, but dumping a problem in someone else’s lap and running away was not how great women earned the respect of the people around them. Fortunately, she was able to immerse herself in her classes and forget about the game. Until lunchtime, that was. There was a rise in background noise as chatter increased, suggesting something had happened. Everyone had their phones or other devices out, and were excitedly checking something. Britta did likewise but had no idea what she was supposed to be checking for. She looked around for someone to ask, but there was no one. Rashida was eating her lunch oblivious and Lewis was in the middle of a crowd of boys. His group seemed more excited than most, which suggested it might be related to the game. Britta looked up the biggest gaming sites and found that the source of the commotion was the announcement of new helmets being released, with no limit on the number and half the price of the previous batch. It seemed the game was going wide in a big way, and in less than a month. New World would soon be a changed place. As she looked over the news, the release of more helmets wasn’t the only announcement. As well as the hardware, there was a list of new features coming to the game. They included a lot of cash shop items to help new players, including XP boosters. That would mean you could level up a lot quicker, if you were willing to pay. It sounded like the sort of thing Dad and other hardcore gamers would rage about. Had the whole point of slowing player progress been to force them to buy boosters? There were more new items, too. New dungeons, a season pass (she wasn’t sure what was included with that), and various packages of fashion items and mounts. There seemed to be a change in how the game was being presented, from a visual novelty to a fully-fledged money-making exercise. The game was definitely no longer in beta. Everyone was excited right now, but it was more than likely their excitement would change to frustration if the game remained as difficult to level up as it was right now. It was all very well offering boosters, but you still had to get experience points in order to boost them. Casual players would not fare well against the monsters as they currently were. Did that mean they would start to make fights easier? “This is great, isn’t it?” said Lewis, sitting down next to her with his laptop open. “We can all play the game now, at the same time.” Even though Lewis had found a way to play using Rick’s helmet, it had to be shared between four of them and they couldn’t play at the same time. Soon each would be able to have a helmet of their own. Would they hack them? More than likely if it meant they could stay ahead of everyone else. Rick may have got lucky with the changes he made to his own Anderson cradle, but if he tried again with the new helmets there was a chance he would make a mistake that could leave one of them injured in some way. “Yes, should be great,” she said. “It’s going to be a bit mad in there now, though. All those people. And it looks like there’s going to be a lot of people paying to win.” Lewis was surprisingly sanguine about it. “That was always going to be the way it ended up. You can’t really blame the company. They invested a lot of money in making this thing, they’re going to want to recoup their investment. The important thing is that we have a way to keep things fair.” He grinned at her. Yep, they were definitely planning to fiddle with their hardware. And if they were, so were a lot of other people. It would quickly devolve into a world dominated by cheaters, hackers and people willing to pay large amounts of money to keep up. Was that really how they wanted New World to evolve? Perhaps now that they had fine-tuned the software, they planned to move on and use the game to print money. Lewis was right, they had invested a lot, and they would want it back plus interest. “At least it isn’t like those Asian MMOs. They just make you grind for everything and microtransaction you to death.” Maybe it was more like those Asian MMOs than Lewis realised. It was owned by a Chinese company, after all. It made no real difference to her, Britta told herself. She would continue to do her job and use the money to level up in the real world. She did, however, send Lin a text asking her if the game’s difficulty would change. It seemed a small but relevant question that affected her directly. She received an immediate reply. *No. The marketing is being handled by the gaming arm of the company. They have a very aggressive approach to making money. Nothing will really change.* Was that really possible? It seemed unlikely you could sell items in the cash shop that were advertised to make the game easier, and then not deliver. Technically, they were only offering boosters, not actual XP, but the implication was still there. Next time she logged in, it might not be the same world.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM4MGFmYzgzN2JjZDRmZTA5NjBmMmFlNTk4ZTliZTNm">On our way to the castle I took a peek out the window to look at the city and the people who lived in it..</p> <p class="cnNjZDM5ZWY2NTI3ZDQ4ZWJhNzM3OTI2NGFiODY1Zjg4">I noticed no big differences between my old world's medieval times and these fantasy medieval times.</p> <p class="cnM5ZDhmZGIyNmI0ZjRlNjE4N2ZkOWYwNDg5M2ZiOTc4">I mean..of course there were some potions shops(duh) and there were people everywhere...</p> <p class="cnNjN2I5ZWZlNjJkMzQ0NTE5NjdjYzQ1MDVmOTQ0OWU1">And most of the buildings seemed brighter.</p> <p class="cnM2ZTBkOTFhMTdjMzQ0YmFhMzg5MGFmNzYyMjA2Yzhh">But the overall atomosphere seemed the same..</p> <p class="cnMxOGJjNmEzZjE4NzQ2NjE5NzcyMmY1ODhlODJiYjRj">"Have you ever been in a capital city Sir Rallo?"</p> <p class="cnNmYWFmYzNkMzk3ZjRlYWY4M2Y5MDM0YTg4MjQxNTc4">Princess Lisa asked.</p> <p class="cnM3Y2Y1NDAwNDY5NTQ2NDM5M2RmZmQzNDM5MTNiZGRl">"..uhh yeah a couple".. but non this ancient looking.</p> <p class="cnMzZDMwYmU2MjBhZDQwNGU4OTIyMDcyMzg2NGQzOTAw">"Really? Can you name a few?"</p> <p class="cnMxN2FlNGEwNDkxNzQ3ZmZiNWEyMjFhNWI5ZWNlZmJj">"ehh.. they are a long ways away from us now.."</p> <p class="cnNiOTkwMDkwYzQxNzQzOThiZDM1YzkzYzIyOTk2ZDMx">'Yeah... another fucking world..'</p> <p class="cnM2ZWMwMzk3MTEwNDQ4MDg4YjViZmNiYTczYTJjZjky"> "a place named Montgomery, Atlanta... uhh actualty i think ive only been to two.."</p> <p class="cnMzYzQ4MDhmZmE4ZDRmNWZiNTYxNjQ3YjM0MDU4YTY2">"Wow sir.. no offense, but you should get out more.."</p> <p class="cnM2NGE1YWQyZDllNjQ0ZmI4YzdhMjM5ODZjZDk4NDk2">'says the bitch who lives in a medieval world while we are riding in a fucking carridge...'</p> <p class="cnNlZThhZTc0MTNiMTRiODE5ZDgzZjE2ZjYxZTRjZjU4">"maybe y-<strong>"</strong></p> <p class="cnNjYzE4MGYyNTViYTRkYzdiOGRiZThjMTYwY2VjN2Ez">"vzzzzt vzzzzt"</p> <p class="cnM0MDcxYWY0NzM1ODRmODM4ZGI1YTQwNzc1NjcxNWE4">No way.. I mean it shouldn't be possible right.</p> <p class="cnNkOTA2YTQxMjIxODQ4ZDQ4MmNhYjU5ZTJmZmU4Mjk3">It will definitley save me some effort in establishing my rule over this world..</p> <p class="cnMwMzc1NjM4NDNkNjQxN2Y4MTFlNWQzYmU4YWRiMmMw">But keeping it in arms reach is just asking for world domination..</p> <p class="cnNjZmFmMmNkZTFkNzRmMTE4MWM3ZDg1NjhiMGU3ZTY3">What if my internet still works, wouldn't I basically become a semi all-knowing freak of nature.. </p> <p class="cnM2NjBhMWQwYTNlYjQwOWU4ODI4OWNkZTEwYWQ2ODQ5">How about I just go ahead and see.... </p> <p class="cnM0MzhlNjZiZWZkOTQ5ZDBiZWQ2NTllNGRmZmQ2Yzkx">"VZZZT~"</p> <p class="cnNiYzljNmYyMjFiZDQ0Nzk4NzUyYWIyZTE0MTRkMzEz">MY FUCKING PHONE!!....</p> <p class="cnM1NGVkZDdiM2U0ZTQxNDJiYWY4YjRiNDFkMWNiODBh">I instantly follow my normal precedure of 'phone going off at a bad time', which is slipping my hand in my pocket and gracefully flicking my phone into silent mode..</p> <p class="cnMzZDFhOWY5NTAzMTRhZTlhMzMwMWI0N2Q0N2IzMjAx">But I couldn't help myself and instantly smiled from ear to ear.</p> <p class="cnMxMzZkNmU2OTFjZDQ4NTZhY2Y0NzU2ZDExY2FkZTZl">I then followed by sratching my leg to play off my earlier actions..</p> <p class="cnM4OGMyNjYzODlkMTQ4YmNhYzdhOTVjNGEwMmYyYTQy">"Huh?? Did you hear something Sir?!"</p> <p class="cnNhYTE5MDVjOGZhYjRmNmZhNDJmMDIwNzQ2Njc0MWEw">"uhh nope.. not-nothing at all~ Maybe it was the wind.."</p> <p class="cnNiNTc4ZTk2OTc4YzQxODRiOTQxM2YwYWQ3OGU5ZjQx">"Oh okay, well we will be coming up on the castle soon, I can't wait to introduce you to my father."</p> <p class="cnNmM2VjNDliMjk2MTQyZDc4NTFiMGE1MDMxY2U4NzRi">"so i get to meet the king just like that?.. shouldn't I have for wait the king like any normal~"</p> <p class="cnNlN2VlOTgwMDAzNzRlMTU5MWMxMmM3YjZmMDZmZGZk">"NOO.. No, Sir Rallo you are not normal, you can manipulate 3 elements while battling close combat. No [Mage] in history has ever done that since [Immemorial Times]."</p> <p class="cnM1ZDM4MjA2ZWFjZDQzZDdiYjQwYWVhYzQzMjVjNzU4">'[Immemorial Times]?'</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td>System: Yes, [Immemorial Times] is the time period in which all beings, from Humans to Gods, fought for supremacy within themselves, and of the [World]. In the end, it was the [Gods] who reigned supreme across the [World] allowing them to rule over the other beings without much resistance, ushering the [World] into a new age which we called the [Reawakening]. During this period the [Gods] effectively segregated themselves from the [World] using methods similar to your world's major secret organizations, while also using methods of indoctrination to induce fear but also hope into other beings. This lead to massive changes in the different cultures around the [World]. This era didn't last as long as the first since most powerful other beings were already too scattered apart to muster up any meaningful resistance, or they were already indoctrinated to the point that they lost sight of the truth of the [World]. The current era we live in now is what we call the [God] era. This time period can only be called as such since the [Gods] now rule unopposed, although secretly through the influence the [Church] has over the general public. We--</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnM4YTA3MjAxZjc4YTRiMjg4ODRiMTU2OGY4ODNlMzcx"> 'woah.. sounds like they had it rough system-kun, but I only remember asking about [Immemorial Times], not the whole damn history of the world.. It might be too early for such deep explainations..</p> <p class="cnM4NTIxNmJhYzk5YTRmZDRiNDJmNTFiN2JmNDkyMDg4">'also.. why do you keep saying we?'</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td>System: "ehhh.. why do you want to know something so simple.. idoit" ~the guy who brought you here"</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnMwODkwZGExZGFkYzQyMTY5OWIwYTJmZjViNmU3NTdj"> 'fuck you.. you semi dead bastard..'</p> <p class="cnM4NDZjNTgyOWFmMTRkODE5OWVlMWRjZDg3ZjA4OTJm">"..... oh look the castle."</p> <p class="cnM5YmEzM2ViYTM3NDRjZmRhMjg0MWY2MDU4NDc5YmE1">We finally arrived at the castle, and what can I say..</p> <p class="cnNkYTE3ZDY2ZTkwNzQ1ZjA5MWFiY2M4ZWUyZTZkODBj">It doesn't look that bad.. but they could atleast make it look more overwhelming..</p> <p class="cnNkMTk0MjczZjU5MzQwNDdhNTQ1MGJkZTIxZTZhNDIy">Someone ancient once said never judge a book by its cover.. so I won't...</p> <p class="cnMzNWM2MTE3ZjZjZjRkZmVhMTQ0YzlmYzJlYWE5MDNl">But this castle fucking sucks.. </p> <p class="cnMyYTNkZjg5NDc0NzQwMzI4NTBkMzNlZGRiNTdhNjZh">I mean the castle itself looks to be of some sort of stone or brick, but upon closer inspection I noticed an almost transparent layer of mana surrounding each block of the castle. The feeling I get from this layer of mana is totally different from other types of mana, such as the warmth of Fire MP or the chilliness of Air MP, it is more of numbing sensation. I decide to turn my attention away from the blocks, as the sensation grew stronger the closer we got.</p> <p class="cnNhNWU2MDMxYzAwODQ3OTk4ZjEyYzhiNzIxZmUwZmM1">Upon turning my head I notice a crowd has gathered in front of the castle gates. I also noticed multiple [Knight] squads rushing to control the rapidly growing crowd on each side of the street.</p> <p class="cnM1ODY0ZjE3YjI2OTQ3NzY5MTcxMmJmNmUyZWQ2MzY2">One [Knight] squad stood out in particular because of their armor, which had to cost a fortune based on the reaction they got from the crowd.</p> <p class="cnNmNzZhNTc3M2E5OTQ3MzFiNGEwNDEwZGMxZTg3ODRm">"Hey guys, have you heard the news yet?? I hear the princess was saved by someone and was brought home."</p> <p class="cnMxYjhiNDlhMjFjYzRhMzRiNWFkNjg4OTRkNWU1OGJh">"I've heard this as well, aparently the king himself has decided to meet this fellow without any prior appointments.."</p> <p class="cnNkODhhYThmN2VkODQ3NjE4NGYxN2NmZGJjNDhiZThi">"Wow Really?? He must be pretty great to get a meeting with the king.."</p> <p class="cnM4ZjUxMjYzMzc2MzRhZDc5Yzc4OWJlNGE5OTAyNDlh">"I heard this is just another ploy by the nobles to rally support for their recent movements lately."</p> <p class="cnNjM2FiYjNkMWExODRjMmY5NTA5NWVmMmI0MGE5YmFk">"Oh yeah, why go through the trouble of locking down the borders if the princess really wasn't missing."</p> <p class="cnM2NTBhNjdkNTIyMzRhNGRiM2U3MmE5NmMyOTZlN2I3">"Who knows, maybe the rumors of the citizen miltia were true afterall."</p> <p class="cnM3YWFmMWY1YjdiYzQ2Y2E5NDkxMDFjM2IzY2ExZjJi">"Ahh look there, the Royal Knights have appeard."</p> <p class="cnMyZjIyNmZmMGM3YzRjOTM4NGYzODQxNzg1MmU1ZDk4">"Look at armor on those guys, no wonder they are called the royals"</p> <p class="cnM3OWVhYjhhYTUyODQ5M2I4N2NmNjk3MWI5NTc2MzNi">"Don't look in awe people!! Remember it is us who pays for their equipment!"</p> <p class="cnM0ZDljNzc3MGJlMTQzZDJhNjUzZDUxZmJmMGE1NzBj">"What is he saying?" "Huh?" "So that's where my earnings are going?" </p> <p class="cnNiODMxNWMxODU2NTQ5ZjhhM2I5MTg3Mzk1M2IwNTFk">"MAKE WAY FOR THE PRINCESS!!" "MOVE IT!!" "MAKE WAY!!"</p> <p class="cnNiNjEyNzc5OTRhYTQ1MGRhMzFiZjI0ZTljYjE2OTY0">"Aahh stop pushing we are moving as fast-"</p> <p class="cnNjNzFlNjc0ZDY1NTQ3OTdhZTk4Njg3NDQwZmU0YmYy">"STOP RUNNING YOUR MOUTH AND GET TO MOVING!!"</p> <p class="cnM5MzI3NjdmZDZhNzQ3NDViYmYzNGM4NWMxMmQzYjA4">"You see how they treat those who provide for them, but will bark at anything that comes close their royalty.. Such a shame this country has become."</p> <p class="cnNmZGQyMWI1YTA3ODRiZjc4N2NhOWJmM2I0ZTk0NDhm">"YOU- You dare say that infront her highness. You shall not live to see the changes to come"</p> <p class="cnMzNmZkZjQ4MDQ2ZjRlMWI5NzlkNDFhNjk5NmI2OWRk">Right as things were turning out for the ugly, Princess Lisa stepped out of the carridge and all eyes, whether citizen or soldier, were glued onto her.</p> <p class="cnNmYTkwYzY3MTA4ZDQ1NTA4YTFmYTdkYzg3ZTQyN2Nh">"Ahh we are finally here.. We must quickly hurry to my father's throne room so he can meet my savior."</p> <p class="cnNhZjdiYzcxMmViNDQ3MmM5YzZkMjAzZDJmY2QxNDI4">"sure.. but shouldn't you greet your people first Princess?"</p> <p class="cnMzMGZiNWJiZjQ3NTRlMTc5ZDQyYTYzMDkxNDJjNTQ5">"No Sir Rallo, they are just peasants afterall, and have no real influence behind them. In fact I'll tell my guards to cut them down to clear the way."</p> <p class="cnNkZDU3Y2FlMzQ3ZjQxYzA5NzAwMjlhMThhZjgzZGJj">'Ok.. No wonder they are plagued with civil strife, they treat their fellow humans as wheat to a sickle, cutting them down almost on a whim."</p> <p class="cnM2ODQ1MjEyZDM3YjQwMTNhOWI0YjUwZWJhYjFlNmM4">"no need for that Princess, I'll get you~"</p> <p class="cnNlYmQ2ODUwNTU5ZTQxODhhZDE0OGYyOTE1ZmZiNjM4">But just before I could my sentence out, there was an sudden change in our surroundings.. </p> <p class="cnM2YjBmYjQ4MTQ1ZTQ4NjBiZTg4YjU5MzcxZTYzZjAx">Although everything seemed normal on the surface, I could feel a difference in the Fire MP in our surrounding areas...</p> <p class="cnM1OWI1MjMzOTViODRmYjg5MTI4NWQ0Y2I5NmQ5ZDJh">It wasn't as dense as I previously felt not even a second before, so something dramatic was definitley about to go down..</p> <p class="cnM5MTQ3MTMxNmQ4YzRhOTdhOWUyYTUwOWJjNzExNGNj">There was not even a second after I realized these changes, before the system, with it's 'oh so fast' reflexes, decided to tell me about incoming danger..</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td>Warning!! Incoming magic! Threat Level: 3/5!!</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnMxYTUxZDg3MWVhOTRlNjY5YTA5ODdlOTM5MzdhYzE5">'Dismiss and disable all threat notifications, cause you are just too slow..'</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td>*ding* Skilled Created!!</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center">Skill Name:</td> <td style="text-align: center">Skill Rank:</td> <td style="text-align: center">Skill Level:</td> <td style="text-align: center">Skill Exp:</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center"> Threat Detection <em>(Passive)</em></td> <td style="text-align: center">Advanced </td> <td style="text-align: center"> 1</td> <td style="text-align: center"> 0%</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" colspan="4">Allows the user to be aware of threats in the area surrounding them. Stronger targets may not appear until they are very close range. Gain exp by succesfully netrualizing threats to the user.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnMzNzhiNGJjMzFlODQ2MjdhNzQ5NDZlMTNhNGVlMWM1"> 'Or I guess you could do that too.'</p> <p class="cnNhMjM5NWNjNzY5MjQzMzM4ZjNiZDdjOTQyMGQ0NzQx">I could feel the heat rising in the carridge so I decide to take action..</p> <p class="cnNmN2ZmOWYzNDA5ZjQ1NDI5NDI5MTM3ZjNlNTFmMGJi">I quickly conjured a water ball using [Water Touch] , I then began streching the water ball so that the princess and I were covered in it.. This took no longer then 2 seconds, which seems to be barely in time because I could clear feel the Fire MP getting stronger and converging on us at a rapid pace. </p> <p class="cnMxNTc1NThlZGI0OTQwMmZiODc3YzY3MWJjN2ZkNzU2">This rapidly converging Fire MP turned out to be a what is known as a [Fireball], and although it seemed way stronger than my [Flame Touch] fireball from earlier, I could tell be the denisty of Fire MP in the [Fireball] that this was not the case.</p> <p class="cnMyN2FhMmE2YzlhYzRmNzlhOWI4MzNjMmQ2YjA3YTM5">But nontheless, fire is fire, so when it meets something as combustible as wood, guess what it will do...</p> <p class="cnM0NzI0ZTE3ZTBlNDQ4MzE5Y2U4ZTc5YjkxNTc2Mjg4">That's right.. Combust..</p> <p class="cnNkNjQwNGUxODQ3NzQzODJhZjk3NDdjMTMwMzEwMzQ1">"BOOOM!!"</p> <p class="cnNhNjQ5YzcyMDRkMDQzMDc4MzI1NmZjNTA4MTNkMDE4">In an instant, the carriage we were previoulsy riding in burst into flames and quickly spread across the entire carriage.</p> <p class="cnM5MDU5MjVkNGViMjQyNWM4NjYxYWEzYThhMDg1ODRk">If it wasn't for [Threat Detection], the princess would probably be burnt to a crisp by now..</p> <p class="cnMxZDg2YTI3MmI1NjQyMmFhNjcyZjgzZTQ2OTgzMzU0">I quickly used [Teleport] while putting my arm around the princess's waist.. </p> <p class="cnM0NjFhMzdhZTljNTQ5ZDA4ZmIwNDQ1MzdhMDNiMzQ0">But to keep the element of surprise going, I decided to [Teleport] straight up...</p> <p class="cnM1NDQxNDJlNTgxMTQ2MmE5NTY1NWNjOTczNmZiNzI0">All onlookers saw was huge [Fireball] appear out of seemingly nowhere, and hit the carriage the supposed missing princess was in.. Then after the explosion the princess and some unknown person appeared 3 meters above the burning wreckage..</p> <p class="cnNhYjlhNDEyZDg5ZjQ0ZWI4ZGI1MTYzOWY3MjNlMGUz">No one, not even the Royal Knights could react quick enough to the explosion, some were even caught and serverly injured in the explosion itself, not to mention saving the princess..</p> <p class="cnNiMTg2N2ViZDJmYTQxMTQ4NDQ1ZjhkZDYxYTJjZTIz">Yet, some unknown person managed to save her in the nick of time.. Of course the crowd who were just pushed back and most likely saved by the Royal Knights could only stare at the two as they seemed to hover over the crowd.</p> <p class="cnM1MDUyZWU4N2RmMzQyMjI5OGM0MDBlOTA3ZTdlNzZm">Of course, I noted all these things while I searched for the one responsible for such a devious method of attack..</p> <p class="cnNjYTdiY2E4NjM2MTRlZjk5MTY0YTAzNDhkODk0YzQ0">They were not to hard to find though as they stood out in the crowd especially from 3 meters up. There was killing intent radiating towards us in amounts I've never felt before..</p> <p class="cnNiNDczNzM0NjI5NDRkMmM4MjY5ZjllY2JlNmEzODRl">I mean not like i've been in any dangerous situtations like this before.. I'm just saying..</p> <p class="cnM1ODA1OTg4YTExMTQxZGVhMzM4NjE3YTA1MzA4NWM5">I met eyes with whom I believe is the leader of the group and I instantly felt something was off about him.</p> <p class="cnNhZjA4OWI0YjBmYjRkOTc4ZDQzMTUyMjc4ZTllNTRi">His eyes glowed with a red hue, that was noticable even this far away.. He also seemed to attract Fire MP towards himself without much effort so if I had to guess he would definitley be the person who fired off the [Fireball].</p> <p class="cnM2NDVmY2IxMzYyNjQyMjY5YTI2NzI0MWI4ZDMwNjhj">I used [Teleport] again the get the princess closer to the castle.</p> <p class="cnMzNTYyMzAyMDg0ZjQyMzBhMmY2OTg4MGY1Y2MzYmU4">The princess seemed more or less confused about the whole situtation, not only did this magician who once saved her life reveal he could use a fourth element, but he also just saved her life once again..</p> <p class="cnM4N2ZkYjgwMDBmNzQ0Nzk4M2YyODk3NDI4MDEyM2Fj">She could only stay frozen in his grasp as they instantly appeared in front of the castle.. </p> <p class="cnM3YzQwMTczYzI3OTQwYjViNzBiOGIxNDViYzZmMGZk"><span style="display: inline; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0">Once we landed we were almost instantly surrounded by an even more special looking squad of [Knights] who came rushing out of the castle after the explosion.</span></p> <p class="cnMyYmEwMDU2OWEyMDQ3YTdiNjA4YTNjYzAzNDIwZWFh">"uhh.." </p> <p class="cnM5ZDI1ZWE5ZjE5NDQ3NWFhM2ZhMDUwZGQ5MGY5NTRl">"GUARD THE PRINCESS!!"</p> <p class="cnM5ZmFkNjlmOTU0MDRlODE4ZWNiNTNjMWYxZjg1NWFj">"Sir Rallo, please help me get to my father!!"</p> <p class="cnNkMzU1YzZkMmYxNTQ4MGI5Y2ZhYmZkNTlmN2MxNjYw">"umm su-"</p> <p class="cnM2Y2MxMDMwZTRmZTRlYzE4MmJkOTNjYWM1ZDNhMzhm">But again I was cut off by a change in our surroundings. I was sure this was [Threat Detection].. </p> <p class="cnMzMjhiOGJjNThkNjQ2Yzk5NmJmZDcwMDhlMjBhMWFh">The Mana in the our surroundings didn't react like last time though, meaning this had to be a person..</p> <p class="cnM2OTAxNzhkYWYwNTQzMTliZWY5NTZjMDE2YmUwMTI0">"get behind me princess.."</p> <p class="cnNiYjE0MmU2MzU0YjQyNzc5NWZmOTdiOTAzMjM1OTQ4">She instantly did as I said, I guess the experience in the forest tempered her into listening to me somehow..</p> <p class="cnNlYWZjYzE2MzhkYjRmODNhMDMyM2UxY2VlNDA2MWEz">Immediatley after she moved the group who was responsible for the attack stepped out of the crowd to confront us..</p> <p class="cnNmYTFhYmRiMGQ1ZDQ5NDJhN2I0YjZiZWE3MDY5OGY3">~'<em>[Identify] the glowly eyed fellow for me</em></p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" colspan="4">Status</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center">Name:</td> <td style="text-align: center">Leestan</td> <td style="text-align: center">Class:</td> <td style="text-align: center">Martial Artist</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center">HP:</td> <td style="text-align: center">130</td> <td style="text-align: center">MP:</td> <td style="text-align: center">30/80</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center">Level</td> <td style="text-align: center">7</td> <td style="text-align: center">Race:</td> <td style="text-align: center">Human</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center">Str:</td> <td style="text-align: center">15</td> <td style="text-align: center">Agi:</td> <td style="text-align: center">10</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center">Vit:</td> <td style="text-align: center">13</td> <td style="text-align: center">Int:</td> <td style="text-align: center">8</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center">Titles:</td> <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3">[Rebel Officer]</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center">Skills:</td> <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3">[Power Kick], [Strengthen], [Power Fist], [Rally], [Fireball]</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" colspan="4">Magical Affinity / Resistance</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center">Fire:</td> <td style="text-align: center">3%</td> <td style="text-align: center">Water:</td> <td style="text-align: center">0%</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center">Earth:</td> <td style="text-align: center">0%</td> <td style="text-align: center">Air:</td> <td style="text-align: center">1%</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center">Darkness:</td> <td style="text-align: center">0%</td> <td style="text-align: center">Light:</td> <td style="text-align: center">0%</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnMzNTdmOWQ4MjQyYTRjNDQ4ZTU5OTlhMjA4N2FjMTky">'well he isn't that stronger than me but he definitely has an advantage, I really need to get a better understanding of the of how the stats work..'</p> <p class="cnM5OTI3NDFlOTY1NDQ5MTFiMzMyZDUzZjc2N2ZiYjVl">"Well well, seems the princess has made it back alive, I guess we will have to do this the hard way."</p> <p class="cnM0MmVmZDdjODBlYzQ1YmFhZjYxYjc2YzM1YTlhNDRm">'this guy really is brave to brazenly attack the princess out in the open like this, plus the guards even seem to be afaid of him..'</p> <p class="cnM4ZmE2OWJjZmY2NDRmMjliYzdhZTBhYmQ2YmViZjQ0">"Le-Leestan, you shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the captial city not to mention the royal castle.. Quickly someone go find one of the officers!!"</p> <p class="cnNmM2RkNTY3NjNkNDRkMDc5ZjljZjY1Y2M0YWE3YjA5">'ok, maybe they were a little too scared.. they really need better training.'</p> <p class="cnMzZTkwNDdhZTYzMTQ1ODE4MmVjMTlhMDZkZGE3OWM3">'now the real question is how should i kill these assholes who decided to attack me without my knowledge..'</p> <p class="cnMzNjE1YzcxMzhlMjQ3YmZiMzE4YmVhNjMxZGRlOWRj">I quickly checked my mana because I don't want a rerun of what happen in the forest.</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td>MP: 189/260</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnMwNTRkYWQyYmNkZTRiZmM5YTRkZjhhNzliOWZmOTM4">'only 189?!'</p> <p class="cnM4NGQ1NDU0MjVkOTRhZDg5NDE5M2M0ODYzNjU3YzY1">'I mean it's still more than the big/little shit who attacked by far.. like 6 times more.. Guess I'm complaining for nothing--'</p> <p class="cnNmM2NkZmZkY2ZmNzQ4NjJhNjJhZjZjN2Y1NTVlMDU3">"I hope you guys didn't think you were leaving here alive!"</p> <p class="cnM3MzdmNGMwNjU2YzQ3MmQ5MjQwODk3MmM4ZGFiNTNl">"Men! ATTACK!!"</p> <p class="cnNmNTJlYzgzNWQxNDQxOGY5MDAwOWMxYzk5MGEzODVk">'And now he is attacking... Like right now in the middle of my bitchy self gloating.. '</p> <p class="cnNlNTU4ZjlmYWZiOTQzMTA4ZTk3YmYzMTZiYWEyNzU0">'I guess i'll show what happens when you interupt a MC."</p> <p class="cnMwYmM0NzFiYzE0YzRmNTQ5NTE1YWJkNDhlZTZjOTVm">I used [Flame Touch] to make a spear of flames about 2 meters in length, then compressed it using [Wind Touch] while also adding a clockwise rotation to the spear.</p> <p class="cnM5NDQ0YTRjYWY4OTRjZDU5NTY0ZGU5M2RmZDBjYmIz">I then stepped out to face the group of charging rebels..</p> <p class="cnNlNTBiMjc4MjZjMDQ0YzNiYjBjNGY0M2I2Mjc1NmVi">Now you might be thinking, 'how' heroic of him to protect the princess in her time of need'. But I can ensure you that this is purely out of rage.</p> <p class="cnNkNmVkZmYxOWQ5YzQ1OGM4NDE1NGFkOTI0MDdlN2E2">Once the rebels saw me stepping out in front of the guards they stopped their advance, although I expected them to slow down because of a newcomer like myself, holding a flaming short spear, had walked out before the guards. I never expected them to stop completely. This kinda put me on edge.</p> <p class="cnNiNGE3NDQxNjlmOTQ2YmM4MGI3MTgwOGM2ZjBmNzhl">"Well, well.. What do we have here, some hired helped?.. guess I'll have to head out earlier then planned.."</p> <p class="cnM0MGE0MjdkYjgzMzRjODhhN2M5YTgwYTQxNmIwMWMw">'So this was planned.. thanks for letting me know, Leestan,,'</p> <p class="cnM4MGZmNTZhYTRmNTRmMGZiOTYyMWIxYzdhZWI2NDM5">"So you know some magic huh?, How about this kid, you join us in the Forsaken and we will overlook this whole incident you caused us today. Sounds pretty good right?"</p> <p class="cnMzYzE5ZmE0ODIxODRkMGI4OWRkN2EzN2EwZDRmNGFm">"... Leestan, you really don't understand the situation you are in, how about this, just go die"</p> <p class="cnNiOWQxZmI0YzBjYjQyZWFiMDU0MDVhNjlmYzgyOWE2">"YO-You insolent brat, I'll teach you a little something about respect."</p> <p class="cnM4YTVkYzBkYjNhNzRjNzI5ZTRlMDk5N2I0ZTg4ZmVm">After a quick back and forth with the idoit known as Leestan, he decided to attack me first.. One of the few major mistakes he made this day.</p> <p class="cnMzM2I1ODMzZmNiNzQyMGY5YjBlZDE4MGRhYmViNDBm">Leestan quickly closed the distance between me and him, but the distance was the only thing saving him from death.</p> <p class="cnMxM2EyMjBhYTU0MTQ1YThhYWNlYTg1MmU3YzdhMzUz">I waited until I was within Leestan's striking range before I got into a semi-defensive stance.. I mean its not like I've had formal training with a spear, just going with the flow of things.</p> <p class="cnMxNmZmNzU5ZDk5NTRhMTBiOWNkNDM0NDdjOWIwYjM1">I begun using a technique i've never tried before but since my magic is based off my imagination, it should work.</p> <p class="cnNkZDE4MmUxNmI0NTRhY2E5M2VhNTY4NWVlYjEzMjRm">I quickly cancelled my spear and attempted to control the space between Leestan and I. Back on my Earth, we humans could only imagine space as plane which can be influenced by the mass of a certain object within that plane. This probably doesn't translate over to a world with actual magic in it, but it wouldn't hurt to try.</p> <p class="cnM1NjhlMzdhMWY5OTQ5NjJiMTNhNTFhOWM4YzE1N2Zm">I poured a little mana into my surroundings while imagining the space between Leestan and I being compressed until there was maybe a couple inches between us.</p> <p class="cnM4OTE1Y2YzYzkzMzRmNjA4Y2M3Y2U2Zjk2ZDQyMmIw">Then... nothing, absolutely nothing.. Leestan didnt appear in front of me like I imagined, in fact he didn't even move a step closer to me..Actually everything seemed to stop within the city.. Even breeze which I felt literally seconds ago seemed to slow to a halt..</p> <p class="cnNjMjJhYjRmYjFlNDRhZGRhZjk0YTBhMWYyNzU1M2Yx">There was absolutely no movement within 15 meters of my location, but that was definetly part my plan.. definetley....</p> <p class="cnNjNWExODEzNTQxZDQ4ZWU5OWEyNDg0NTU2ZjllOWU1">I obviously wasnt included within those things that couldnt move.</p> <p class="cnNhMzgyMGM3ZTk1ZTRiYjZiN2UxMTQxNGJlMGQzMmRj">But when I tried to move towards my target, I felt extremely heavy.. I mean I could still move but it was literally like a snail moving on a treadmill that is set at a snail's speed. I tried to speed up my movement using magic but to no avail.</p> <p class="cnM2MTQzZjUwMzExMTQwNDY5MGRiYjEzNWYyNWIwOGQ2">Instead I used my signature move [Teleport] to get behind Leestan.. I quickly checked my mana and saw something disturbing.</p> <p class="cnM2MWI0ODA5ZGU3MzRmZjg4MTM0NjJjNDZmNTJjZmRk">Every second I lost 30 MP while using my new spell. This wouldn't be a problem normally but with only 189 MP left and with me being surrounded by strangers and enemies of a new world, it's not a situtation I would like to be in. </p> <p class="cnM2N2NkODg4YTZiZTQ1ZWViNWMwYzM1MDlhNmMzZTM5">I quickly, relative to everyone else around me, reached for the weapon in Leestan's hands and easily broke it using my new found strength.</p> <p class="cnM4NGRjNzhkOTNjMjQzMWViNTQxMTJjNzYyNGMzMzg1">With at least 3 seconds gone by, I stopped using mana to control my surroundings.</p> <p class="cnMyM2YyYWM5MDMzMTQ4NWQ5YTcwNTJhZWEwYzU1MDRj">Everything then went back to 'normal' as Leestan shot forward empty handed into the crowd of guards surrounding the princess. I then placed my hand on the ground and used [Earth Touch] to capture the group who surrounded Leestan when he first attacked us. Most were easily captured since they were still in shock from my first display of magic, but some were quicker than others.</p> <p class="cnM0MzQ0MDZmZDYyNTRiMWI5OTkyOTJjOWNjZTMwMWVj">I used the rest of my mana to conjure a small fireball which I used to kill of the rest of our attackers who attempted to flee.</p> <p class="cnM4Mjk2MGJiMjkxNTQyMWQ5NDJhYTJiMDI0NjdkOGI3">I then looked back towards the groups of guards who I left to deal with Leestan, and surprise surprise... He ended being captured after taking down a few guards using his almost competent martial skills.. To my surprise though, there were no serious injuries within the guard's troop, and even Leestan seemed to be surprised at the fact.. Though that might be because I literally disappered along with his weapon within a couple inches of his face. Either way, it was a major failure on the behalf of the Foresaken. </p> <p class="cnM4ZjZiNDMwOGIwNzQyZDk5MzUyOTliNmU1YzlmYzBi">With that minor problem taken care of, I now have an even more major problem to take care of..</p> <p class="cnNlZTg1ZGQxYTE2ZTQ4OWY5Y2Q1OTA1NmMyZTc1ZjBi">Where in the hell am I gonna find an outlet so I can charge my phone?</p> <p class="cnMzZjQ3ZTM0NTZjYTQ2MWY4NWMzYzEwMGMxYTlkNWYy">&nbsp;</p> </div>

On our way to the castle I took a peek out the window to look at the city and the people who lived in it.. I noticed no big differences between my old world's medieval times and these fantasy medieval times. I mean..of course there were some potions shops(duh) and there were people everywhere... And most of the buildings seemed brighter. But the overall atomosphere seemed the same.. "Have you ever been in a capital city Sir Rallo?" Princess Lisa asked. "..uhh yeah a couple".. but non this ancient looking. "Really? Can you name a few?" "ehh.. they are a long ways away from us now.." 'Yeah... another fucking world..' "a place named Montgomery, Atlanta... uhh actualty i think ive only been to two.." "Wow sir.. no offense, but you should get out more.." 'says the bitch who lives in a medieval world while we are riding in a fucking carridge...' "maybe y-**"** "vzzzzt vzzzzt" No way.. I mean it shouldn't be possible right. It will definitley save me some effort in establishing my rule over this world.. But keeping it in arms reach is just asking for world domination.. What if my internet still works, wouldn't I basically become a semi all-knowing freak of nature.. How about I just go ahead and see.... "VZZZT~" MY FUCKING PHONE!!.... I instantly follow my normal precedure of 'phone going off at a bad time', which is slipping my hand in my pocket and gracefully flicking my phone into silent mode.. But I couldn't help myself and instantly smiled from ear to ear. I then followed by sratching my leg to play off my earlier actions.. "Huh?? Did you hear something Sir?!" "uhh nope.. not-nothing at all~ Maybe it was the wind.." "Oh okay, well we will be coming up on the castle soon, I can't wait to introduce you to my father." "so i get to meet the king just like that?.. shouldn't I have for wait the king like any normal~" "NOO.. No, Sir Rallo you are not normal, you can manipulate 3 elements while battling close combat. No [Mage] in history has ever done that since [Immemorial Times]." '[Immemorial Times]?' | System: Yes, [Immemorial Times] is the time period in which all beings, from Humans to Gods, fought for supremacy within themselves, and of the [World]. In the end, it was the [Gods] who reigned supreme across the [World] allowing them to rule over the other beings without much resistance, ushering the [World] into a new age which we called the [Reawakening]. During this period the [Gods] effectively segregated themselves from the [World] using methods similar to your world's major secret organizations, while also using methods of indoctrination to induce fear but also hope into other beings. This lead to massive changes in the different cultures around the [World]. This era didn't last as long as the first since most powerful other beings were already too scattered apart to muster up any meaningful resistance, or they were already indoctrinated to the point that they lost sight of the truth of the [World]. The current era we live in now is what we call the [God] era. This time period can only be called as such since the [Gods] now rule unopposed, although secretly through the influence the [Church] has over the general public. We-- | | --- | 'woah.. sounds like they had it rough system-kun, but I only remember asking about [Immemorial Times], not the whole damn history of the world.. It might be too early for such deep explainations.. 'also.. why do you keep saying we?' | System: "ehhh.. why do you want to know something so simple.. idoit" ~the guy who brought you here" | | --- | 'fuck you.. you semi dead bastard..' "..... oh look the castle." We finally arrived at the castle, and what can I say.. It doesn't look that bad.. but they could atleast make it look more overwhelming.. Someone ancient once said never judge a book by its cover.. so I won't... But this castle fucking sucks.. I mean the castle itself looks to be of some sort of stone or brick, but upon closer inspection I noticed an almost transparent layer of mana surrounding each block of the castle. The feeling I get from this layer of mana is totally different from other types of mana, such as the warmth of Fire MP or the chilliness of Air MP, it is more of numbing sensation. I decide to turn my attention away from the blocks, as the sensation grew stronger the closer we got. Upon turning my head I notice a crowd has gathered in front of the castle gates. I also noticed multiple [Knight] squads rushing to control the rapidly growing crowd on each side of the street. One [Knight] squad stood out in particular because of their armor, which had to cost a fortune based on the reaction they got from the crowd. "Hey guys, have you heard the news yet?? I hear the princess was saved by someone and was brought home." "I've heard this as well, aparently the king himself has decided to meet this fellow without any prior appointments.." "Wow Really?? He must be pretty great to get a meeting with the king.." "I heard this is just another ploy by the nobles to rally support for their recent movements lately." "Oh yeah, why go through the trouble of locking down the borders if the princess really wasn't missing." "Who knows, maybe the rumors of the citizen miltia were true afterall." "Ahh look there, the Royal Knights have appeard." "Look at armor on those guys, no wonder they are called the royals" "Don't look in awe people!! Remember it is us who pays for their equipment!" "What is he saying?" "Huh?" "So that's where my earnings are going?" "MAKE WAY FOR THE PRINCESS!!" "MOVE IT!!" "MAKE WAY!!" "Aahh stop pushing we are moving as fast-" "STOP RUNNING YOUR MOUTH AND GET TO MOVING!!" "You see how they treat those who provide for them, but will bark at anything that comes close their royalty.. Such a shame this country has become." "YOU- You dare say that infront her highness. You shall not live to see the changes to come" Right as things were turning out for the ugly, Princess Lisa stepped out of the carridge and all eyes, whether citizen or soldier, were glued onto her. "Ahh we are finally here.. We must quickly hurry to my father's throne room so he can meet my savior." "sure.. but shouldn't you greet your people first Princess?" "No Sir Rallo, they are just peasants afterall, and have no real influence behind them. In fact I'll tell my guards to cut them down to clear the way." 'Ok.. No wonder they are plagued with civil strife, they treat their fellow humans as wheat to a sickle, cutting them down almost on a whim." "no need for that Princess, I'll get you~" But just before I could my sentence out, there was an sudden change in our surroundings.. Although everything seemed normal on the surface, I could feel a difference in the Fire MP in our surrounding areas... It wasn't as dense as I previously felt not even a second before, so something dramatic was definitley about to go down.. There was not even a second after I realized these changes, before the system, with it's 'oh so fast' reflexes, decided to tell me about incoming danger.. | Warning!! Incoming magic! Threat Level: 3/5!! | | --- | 'Dismiss and disable all threat notifications, cause you are just too slow..' | *ding* Skilled Created!! | | --- | | Skill Name: | Skill Rank: | Skill Level: | Skill Exp: | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Threat Detection *(Passive)* | Advanced | 1 | 0% | | Allows the user to be aware of threats in the area surrounding them. Stronger targets may not appear until they are very close range. Gain exp by succesfully netrualizing threats to the user. | | | | 'Or I guess you could do that too.' I could feel the heat rising in the carridge so I decide to take action.. I quickly conjured a water ball using [Water Touch] , I then began streching the water ball so that the princess and I were covered in it.. This took no longer then 2 seconds, which seems to be barely in time because I could clear feel the Fire MP getting stronger and converging on us at a rapid pace. This rapidly converging Fire MP turned out to be a what is known as a [Fireball], and although it seemed way stronger than my [Flame Touch] fireball from earlier, I could tell be the denisty of Fire MP in the [Fireball] that this was not the case. But nontheless, fire is fire, so when it meets something as combustible as wood, guess what it will do... That's right.. Combust.. "BOOOM!!" In an instant, the carriage we were previoulsy riding in burst into flames and quickly spread across the entire carriage. If it wasn't for [Threat Detection], the princess would probably be burnt to a crisp by now.. I quickly used [Teleport] while putting my arm around the princess's waist.. But to keep the element of surprise going, I decided to [Teleport] straight up... All onlookers saw was huge [Fireball] appear out of seemingly nowhere, and hit the carriage the supposed missing princess was in.. Then after the explosion the princess and some unknown person appeared 3 meters above the burning wreckage.. No one, not even the Royal Knights could react quick enough to the explosion, some were even caught and serverly injured in the explosion itself, not to mention saving the princess.. Yet, some unknown person managed to save her in the nick of time.. Of course the crowd who were just pushed back and most likely saved by the Royal Knights could only stare at the two as they seemed to hover over the crowd. Of course, I noted all these things while I searched for the one responsible for such a devious method of attack.. They were not to hard to find though as they stood out in the crowd especially from 3 meters up. There was killing intent radiating towards us in amounts I've never felt before.. I mean not like i've been in any dangerous situtations like this before.. I'm just saying.. I met eyes with whom I believe is the leader of the group and I instantly felt something was off about him. His eyes glowed with a red hue, that was noticable even this far away.. He also seemed to attract Fire MP towards himself without much effort so if I had to guess he would definitley be the person who fired off the [Fireball]. I used [Teleport] again the get the princess closer to the castle. The princess seemed more or less confused about the whole situtation, not only did this magician who once saved her life reveal he could use a fourth element, but he also just saved her life once again.. She could only stay frozen in his grasp as they instantly appeared in front of the castle.. Once we landed we were almost instantly surrounded by an even more special looking squad of [Knights] who came rushing out of the castle after the explosion. "uhh.." "GUARD THE PRINCESS!!" "Sir Rallo, please help me get to my father!!" "umm su-" But again I was cut off by a change in our surroundings. I was sure this was [Threat Detection].. The Mana in the our surroundings didn't react like last time though, meaning this had to be a person.. "get behind me princess.." She instantly did as I said, I guess the experience in the forest tempered her into listening to me somehow.. Immediatley after she moved the group who was responsible for the attack stepped out of the crowd to confront us.. ~'*[Identify] the glowly eyed fellow for me* | Status | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Name: | Leestan | Class: | Martial Artist | | HP: | 130 | MP: | 30/80 | | Level | 7 | Race: | Human | | Str: | 15 | Agi: | 10 | | Vit: | 13 | Int: | 8 | | Titles: | [Rebel Officer] | | | | Skills: | [Power Kick], [Strengthen], [Power Fist], [Rally], [Fireball] | | | | Magical Affinity / Resistance | | | | | Fire: | 3% | Water: | 0% | | Earth: | 0% | Air: | 1% | | Darkness: | 0% | Light: | 0% | 'well he isn't that stronger than me but he definitely has an advantage, I really need to get a better understanding of the of how the stats work..' "Well well, seems the princess has made it back alive, I guess we will have to do this the hard way." 'this guy really is brave to brazenly attack the princess out in the open like this, plus the guards even seem to be afaid of him..' "Le-Leestan, you shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the captial city not to mention the royal castle.. Quickly someone go find one of the officers!!" 'ok, maybe they were a little too scared.. they really need better training.' 'now the real question is how should i kill these assholes who decided to attack me without my knowledge..' I quickly checked my mana because I don't want a rerun of what happen in the forest. | MP: 189/260 | | --- | 'only 189?!' 'I mean it's still more than the big/little shit who attacked by far.. like 6 times more.. Guess I'm complaining for nothing--' "I hope you guys didn't think you were leaving here alive!" "Men! ATTACK!!" 'And now he is attacking... Like right now in the middle of my bitchy self gloating.. ' 'I guess i'll show what happens when you interupt a MC." I used [Flame Touch] to make a spear of flames about 2 meters in length, then compressed it using [Wind Touch] while also adding a clockwise rotation to the spear. I then stepped out to face the group of charging rebels.. Now you might be thinking, 'how' heroic of him to protect the princess in her time of need'. But I can ensure you that this is purely out of rage. Once the rebels saw me stepping out in front of the guards they stopped their advance, although I expected them to slow down because of a newcomer like myself, holding a flaming short spear, had walked out before the guards. I never expected them to stop completely. This kinda put me on edge. "Well, well.. What do we have here, some hired helped?.. guess I'll have to head out earlier then planned.." 'So this was planned.. thanks for letting me know, Leestan,,' "So you know some magic huh?, How about this kid, you join us in the Forsaken and we will overlook this whole incident you caused us today. Sounds pretty good right?" "... Leestan, you really don't understand the situation you are in, how about this, just go die" "YO-You insolent brat, I'll teach you a little something about respect." After a quick back and forth with the idoit known as Leestan, he decided to attack me first.. One of the few major mistakes he made this day. Leestan quickly closed the distance between me and him, but the distance was the only thing saving him from death. I waited until I was within Leestan's striking range before I got into a semi-defensive stance.. I mean its not like I've had formal training with a spear, just going with the flow of things. I begun using a technique i've never tried before but since my magic is based off my imagination, it should work. I quickly cancelled my spear and attempted to control the space between Leestan and I. Back on my Earth, we humans could only imagine space as plane which can be influenced by the mass of a certain object within that plane. This probably doesn't translate over to a world with actual magic in it, but it wouldn't hurt to try. I poured a little mana into my surroundings while imagining the space between Leestan and I being compressed until there was maybe a couple inches between us. Then... nothing, absolutely nothing.. Leestan didnt appear in front of me like I imagined, in fact he didn't even move a step closer to me..Actually everything seemed to stop within the city.. Even breeze which I felt literally seconds ago seemed to slow to a halt.. There was absolutely no movement within 15 meters of my location, but that was definetly part my plan.. definetley.... I obviously wasnt included within those things that couldnt move. But when I tried to move towards my target, I felt extremely heavy.. I mean I could still move but it was literally like a snail moving on a treadmill that is set at a snail's speed. I tried to speed up my movement using magic but to no avail. Instead I used my signature move [Teleport] to get behind Leestan.. I quickly checked my mana and saw something disturbing. Every second I lost 30 MP while using my new spell. This wouldn't be a problem normally but with only 189 MP left and with me being surrounded by strangers and enemies of a new world, it's not a situtation I would like to be in. I quickly, relative to everyone else around me, reached for the weapon in Leestan's hands and easily broke it using my new found strength. With at least 3 seconds gone by, I stopped using mana to control my surroundings. Everything then went back to 'normal' as Leestan shot forward empty handed into the crowd of guards surrounding the princess. I then placed my hand on the ground and used [Earth Touch] to capture the group who surrounded Leestan when he first attacked us. Most were easily captured since they were still in shock from my first display of magic, but some were quicker than others. I used the rest of my mana to conjure a small fireball which I used to kill of the rest of our attackers who attempted to flee. I then looked back towards the groups of guards who I left to deal with Leestan, and surprise surprise... He ended being captured after taking down a few guards using his almost competent martial skills.. To my surprise though, there were no serious injuries within the guard's troop, and even Leestan seemed to be surprised at the fact.. Though that might be because I literally disappered along with his weapon within a couple inches of his face. Either way, it was a major failure on the behalf of the Foresaken. With that minor problem taken care of, I now have an even more major problem to take care of.. Where in the hell am I gonna find an outlet so I can charge my phone?

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMxM2JlOTQ2YTBlOTQwMDhhMDY1NWRhNGM2YWY2ZmRj" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px">Tony was in a grass field, sitting under the starlit sky and gazing at the infinite Multiverse. He was recounting the things he had done after coming to Norway.</p> <p class="cnM0OTg3YTIyOTk3ZDQ3NmU5YjE0ZTA0OWFlZGE3MjQ5" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnMxMTE5ZWMxMTZkMTQxOGViMjQxMjY3MjdkMzVmNmIw" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">He remembered that he tasked Jarvis to decode and simplify the Spells and Scriptures of the Mystic arts. As Jarvis was doing that, he himself started experimenting with the Time Stone. After brainstorming for very long, he could only understand the Time Stone very little. He also tried to contact the Supreme primordial entities such as Infinity, Eternity, Death, Oblivian, Eon, Galactus or any other of the 'Seven Friendless', but he couldn't contact even Infinity, whose two of the six stones he had, so he decided to store the time stone in himself with the Mind Stone for the time being and just go about his plans.</p> <p class="cnMyMTFiNmU3ZjFmNDQ1NDg5OGI5NmYzMzkxYmRmNTkx" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnMxYTkwZmFmM2ZjMTQ3ZmE4OTE1Yjc0MmMyYjRmYWEz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony first went to meet the All-Father, the Ruler of the Nine Realms, Odin Borson.</p> <p class="cnM0NTBlNGZjZTJmZjRjNWQ5YTUxYzE2OGQxYzVlYzEw" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Odin informed Tony that his soul shouldn't exist in this Multiverse, due to which he is not bound by the threads of fate to anything or anyone and because of which, no divinity of this Multiverse can search for his soul or look at him with their All-Seeing eyes such as Heimdall. This information helped Tony realize why he couldn't contact the Entities of this multiverse. They can't even detect him unless they come to see him face to face as Tony was not their child and they can't perceive him.</p> <p class="cnNjNTE3NDVhYmFhOTRlNzNhOWQ4ODNlMTRmMDFiODY5" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNkM2ExMDc3YjY5OTRlYTFiMmViMWJiMDBjYzMwYmNh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony then offered Odin his health in exchange of the coordinates for the Dwarf planet and the Uru ore as he needed strong weapons like that to even qualify to talk with other cosmic beings. His primary motive was to go to Asgard, and meet Hela. The reason for this was because Hela was unjustly imprisoned for a very long time and he thought that he could use his powers to break her out and use her to get the tesseract and ultimately the Space Stone inside of it.</p> <p class="cnMwMDc4OGUyZWI4MzRiYzdiNmRhZWY2N2I1YWJmYTYy" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">He was actually very confused as to why Thor destroyed the Asgard at the hands of Surtur just to kill his sister who was imprisoned for trying to increase the domain of Asgard. Like He'd destroy and kill the Asgardians instead of letting them live under someone who could increase their resources.</p> <p class="cnMyNGJmZTU5OWZjMTRlMGQ4YzMzZWEzMWRlZDFkNTM1" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony ultimately concluded all this bullshit to the flawed morality of Odin and Thor. Odin however obviously declined Tony's offer as he believed that these events needed to be played and nothing can stop the Ragnarok. Like Seriously? Just because he thought that nothing can stop the Ragnarok because of the prophecy by Yggdrasil, he'd let the Asgardians die. This was another proof of Odin's flawed morality that Tony didn't understand.</p> <p class="cnNlOTU5NmQwZDE3OTQ4ZjFhOWFjMTNjZDA5ZTgyZmEz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnMxMTEwYzc5ZWUxMTQyMjA5NjE4NjFlYTFlNTY1ZGMz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony then returned to his lab and started to experiment with the Time Stone. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned months and months to years and Tony started to comprehend the Time Stone little by little. The reason Sorcerer Supreme could use the Time Stone so effectively was due to it being encased in a special incantation, which makes it the 'Eye' and helps control the Time Stone with the Mystic arts.</p> <p class="cnM2ODA4MGU0OGViYTQ5MGU4NTFjYjVmNTgxYjM3ODg3" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony was also learning the Mystic arts little by little but that was due to the Mind Stone changing Tony's Brain from the inside. Due to the frequent contact of the Mind Stone with his body, Tony's mind was changing slowly. He could think even faster, his Psionic powers were increasing little by little but the most important thing was that his affinity towards the Infinity stones were increasing, which resulted in his comprehension of the Time Stone.</p> <p class="cnNmY2NkOTYwZTU3MjRhZGZhYjk1ODBlNmMyNWE0NWMz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">After decades had passed, He was starting to get tired of being holed up in his lab so he dug an underground cave and made a hot-spring there so he could relax his mind a little. Tony's experiments were most of the times ending with failures but he still got the hang of the Time Stone. He could not use it on a living being as of yet but he could influence non-living objects with the Time Stone with a little help of the Mystic Arts.</p> <p class="cnMzOTgwYTBlOWZiMTRmMmY4MGQwNjNjYzc2YjNiNmNm" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNjNWJiNDZkYmUyOTQ2MzNhOWMyY2E3ZGZhYWI1MDdj" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">As Tony grew older, He was starting to get extremely anxious as no one had contacted him in these 80 or so years. He was so focused on comprehending the Infinity Stones that he completely forsake the rest of the world.</p> <p class="cnNkOWFlZjUxNmYwOTRkMzg4MDBjNzMzMjU2ZGZjMDI3" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">He tried to check what was going on but found that time was flowing differently around him. He soon realized that he was in some kind of a Time Limbo which happened due to the careless experiments of the Time Stone with the Mystic arts. Tony tried everything to break out of this limbo and when nothing worked, he just decided to risk it and held the Stone with his bare hands.</p> <p class="cnNhNjcwMDFmY2Q3MTQ1OWQ5MzM4MGRkOGVkYWJjYWU3" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">The Stone then broke the 100 years Limbo and sent him back in time, the day he just arrived in Norway.</p> <p class="cnMyODJkYmJlZDJmMDRjMDNhY2FkOWQ4Mzc1MGVkZWMz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM0ZjBjN2I5MWJmMDQ0NTNiNGRiOWI4MGNlYjk5NWQ5" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">After he had realized everything, Tony also realized that due to the changes in his brain due to the influence of the Mind Stone for around one hundred years, Jarvis has evolved and gained Self-Awareness. Tony immediately took the necessary measures as he had already predicted this and killed Jarvis. He reprogrammed his AI and rebooted it, which pained him a lot as it was attached to his soul but Jarvis was back at functioning again properly.</p> <p class="cnMyOTc1MzJhZmYwNzQ2OGQ4OTJjYjY0YzBiYzZiOWNi" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM4MWQwZDcwZDVmMDQyMGZiMTYzZTYzODI2MWViMmNh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony was informed by Jarvis that it had found the Quinjet taken by Hulk, which stranded him on the planet Sakaar and made him a gladiator there who fill fight Thor in near future.</p> <p class="cnNjOGFiZTU3ZDk0NDQ2Yzk4YjVlNGZmYWQ1N2M0MTMx" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNkMGY2NzNjYzc1NjQwMjI5OWMzYmZhYmRhYjFkZTg3" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony was also informed that it had found Wendell Vaughn, The person who will later be chosen by the entity Eon as the Protector of the Universe and be known as Quasar. Tony also remembered that Infinity itself possessed Vaughn and made him it's avatar.</p> <p class="cnM2ZWU5MDg4ZTI1YTRlNmFhOTlhMGZhOTA5OTQxNTJj" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">He quickly left to meet Vaughn and after he had 'talked' with him about Quantum bands which he as researching on, Tony exited the S.H.I.E.L.D's facility where he was working and disappeared from the crowd.</p> <p class="cnMwMjdjZDU5YTgyNTRkYWM4MmFiNjBlZjA4YjQ1ZDU1" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnM1ZjI4NWY5ZjQ0YjQyYWZiMWU3ZWQ5ZGQ5MTNkNTU4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnM1Mzg0ZTJmYWZjNjRkODRhMzM4OGRjMjE1MjY0MzEz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnMwY2YzMDI0Y2FhMjRmOWZhYzk3ZTk2NjJmNTdhZWE2" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">After reminiscing all of this, Tony closed his eyes and released a rough breath from his mouth in the Starlit sky, he stayed there for the whole night, clearing his mind of everything and just relaxing in his still normal clothes.</p> <p class="cnMyMDJkNDgxMDFhZTRmY2ZhOWI0MjU1NjllNTJiZWU1" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnM2NjBjNmE1MTRjODRjNWY5MzYwYzM0MTc0YWI2ZmNh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnMzYjVjNDU0YjI4MTQwOTViNjlkOTU5ODYzNGU2YmVl" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnM3NjU3MGNmMjAzNzQ3ZTVhZGRjZWE2Yzg0YmM5MzI2" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Dr. Strange was performing some Mystic arts as the two gods in front of him who were his guests were watching him like kids watching their favorite superhero. They were extremely charmed by the Mystic arts and Loki was even entertaining the Idea of becoming the Sorcerer Supreme himself.</p> <p class="cnNjM2IxZjM2ZmIyODRmY2Y5OWE1MGZkY2EyYzc4YTMx" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">After Strange completed the spell and opened his eyes, he said</p> <p class="cnM4MTNlY2NiODlmZDQxODM4N2I5YTg1YTRmNDM4NDQx" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnMyZmQzMTg2MTg0NjQwNzBiMmJhZDUzMTc4MDE4YjJh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"An extremely powerful aura which is quite similar to you people is residing in Norway."</p> <p class="cnM1NDRmMjZkOTU0NDRmYWQ4ZTUyNGVjMTQ2N2FlZWM0" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNkNWJlZmIwNDJmYzQ5MDdiZWViM2Q0MWM4YzU3NmFm" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"Norway? Where is that?" Asked Thor with a raised eyebrow.</p> <p class="cnM3NjU0YmJlYjM2ZjQzZWZiOGY3YjQ4MWQwZWY3ZGNj" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM5OWIyMjE1MWIwZTQxZDE4ZGIwNTQzZDMwZDMwNWZl" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Strange then patiently explained to them about where their father Odin was and they left to find him soon enough.</p> <p class="cnNhYmVhMjUwNWIxZTQ3NTI4MzY1MTUwMTVjYmY1NmNk" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnNhZDVhNjdjYzM2OTQ3Yzc5MzY0ZmM4N2U4ZGViNWQz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnNiNmI1NGIzZTBmZjRjMjRhOTFiMGRhMTZlOWRkYTY4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnNjYzdlY2VhM2EyYjQ5ODk4ZDg5YjE1OTFmMjFjY2Qx" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony was eating with Pepper in his home which he romantically decorated, and after seeing her off, he discreetly went to meet Wanda and then Shuri. It wasn't that he cared about any of them, but he was trying to achieve something and it could only be achieved with frequent contacts with them… at least or now. He wasn't wasting time anyways as he had already replanned of what he was going to do now.</p> <p class="cnNkMjJiNzRkNTRmZjQ5NDViYjk3NmU4NjViMzZjZDU3" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnMyNzY1YTUyOGMzMjQ4YWE4ODQzNTYzMzFjNjkwYmY3" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">He also researched the Quantum bands but he was not successful.</p> <p class="cnMzZjI4NmM3OTc1NTQzMGJhMDEzZTQ3Njc5YzM1ODgz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnMwYTg0NDNiNzYwZjQ0NzlhZDg0ODEwYTBmZjk2YjFl" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"Maybe I need to be recognized by Eon as 'worthy' to use the powers of Quantum Bands...But the damn thing can't even detect me, which is actually good. But the timelines of all the comics and the movies are fucked up which is actually quite bad. Vaughn shouldn't have the Quantum Bands now."</p> <p class="cnNhNzhjNDcyNjYwMzRmNzRhNGQxZjRmNjFkYWMyOTVh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNkYWI1NDIxNDUwYjQ2Yjc4MDYyYTNlZWY4MTgwMDU3" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">[Successfully hacked the Quinjet taken by Hulk to Sakaar]</p> <p class="cnM2NmY1ZWI2Zjk3MDQ0ODFhODA4Y2UyNGYwMTkxODRi" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM0MTk0MTlhMjdmMDRmZjE4NDY4ODAxZDFiYzhhODlj" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"Good, Send a low frequency sound wave from the Quinjet and try to detect if there is any electrical device which can be hacked."</p> <p class="cnNjMzY4MTFjN2E0ZTQzNzBhYmVlMDNhNmYyYTkxYjdh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnMxNzQzNDVkYWQ0ZDRmMTA4MjNlMGU3YjZmNTRjNTcx" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">[Sending low frequency sound waves in all direction]</p> <p class="cnNiMmFlM2RkMWUyNzQ3MzBiN2YwODgwNDRiYWNkZTVm" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNjODgxODgwMDhkNDRiZTE5ZTM2NDViNmZmOGZkMGI1" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">[Found exploitable digital devices]</p> <p class="cnNiYzc3MjhjMDliMzQzMmQ5MDgyNWQwZjQ4YmZiNmQ0" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM4MDdkMjJiZGE4NjQzYTI5MzM3Yjg3ZjRkMjBiNDdi" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"Hack them"</p> <p class="cnM3ZTg4Y2Y1MzhlZTQxYWY5MjI5NzExNmEyYWIxMjJh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM4NWE4Y2ZhNDg4YzQ1YTM5NDUxNTIxOGEwZDdhNWMz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">[Hacking the Digital devices…..]</p> </div>

Tony was in a grass field, sitting under the starlit sky and gazing at the infinite Multiverse. He was recounting the things he had done after coming to Norway. He remembered that he tasked Jarvis to decode and simplify the Spells and Scriptures of the Mystic arts. As Jarvis was doing that, he himself started experimenting with the Time Stone. After brainstorming for very long, he could only understand the Time Stone very little. He also tried to contact the Supreme primordial entities such as Infinity, Eternity, Death, Oblivian, Eon, Galactus or any other of the 'Seven Friendless', but he couldn't contact even Infinity, whose two of the six stones he had, so he decided to store the time stone in himself with the Mind Stone for the time being and just go about his plans. Tony first went to meet the All-Father, the Ruler of the Nine Realms, Odin Borson. Odin informed Tony that his soul shouldn't exist in this Multiverse, due to which he is not bound by the threads of fate to anything or anyone and because of which, no divinity of this Multiverse can search for his soul or look at him with their All-Seeing eyes such as Heimdall. This information helped Tony realize why he couldn't contact the Entities of this multiverse. They can't even detect him unless they come to see him face to face as Tony was not their child and they can't perceive him. Tony then offered Odin his health in exchange of the coordinates for the Dwarf planet and the Uru ore as he needed strong weapons like that to even qualify to talk with other cosmic beings. His primary motive was to go to Asgard, and meet Hela. The reason for this was because Hela was unjustly imprisoned for a very long time and he thought that he could use his powers to break her out and use her to get the tesseract and ultimately the Space Stone inside of it. He was actually very confused as to why Thor destroyed the Asgard at the hands of Surtur just to kill his sister who was imprisoned for trying to increase the domain of Asgard. Like He'd destroy and kill the Asgardians instead of letting them live under someone who could increase their resources. Tony ultimately concluded all this bullshit to the flawed morality of Odin and Thor. Odin however obviously declined Tony's offer as he believed that these events needed to be played and nothing can stop the Ragnarok. Like Seriously? Just because he thought that nothing can stop the Ragnarok because of the prophecy by Yggdrasil, he'd let the Asgardians die. This was another proof of Odin's flawed morality that Tony didn't understand. Tony then returned to his lab and started to experiment with the Time Stone. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned months and months to years and Tony started to comprehend the Time Stone little by little. The reason Sorcerer Supreme could use the Time Stone so effectively was due to it being encased in a special incantation, which makes it the 'Eye' and helps control the Time Stone with the Mystic arts. Tony was also learning the Mystic arts little by little but that was due to the Mind Stone changing Tony's Brain from the inside. Due to the frequent contact of the Mind Stone with his body, Tony's mind was changing slowly. He could think even faster, his Psionic powers were increasing little by little but the most important thing was that his affinity towards the Infinity stones were increasing, which resulted in his comprehension of the Time Stone. After decades had passed, He was starting to get tired of being holed up in his lab so he dug an underground cave and made a hot-spring there so he could relax his mind a little. Tony's experiments were most of the times ending with failures but he still got the hang of the Time Stone. He could not use it on a living being as of yet but he could influence non-living objects with the Time Stone with a little help of the Mystic Arts. As Tony grew older, He was starting to get extremely anxious as no one had contacted him in these 80 or so years. He was so focused on comprehending the Infinity Stones that he completely forsake the rest of the world. He tried to check what was going on but found that time was flowing differently around him. He soon realized that he was in some kind of a Time Limbo which happened due to the careless experiments of the Time Stone with the Mystic arts. Tony tried everything to break out of this limbo and when nothing worked, he just decided to risk it and held the Stone with his bare hands. The Stone then broke the 100 years Limbo and sent him back in time, the day he just arrived in Norway. After he had realized everything, Tony also realized that due to the changes in his brain due to the influence of the Mind Stone for around one hundred years, Jarvis has evolved and gained Self-Awareness. Tony immediately took the necessary measures as he had already predicted this and killed Jarvis. He reprogrammed his AI and rebooted it, which pained him a lot as it was attached to his soul but Jarvis was back at functioning again properly. Tony was informed by Jarvis that it had found the Quinjet taken by Hulk, which stranded him on the planet Sakaar and made him a gladiator there who fill fight Thor in near future. Tony was also informed that it had found Wendell Vaughn, The person who will later be chosen by the entity Eon as the Protector of the Universe and be known as Quasar. Tony also remembered that Infinity itself possessed Vaughn and made him it's avatar. He quickly left to meet Vaughn and after he had 'talked' with him about Quantum bands which he as researching on, Tony exited the S.H.I.E.L.D's facility where he was working and disappeared from the crowd. . . . After reminiscing all of this, Tony closed his eyes and released a rough breath from his mouth in the Starlit sky, he stayed there for the whole night, clearing his mind of everything and just relaxing in his still normal clothes. . . . Dr. Strange was performing some Mystic arts as the two gods in front of him who were his guests were watching him like kids watching their favorite superhero. They were extremely charmed by the Mystic arts and Loki was even entertaining the Idea of becoming the Sorcerer Supreme himself. After Strange completed the spell and opened his eyes, he said "An extremely powerful aura which is quite similar to you people is residing in Norway." "Norway? Where is that?" Asked Thor with a raised eyebrow. Strange then patiently explained to them about where their father Odin was and they left to find him soon enough. . . . Tony was eating with Pepper in his home which he romantically decorated, and after seeing her off, he discreetly went to meet Wanda and then Shuri. It wasn't that he cared about any of them, but he was trying to achieve something and it could only be achieved with frequent contacts with them… at least or now. He wasn't wasting time anyways as he had already replanned of what he was going to do now. He also researched the Quantum bands but he was not successful. "Maybe I need to be recognized by Eon as 'worthy' to use the powers of Quantum Bands...But the damn thing can't even detect me, which is actually good. But the timelines of all the comics and the movies are fucked up which is actually quite bad. Vaughn shouldn't have the Quantum Bands now." [Successfully hacked the Quinjet taken by Hulk to Sakaar] "Good, Send a low frequency sound wave from the Quinjet and try to detect if there is any electrical device which can be hacked." [Sending low frequency sound waves in all direction] [Found exploitable digital devices] "Hack them" [Hacking the Digital devices…..]

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <div>Just as how God was dressed a moment ago. I too was also dressed the same way. NAKED, I'm NAKED, N. A. K. E. D. lets all sing it together. N. Nice body, oh?, I looked down at ALL my glory. And I'd say, it improved, nice job God. I mentally put up, both of my thumbs, both of them to thank God.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>I was in a dim room lit by eight torches. The room was in the shape of an octagon. A beautiful girl was in front of me. Her face's color had been drained completely which went well with her long black hair. There was also some, maybe priestesses in the background, but they all fainted. I guess virgins can't accept my newly obtained glory. I mean I would be surprised if I saw something like my thing, back on Earth. So it was just me and the princess now, at least that's my guess.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>She stood there gazing upon my greatness blankly for ten seconds, I started to get embarrassed. I mean anyone would if you stared at their parts for that long. She finally spoke up "H-Hero?" her cheeks were bright red.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"I think that's me."</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>She walked up to me averting her gaze "Then here, my cloak. USE IT TO COVER YOURSELF!" The princess shouted while handing over her gold ceremonial robe, I put it on.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Hey princess..."</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"You can call me, Meryl, I'm Meryl Dellant." she was still in shock.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Ok then, Meryl, weren't you staring a bit too low? My eyes are up here." I pointed to my eyes.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"I Never looked, you are mistaken! I was merely thinking, YES thinking, and y-you just happened to be there. I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING!!!" the princess cried while bolting out of the room, while doing so, her chest moved from left to right. Quite a sight, HEY! little me calm down.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'She probably has my thing burnt into her memory.'</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The doors to the room slammed open, the torches flickered at the force which it was pushed with. "What is going on in here!" shouted A knight in golden armor. Six other knights flowed into the room along with him.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>I stared at him and he stared at me with his sword at the ready. The blonde haired golden knight now looked across the room to see the priestesses on the ground. "Men check on them, I will deal with this absurd man wearing almost nothing." said the knight with valor.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The black haired princess now came back into the room "No! wait that's the hero." panicked the princess.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"The hero can make all these priestesess faint just by being looked upon?" asked the golden knight.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"As expected from the hero!" he shouted proudly.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'No I don't think that I released some kind of aura. Rather they all just looked at my new little me. Which has become quite big compared to the one I had when I was hit by Truck-chan.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Come hero, let us check your status." said the princess.</div> <div>I followed her out of the room along with the golden knight and his followers, my guess is that he is the captain of the knights. While following them I was thinking 'IT'S A TRAP, A TRAP,'</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'By the way I don't mean one of those Japanese Traps.'</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>'I mean the TOTALLY NOT SUSPICIOUS, ""Come hero, let us check your status"" coming from the Princess, not SUSPICIOUS at all.'</div> <div>---------------------------------</div> <div>We ended up in the castle's audience room. Which is about the size of a large college auditorium. I have to say that this castle is quite huge. The hallways are big enough to fit ten people walking side by side. There where many windows the size of a person. And it took four minutes just to get to the audience room, which is in the middle of the castle. It's way too big! it must serve as a statement to other countries or a waste of tax money.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>In the middle of the room was a circular table holding a glass ball that faintly emit light. The King, Dellant was in front of the table twenty feet away. He looked a bit over middle aged since his hair had more white than brown. Next to him was the Queen who looked like an older version of Meryl. Both were sitting on gold thrones. In the audience room were many nobles, knights and wizards.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Now Hero, put your hand on the ball so that we can see your powers." said the princess in anticipation.</div> <div>I nodded and used my hand to grasp one of my balls. Yes, one of MY balls, doing this gave everone in the audience room a glimse of what I was packing. All of the women in the room flared up in red. While the men were shocked. I smiled as I did so.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"What Blasmephy!" shouted a man five feet away from the king. He must be the King's adviser.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Your Exelence what should we do about this man?" he looked up at the king for a response.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The King was still looking at me not showing emotion. Then he twitched a bit "Ha- HA, HA hahahaha" he laughed heartily. "I'll pardon it, it was funny!" The rest of the audience room also started laughing. Some at my joke, while others were trying to not offend the King.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>"Now please, touch the observation crystal on the table." said the King after calming down from his laughing fit.</div> <div>I touched the crystal ball. When I did so, the whole room lit up with blinding light coming from the ball. Then my status showed up.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Status:Level: 1<br>Name: Michael Xema<br>Age: 18<br>HP: 99999/99999<br>MP: 177929835/177929835<br>Classes: Dark Mage, Hero<br>Titles: Exhibitionist, Jokester, Hero, Dark Mage<br>Skills: Sword Arts[A+], Dark Flare[A+], Body Strengthing[S], MP Recovery[S], MP Drain[C], Ward[B], Shadow Walk[A], ???<br>Blessings: Bangin Body[S], Dodge Everything (Inactive) [???], Language Comprehension [SSS]</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Then the crystal shattered while the light was still blaring with a loud BAM! suprising everyone in the room. When that happened my status window closed along with the explosion.</div> </div>

Just as how God was dressed a moment ago. I too was also dressed the same way. NAKED, I'm NAKED, N. A. K. E. D. lets all sing it together. N. Nice body, oh?, I looked down at ALL my glory. And I'd say, it improved, nice job God. I mentally put up, both of my thumbs, both of them to thank God.   I was in a dim room lit by eight torches. The room was in the shape of an octagon. A beautiful girl was in front of me. Her face's color had been drained completely which went well with her long black hair. There was also some, maybe priestesses in the background, but they all fainted. I guess virgins can't accept my newly obtained glory. I mean I would be surprised if I saw something like my thing, back on Earth. So it was just me and the princess now, at least that's my guess.   She stood there gazing upon my greatness blankly for ten seconds, I started to get embarrassed. I mean anyone would if you stared at their parts for that long. She finally spoke up "H-Hero?" her cheeks were bright red.   "I think that's me."   She walked up to me averting her gaze "Then here, my cloak. USE IT TO COVER YOURSELF!" The princess shouted while handing over her gold ceremonial robe, I put it on.   "Hey princess..."   "You can call me, Meryl, I'm Meryl Dellant." she was still in shock.   "Ok then, Meryl, weren't you staring a bit too low? My eyes are up here." I pointed to my eyes.   "I Never looked, you are mistaken! I was merely thinking, YES thinking, and y-you just happened to be there. I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING!!!" the princess cried while bolting out of the room, while doing so, her chest moved from left to right. Quite a sight, HEY! little me calm down.   'She probably has my thing burnt into her memory.'   The doors to the room slammed open, the torches flickered at the force which it was pushed with. "What is going on in here!" shouted A knight in golden armor. Six other knights flowed into the room along with him.   I stared at him and he stared at me with his sword at the ready. The blonde haired golden knight now looked across the room to see the priestesses on the ground. "Men check on them, I will deal with this absurd man wearing almost nothing." said the knight with valor.   The black haired princess now came back into the room "No! wait that's the hero." panicked the princess.   "The hero can make all these priestesess faint just by being looked upon?" asked the golden knight.   "As expected from the hero!" he shouted proudly.   'No I don't think that I released some kind of aura. Rather they all just looked at my new little me. Which has become quite big compared to the one I had when I was hit by Truck-chan.   "Come hero, let us check your status." said the princess. I followed her out of the room along with the golden knight and his followers, my guess is that he is the captain of the knights. While following them I was thinking 'IT'S A TRAP, A TRAP,'   'By the way I don't mean one of those Japanese Traps.'   'I mean the TOTALLY NOT SUSPICIOUS, ""Come hero, let us check your status"" coming from the Princess, not SUSPICIOUS at all.' --------------------------------- We ended up in the castle's audience room. Which is about the size of a large college auditorium. I have to say that this castle is quite huge. The hallways are big enough to fit ten people walking side by side. There where many windows the size of a person. And it took four minutes just to get to the audience room, which is in the middle of the castle. It's way too big! it must serve as a statement to other countries or a waste of tax money.   In the middle of the room was a circular table holding a glass ball that faintly emit light. The King, Dellant was in front of the table twenty feet away. He looked a bit over middle aged since his hair had more white than brown. Next to him was the Queen who looked like an older version of Meryl. Both were sitting on gold thrones. In the audience room were many nobles, knights and wizards.   "Now Hero, put your hand on the ball so that we can see your powers." said the princess in anticipation. I nodded and used my hand to grasp one of my balls. Yes, one of MY balls, doing this gave everone in the audience room a glimse of what I was packing. All of the women in the room flared up in red. While the men were shocked. I smiled as I did so.   "What Blasmephy!" shouted a man five feet away from the king. He must be the King's adviser.   "Your Exelence what should we do about this man?" he looked up at the king for a response.   The King was still looking at me not showing emotion. Then he twitched a bit "Ha- HA, HA hahahaha" he laughed heartily. "I'll pardon it, it was funny!" The rest of the audience room also started laughing. Some at my joke, while others were trying to not offend the King.   "Now please, touch the observation crystal on the table." said the King after calming down from his laughing fit. I touched the crystal ball. When I did so, the whole room lit up with blinding light coming from the ball. Then my status showed up.   Status:Level: 1 Name: Michael Xema Age: 18 HP: 99999/99999 MP: 177929835/177929835 Classes: Dark Mage, Hero Titles: Exhibitionist, Jokester, Hero, Dark Mage Skills: Sword Arts[A+], Dark Flare[A+], Body Strengthing[S], MP Recovery[S], MP Drain[C], Ward[B], Shadow Walk[A], ??? Blessings: Bangin Body[S], Dodge Everything (Inactive) [???], Language Comprehension [SSS]   Then the crystal shattered while the light was still blaring with a loud BAM! suprising everyone in the room. When that happened my status window closed along with the explosion.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMwMjRmYWQyZDJmMjQyNTFiNzU3Y2QzMGZjZjdiZDBj"><strong>It was 1574.</strong> At that time, my marriage was a&nbsp;hot issue, since I had no fiance until now due to my regent Reginald Pole's worries that I would be a puppet of a powerful father-in-law.</p> <p class="cnM3ZTUwNmYxY2UxZjQyNzM4YzNiZDc3MGEyYzdhMDM0"><strong>But since he has retired 2 years ago, I can choose according to my will and</strong><strong>&nbsp;I had 3 choices.&nbsp;</strong></p> <p class="cnNjOWFjYjNlMjYyZDQ5OGNhMGNlNzgxZDI1MzdmZjUx"><strong>First,</strong> was the Austrian princess Maria, the 3rd daughter of&nbsp;Maximilian II (The Kaizer of the Holy Roman Empire). It would improve the&nbsp;global status of England in entire Europe&nbsp;but would deepen England's dependency towards&nbsp;Haus Habsburg Empire.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwNDdkODE2ZDVlYzQ1ZWJhNDU2ZWQ0NGNmMGYyNjY5"><strong>Second,</strong> was the Queen Mary of Scotland. The fact that she was already married and has a husband and an infant boy</p> <p class="cnNjMDk5ZDQ1ODA0MjRmYWNiMTAyMGM2ZjgzMGY1ZTM1">- who would be James I in original history - doesn't matter. <em>Why they say everyone has a skeleton in his closet.</em></p> <p class="cnMzOTgyOWY5MzU2ZTQ4NmE4NzI4MDJhN2ZiMTUwOWUx">But the main problem is that she's already over 30, and would have trouble during the labor, whereas the heir between me and her would inherit entire Britain if he(or she) would be born.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwYmI5ZGU2N2FjNjQwNDY4NDJiNzViOWM4YmU4MWVl"><strong>Third,</strong> was marrying the daughter of a noble from inside the country - such as from the Netherlands, Wales or Ireland. The good news is that my control of the kingdom would strengthen and the bad news is that it would have a negative impact on the House of Tudor since that would be considered of being wed to a lower class.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjZmM5NWFmOGQ2YjQ4YjVhY2YzMWZmOWRlNGFiMzAw"><strong>After talking to my advisors, we came to the conclusion that I should marry Maria von Habsburg. The council agreed that the position of England - and therefore me - was still far too weak in low countries.&nbsp;This could easily be fixed by using the power of the Holy Roman Empire, a power felt throughout the entirety of the Netherlands. The envoy was sent to my great uncle Maximilian the second, whom, after consulting his own advisors, agreed.</strong></p> <p class="cnNjZDAyM2EzM2NjMDQ0NjliY2M0MTAzYWMyODZiYzEz">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkMDI2ZWU4YzdiOTRmYmY4NzhlNDQyNmFjMjBmZTgx"><strong>After the betrothal had been made, my great uncle demanded that the wedding is held in Vienna.&nbsp;My advisors warned me not to agree to his terms since it would make England look weak.&nbsp;Therefore we decided to also hold a wedding in London. Both weddings were had during the summer of 1574.&nbsp;To show that he did not agree to there also being a wedding in London, Maximillian the second only showed up in Vienna, and instead sent his son to London on his behalf.&nbsp;My father also didn’t show up on both occasions, due to him still being angry about the way things were going for me.&nbsp;He didn’t even send a family member in his stead! Instead, he sent the Duke of Asturias on his behalf.</strong></p> <p class="cnNlOGMyYjk2MmRmNDRjYzFiMTZlN2ZjODM4OTVkZDIy"><em>"It's...better than I had expected."</em></p> <p class="cnM1NzlkYzJiOGVjZjRiYTdiODU3ZGE4Y2I4ZTNiMTE1"><strong>Those were the first words</strong>, my wife, Maria - who was the princess of the&nbsp;Holy Roman Empire - said when she first took a step in London.</p> <p class="cnMwYzhhNTBjNDgzNDQ3NjBiNTkxNzJlMDVhMjJkYTg2">I held the urge to shoot back at her</p> <p class="cnNjOTBjZTBiMDYyZTQ1Y2E5ZTE1YjQ1YjM4ZDQ5MjYx">'Then did you think it would be a hog pen?'</p> <p class="cnNhZTc0NzFmYTI1YzQzOTI4NzU3ZjdiMTJhOTQ0NWY4">but replied to her as&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjMjQ0YTUwNGFmOTQ0ODhhODAxOGE1NWI0M2RjZGJk">"You're welcome."</p> <p class="cnM1OTMyYmM3N2RiNTRiZjJiODJkNjFhMzU0NDNjYjU4">At fall(same year), the royal doctor told us Maria was pregnant. After calculating back the dates, I've realized the baby was made on the first night.</p> <p class="cnNiYTQwMjAzMWI3NzRiMzliN2IxMzE1ZDI0OTczMTlj"><em>"You beast!"</em></p> <p class="cnMwODVlZWZkYWExNTQxZGZiMmFjYmYxMTQyOTg5NzZm">She was half making fun of me since she laughed while poking my cheek with her finger. I just smiled.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzZjA5Y2ZjNzhkNzRjNmVhYmFjOWI4YWIyMWFlYTNh">At winter, Scotland was going to the dogs. Queen Mary Stewart lost her crown due to a Protestant rebellion. My retired regent, Reginald Pole's plot - supporting the&nbsp;Protestants of&nbsp; Scotland to counter France - Scotland alliance bear its fruit at last. The Scottish Protestants held baby James as their new king and the dethroned Queen fled to England, claiming she also inherited&nbsp; Tudor blood. I've more than welcomed her and then she asked me for help in her hideout, writing a letter to me countless times.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM0YzI5MjI4YmZhNzQzZjZiZjMyN2U4MzgwMjQxNWM0"><em>Sister of Faith and your relative has lost her crown but why are you silent?</em></p> <p class="cnM0MzdkMGJmYjJjZTQxZGY4MTczZTA4NmI5MDg1YmNk">But I was cautious since I was concerned that&nbsp;France - Scotland's old alliance - would stand by Scotland's side. So that's why I've used my marriage alliance as a tool this time. I've got a confirmation answer from my great uncle Maximilian II that if France interferes with the war between England and Scotland, the Holy Roman Empire will stand by England's side.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM0ODcyZmZlZDYyOTRlNWVhZWJhYjAwNjY1NmJjMTMx">And it was then I've invaded Scotland with the claim of&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNiOGU2ODMzMzM4ODQ0NWNiNjc5ODJlYzIwMTk0OWYy">"Let's help poor Queen Mary Stewart and make Scotland return to Catholic faith!"</p> <p class="cnMzZDU4YmNjODA0YjQwMjBhNWY1ZjFkMmJlMjA5ZGE0">Luckily, since this war was a religious war between the Protestants and the Catholic, France - which was also in the civil war between the&nbsp;Huguenots and the Catholics - weren't able to interfere in the first place.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmNDAxNjNiY2Y3OTRkM2ViZGExOGQxMzdiMmJiMDAy">With the help of Catholic Scots, the English Army swiftly advanced to Edinburgh. Also, the English Navy - which was well trained and equipped with the religious tax from the Netherlands and England - burned all the Scottish ships and blasted every Scottish port into smithereens. Since France was silent, it took less than 3 months for Scotland to surrender and they had to endure their cursed Queen Mary Stewart and accept a disgraceful additional clause -&nbsp;<em>When the Queen has no legitimate heir, the King of England shall be their next ruler. </em>- at the treaty.</p> <p class="cnNkNGZhMzYxMzliZDQyNDQ4OGMzNmU0M2QwYWM0MWM1">Upon reclaiming her throne, Queen Mary Stewart released her lover, Count Boswell and named him semi-king of Scotland. The only reason he couldn't become king was England's surveillance.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhZmY4Zjk0YWZmMDQ1YjViMjU2NjMyZWQ0MTdjMzBk"><strong>Next year summer(1575),&nbsp;</strong>Maria gave birth to a daughter. I've given her the name Elizabeth. Meanwhile, in Scotland, Queen Mary Stewart's baby boy James was found dead by suffocated with a pillow. It was Queen's plot to make her husband,&nbsp;Count Boswell, a king of Scotland.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzMzkxNmQ0OTk0ODRhZTA4MzkwYTE1MmM1OWM4Y2Q4">At fall,&nbsp;&nbsp;semi-king of Scotland,&nbsp;Count Boswell, was poisoned to death after drinking wine which contained arsenic. It was done by the Protestant nobles of Scotland, who were fed up with their Queen and Boswell's misdeeds.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM2NzIxNGY1OGE1MTQwYmM4M2JhZWZjYWM5ZjIxYWE1">That was the final straw for her. She held religious trials day by day and massacred Protestant nobles and merchants, which caused the people of Scotland to revolt once again <strong>next year spring(1576).</strong></p> <p class="cnM2MDZlOTdhYTZhNzQ1NjhiOGRjZDkxZGU2OGNjNjcx">She tried to flee to England once again but shot to death by an arrow shot by the rebels at the borders.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmNTRmMGE1MGZlMDQ0MjE4MTY5MjM0OGYyM2I3MzEx">So, I,&nbsp;Edward VII - according to the clause signed at the treaty - invaded Scotland once again, and crushed the rebels and held a coronation at&nbsp;Edinburgh as a King of Scotland, since no legitimate heir was left inside Scotland.</p> <p class="cnNiMjIwOTRlZGFmODQxMDk4NWYwMTVlMTEyZjQ2Nzgw">By the way, you might be wondering how I know the situation inside Scotland so well.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3OWFmNDM4ZmU1ZTRkZTA4OGQwOTJkY2E0YzljMjQ2"><em>Why they say everyone has a skeleton in his closet.</em></p> <p class="cnMzOGQ5ZDM3MzAxMzRjYmU4YzkzNjY4OTdhZDUxODdm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkYzlhN2U5Y2M1YjQ4ZmViM2U1MDZlNTJjN2IwNGY2">* The current domain of Edward VII - Great Britain(England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales) and the Netherlands</p> <p class="cnNhMTg4MmU1MzYyYTRjZjliNThhZWY3Mzg0MTBlZDA2">* The Netherlands also include nowadays Belgium and Luxembourg</p> </div>

**It was 1574.** At that time, my marriage was a hot issue, since I had no fiance until now due to my regent Reginald Pole's worries that I would be a puppet of a powerful father-in-law. **But since he has retired 2 years ago, I can choose according to my will and****I had 3 choices.** **First,** was the Austrian princess Maria, the 3rd daughter of Maximilian II (The Kaizer of the Holy Roman Empire). It would improve the global status of England in entire Europe but would deepen England's dependency towards Haus Habsburg Empire.  **Second,** was the Queen Mary of Scotland. The fact that she was already married and has a husband and an infant boy - who would be James I in original history - doesn't matter. *Why they say everyone has a skeleton in his closet.* But the main problem is that she's already over 30, and would have trouble during the labor, whereas the heir between me and her would inherit entire Britain if he(or she) would be born.   **Third,** was marrying the daughter of a noble from inside the country - such as from the Netherlands, Wales or Ireland. The good news is that my control of the kingdom would strengthen and the bad news is that it would have a negative impact on the House of Tudor since that would be considered of being wed to a lower class.   **After talking to my advisors, we came to the conclusion that I should marry Maria von Habsburg. The council agreed that the position of England - and therefore me - was still far too weak in low countries. This could easily be fixed by using the power of the Holy Roman Empire, a power felt throughout the entirety of the Netherlands. The envoy was sent to my great uncle Maximilian the second, whom, after consulting his own advisors, agreed.**   **After the betrothal had been made, my great uncle demanded that the wedding is held in Vienna. My advisors warned me not to agree to his terms since it would make England look weak. Therefore we decided to also hold a wedding in London. Both weddings were had during the summer of 1574. To show that he did not agree to there also being a wedding in London, Maximillian the second only showed up in Vienna, and instead sent his son to London on his behalf. My father also didn’t show up on both occasions, due to him still being angry about the way things were going for me. He didn’t even send a family member in his stead! Instead, he sent the Duke of Asturias on his behalf.** *"It's...better than I had expected."* **Those were the first words**, my wife, Maria - who was the princess of the Holy Roman Empire - said when she first took a step in London. I held the urge to shoot back at her 'Then did you think it would be a hog pen?' but replied to her as  "You're welcome." At fall(same year), the royal doctor told us Maria was pregnant. After calculating back the dates, I've realized the baby was made on the first night. *"You beast!"* She was half making fun of me since she laughed while poking my cheek with her finger. I just smiled.  At winter, Scotland was going to the dogs. Queen Mary Stewart lost her crown due to a Protestant rebellion. My retired regent, Reginald Pole's plot - supporting the Protestants of  Scotland to counter France - Scotland alliance bear its fruit at last. The Scottish Protestants held baby James as their new king and the dethroned Queen fled to England, claiming she also inherited  Tudor blood. I've more than welcomed her and then she asked me for help in her hideout, writing a letter to me countless times.  *Sister of Faith and your relative has lost her crown but why are you silent?* But I was cautious since I was concerned that France - Scotland's old alliance - would stand by Scotland's side. So that's why I've used my marriage alliance as a tool this time. I've got a confirmation answer from my great uncle Maximilian II that if France interferes with the war between England and Scotland, the Holy Roman Empire will stand by England's side.  And it was then I've invaded Scotland with the claim of  "Let's help poor Queen Mary Stewart and make Scotland return to Catholic faith!" Luckily, since this war was a religious war between the Protestants and the Catholic, France - which was also in the civil war between the Huguenots and the Catholics - weren't able to interfere in the first place.  With the help of Catholic Scots, the English Army swiftly advanced to Edinburgh. Also, the English Navy - which was well trained and equipped with the religious tax from the Netherlands and England - burned all the Scottish ships and blasted every Scottish port into smithereens. Since France was silent, it took less than 3 months for Scotland to surrender and they had to endure their cursed Queen Mary Stewart and accept a disgraceful additional clause - *When the Queen has no legitimate heir, the King of England shall be their next ruler.* - at the treaty. Upon reclaiming her throne, Queen Mary Stewart released her lover, Count Boswell and named him semi-king of Scotland. The only reason he couldn't become king was England's surveillance.  **Next year summer(1575),**Maria gave birth to a daughter. I've given her the name Elizabeth. Meanwhile, in Scotland, Queen Mary Stewart's baby boy James was found dead by suffocated with a pillow. It was Queen's plot to make her husband, Count Boswell, a king of Scotland.  At fall,  semi-king of Scotland, Count Boswell, was poisoned to death after drinking wine which contained arsenic. It was done by the Protestant nobles of Scotland, who were fed up with their Queen and Boswell's misdeeds.  That was the final straw for her. She held religious trials day by day and massacred Protestant nobles and merchants, which caused the people of Scotland to revolt once again **next year spring(1576).** She tried to flee to England once again but shot to death by an arrow shot by the rebels at the borders.  So, I, Edward VII - according to the clause signed at the treaty - invaded Scotland once again, and crushed the rebels and held a coronation at Edinburgh as a King of Scotland, since no legitimate heir was left inside Scotland. By the way, you might be wondering how I know the situation inside Scotland so well.  *Why they say everyone has a skeleton in his closet.*   * The current domain of Edward VII - Great Britain(England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales) and the Netherlands * The Netherlands also include nowadays Belgium and Luxembourg

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMyYTQ0ZWEyNjQyYzQ0OGZhODI0Zjc1YjA2YzExZTdl" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px">Thor and Loki went to meet Odin after which Tony let the original story follow till Hela broke Mjolnir and he was stranded on Sakaar to be captured and fight as a gladiator.</p> <p class="cnM1NmJjNjdmZjc3NjRmN2FhYzBiOGMyNWRjMDk1NDlj" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnMxOTg0MGQzMDVhYTQ1MGFhMjRkOGI2NDg0ZTllNDY5" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnMyYzhhOGU4YTNiZTQ2ZmRiMjFjZjdmNTY2ZWIyZWNi" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"Jarvis, Use the Asgardian teleportation array sequence and send a message there."</p> <p class="cnMxYzFkZWEyODU0ZTQ1YTY4YThlYmY0OTM3YzY2NGRi" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnMwNWJlZTY3ZTRiZTRjMjI5ODE3M2VkNjNhODczZGUx" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">[Using the ATAC, please record your message now]</p> <p class="cnMxNjFkZDA1NWUyNzQyZDA4OGZjMDlhOTk0ZWYxYmVi" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNiNzllY2JkODk4MDQxM2NiN2FlODE0MWYxYzNhNjEy" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">[Listening…..]</p> <p class="cnM5NjFkZjgzOWUyNTQ2YThiOThhODFmNzkwOWQ0NzRi" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNhZWNlMjY1ZGU0YTQxOTlhMWM3NmE0ZmY3NjI3NmE3" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"Remove the Eternal Flame from Odin's vault. Thor intends to complete it with Surtur's crown and unleash Ragnarok upon you. Love Tony."</p> <p class="cnMwNzE2Mzc1YWY2NDRmYzBhOWEzM2FmYzNjZGU5Nzg3" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnMwN2Y0ZmQ2MjI5MjRiNGE5ZmU0OWJiZWFmMWJjYzY1" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">[Message Recorded, Sending now]</p> <p class="cnMzYmM5N2YzNjRiMzQzYjg5YTkwZGFiMTk5NmRiNTEy" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnMwYTBiM2Q4YTI5NjRjZjk4MmNiOGViN2ZmNjVjYzg2" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnMzYmRiMTBhYjAxODQwN2VhMDZiNzk3MmI2ZDA1MmYz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnNhNGNiZGJlYzkyZjQ0NWFhMTM2NTQ3NTRiZDcwMTdh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Hela was sitting in the Asgardian throne when suddenly she detected a magical signal coming from Bifrost. She willed the signal to come to her as she was quite amused to receive a message from someone just after taking over Asgard.</p> <p class="cnNlNjI4NDg5NGFhYTQ4NTliM2JlMzU0N2M5MWZiYjNj" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNhNjcyNzBkMTAyYjQwNmM5YTgxMTdjNmI5MzAxODk2" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">As the message reached her, She used her magic and heard it.</p> <p class="cnM0ZDZmOTM0NmJhNzQ0NTNhNmNjMWJkMWE0ZTIwYmEz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony's voice started playing in the message and after the message had ended, Hela was shocked.</p> <p class="cnM0OGQwNTVhNzI1ZjRhMmJiNGZjMDI4ZTk3YzQ1MjQ1" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Who was this Tony that had the capability to connect with the Bifrost? Why did he help her? She was amused and a smile crept up on her lips as she motioned her hands and sent a reply of her own.</p> <p class="cnMxNDQxOWYzNTMzMjQ1YzdhY2M2NzgyMzQ5MDkyNjQ4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnNjOGU0ZTc3YmRiMzRkZGY4YjVhM2JjMDI2OGQ4MjUx" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">.</p> <p class="cnM1NTkyYjM3ZTQ0NjRjZThiMjFhMWVkMzNjZTRjODkz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony was standing in front of a window in his room with both infinity stones revolving around him when he received a direct message from Hela. He suddenly broke into a smile after listening her reply and started walking towards his terrace. As he was climbing up the stairs, he started stripping of his normal cotton clothes and after completely stripping naked, his Endo-Sym Armor came out of nowhere and surrounded him to become a black shirt, black pant, with black boots and black overcoat.</p> <p class="cnNhMDBiMmNlOWQ2MzRjZjlhNmYwZDkzMzNjNjg4OGY5" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">His demeanor completely changed to that of a Tyrant by the time he stepped on the terrace.</p> <p class="cnM1Mjk1ZTlhZjdkNzQzMjY5MjFlNDAzZTNjMjkyZDdh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNkMmIwOWMzOGM0OTRlMmVhMDRkMmE2MjVjM2NmZmU4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Suddenly, A bright flash of light appeared in the sky and instantly, an extremely beautiful woman in black clothes was standing in front of Tony.</p> <p class="cnNmNDcxOTJiMTNjYjRlYTJhMzgxYzBmNWQ4Y2VmNDgw" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNmNjIyZWM5YzZiYzRmOTFiNzkyOTFlOGZjZjgwODMz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"Hela….." Said Tony softly as he saw the Asgardian Goddess of Death smiling at him.</p> <p class="cnMyNDJmNDc4OWUyZjQxNTJiNWY3NGZmMGY3NzNkODU4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM4ZmI5Y2Q2NjgzNjQ4OTY4MTIwYTlhOTBiMjY0NGMw" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"So, Tony Stark, The protector of earth...helping The Goddess of death against his own friend Thor? I don't understand…" Questioned Hela with the same bewitching smile.</p> <p class="cnMyYmQ2ZmIwZjI4NzQwZWE5MmRkOTgzODc4MzA5ZTIz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnMzZWNhN2FiYjk3NTQzM2Q5NjgyYWQ2Yzk1M2IzZGJk" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony listened to her question and turned around without replying. He started walking inside of his house while Hela curiously followed him. As Tony reached his kitchen, he started cutting some vegetables and motioned her to sit at a nearby dining table before speaking.</p> <p class="cnM0MGEwNTY3ZDA3OTRmNzY4YmEzMDllZjc0ODAxYzMy" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM0NGFiMDc1YWZhMjQxMGZiNWQyOTI0MDA3YzJhMzlm" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"You just wanted to expand Asgard but Odin imprisoned you for that….Isn't that Hypocrisy? Like Odin Borson himself was known as Odin the Usurper….hahaha...The Usurper..The Destroyer...You know I researched about all these Gods of the Nine realms and not so surprisingly, I found a few things common between them...Can you tell me what is the most common?"</p> <p class="cnM0YmMzNjVmNWE4MTQ2YWFhZTcxZmQwYTAzZTg2NDQ4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnMwNjBlZmI2N2ExODRhZWNiNDg5MTNkOTFiYjI1OWZh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Hela listened to this interesting man in front of her who was to her surprise, talking logic with her. Even she thought how bullshit it was that her own father imprisoned her for things she wanted to do, which she learned from him in the first place. Her brother wanted to kill her just because her father had asked him to do so, but this man….Who could surprisingly use Magic, informed her about her brother's plan.</p> <p class="cnNkZmU0MzdkZmI1OTRjZmZhNzBmYTg4YjY3NzcyOTUw" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM5MmJmMGNiODg4YjQwODNiNmJkY2UyNjA3MTEyZTcx" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony was waiting for Hela's answer and when she noticed his gaze as she sat on the dining table, she said</p> <p class="cnNhNDQ1YmZmNTUwYjRlZjM5YjNkMzdkMjI3ZTk0MTA3" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM0N2VjMmE1NGI1MjQ2YzU5MWYyODViZjA3ZjYxNDZk" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"The common thing in all of them is that they want to become the King of All the Nine Realms...Just like me."</p> <p class="cnM0ZDZjMGQ1NTU5NjQ2ZjFhZGQ3N2I2NWNjYjE3ODlk" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM5YmZiNzQ1MjcwYjQ3N2NhNzBlNzVlN2U4ZGY0MDdl" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony immediately cracked a smile and replied</p> <p class="cnM2M2UwNzFiMTUwMDQ5NjJhMzZkNTdkN2FkZDBiNWI1" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM5NmNjMzM4ZWE1MDRlZmM5YmVhZWMzNzQ4YzFmZTYz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"BINGO! Every so called God who rules over the Nine Realms wishes to be the Ruler of all the Gods. Like, if we consider the amount of people they killed in the wars, they could easily overloads several planets with the dead bodies.</p> <p class="cnMwOWJkOWI0ODBhZTQ0NDA5Yzg5YTVkZWNhYmVkYWFk" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Heh, Do you know what your Brothers are doing right now?"</p> <p class="cnNlYTUwYmZmNmJmMzQzNDU4NWE5MDI5ODNlY2UzMTA5" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNlMjlmYjkxYzdhMTQxMWFiMWVkYWExOTQ5NDM0ODdk" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">The more Tony talked, the more Hela got impressed by him. She thought that their minds work the same and when he asked her about her brothers, she just shrugged her shoulder as if to ask Tony to tell her.</p> <p class="cnNkMzY4MDllMWVhZTQwMDk4MDNjYjQxODlhMDE5ZjYy" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNmMjk2NGMyNDRiODRmOGQ5YmI2Zjc3NTFhYWIzNzA2" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"Thor has recruited Hulk and Valkyrie on Sakaar, and is planning to come here to defeat you. Loki will arrive a little later under the radar to use the Tesseract to teleport you straight in the heart of Ragnarok….I have already hacked into their plane and will know when and where they will arrive…."</p> <p class="cnM1NWRiZjY5NGNiZDQ3OWM5OTRhNzk5NGI3NmU1MjI4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM3Nzg1M2IwN2M1NzQzZWQ5YjkwZDE2NDllMTNjOTlh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Suddenly, the temperature of the room went down when Hela heard it and said with a raised eyebrow</p> <p class="cnM3ZTRhNGVkNTI5NjRkNTJhMGMxNmIxODU1NmNhNWE4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnMwZDE1YzU1N2Y3MDQxMTJhYTNlZjY0OTgxOTMzMTM0" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"The Tesseract?"</p> <p class="cnNlOTFlOThiNmRiZTQ2NzRiYmJjYzBmMGI2ZjgzZjBi" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM4YmRkOTMxZjgwZjQ5NTk4NGYzMWU3MTI0MDM3ZDE5" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony smiled at her confusion while he served the food on a plate and started walking up to her.</p> <p class="cnMxZDdkYjQ5OTllYjQ2ZGE4ZjhhY2YzMWY2ZDU0YWEw" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">He placed the well cooked food in front of her and sat beside the Goddess of Death before continuing.</p> <p class="cnNhYTMzZjE4YjRhYjQ1YWNiNjQ5ODgyZjA2YTBhMjAz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM3YWEyODkwZDVlNjRlMTI4ZGVkZTI4NDE4NzhmYzY2" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"Yes, The same Tesseract which was once in Odin's vault is actually with Loki...And you do know what's inside of it, right? It's The Space Stone, one of the Six Infinity Stones."</p> <p class="cnM1OWM0YTZkNjk4YzRjYzJiYjY2NDhmZjFhZWNkMGYw" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM0NmU0MTQzMDQ1MDRiMjc5ODZiN2VhM2M2NDdhOGZl" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Hela was not happy to know about this as she never wished for her brothers death but now…They even planned to use the Tesseract to kill her? Like, They would rather destroy their planet, their home then let their elder sister rule over it?</p> <p class="cnNjNjViY2ZmNjVkMjQ0ODQ5ZmY1YzRkMTFkMmIzNmM2" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">She appeared to be thinking something when she took the fork and started eating what Tony made for her.</p> <p class="cnMzZjI4NWQ0MmMxOTQ1NTFhMmE5N2IxMTQwZDhiYmJl" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">As soon as she took one bite, her pupils dilated and her mood immediately lifted up.</p> <p class="cnMzMjQwYTdlMWQ3MzQzMGFhZjA3MDUwNDk1ODNhYWY3" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM3MjAyNmZhMDBlMzRkMGE4M2M2OWUwN2JiMGM4MzVk" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"This...What is this?" Asked Hela while taking another bite</p> <p class="cnNkYThkNDY0MGUzMjQzNjBiZDgyNDMyZDEyZGMyNDBj" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM2MzBmZTllZDgwYzQwNTlhYmExNDI4NWI5ZDA2OWQx" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"This is just a simple dish my mother use to cook for me before she was killed."</p> <p class="cnM4Yzk2ZTE0Yzc4ZDRhZmM4YzMzODNmOGY3ODNkYWVm" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNmNzIwMGQyNDQ0ZDRjNzA5OWViZjFhODUzNmNkNDBk" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony watched with amusement as the woman who could destroy worlds was sitting in front of him, eating his dish with relish.</p> <p class="cnMyNWZmMWMyNGRlMjRiOGJiZWJlMmFhYjdhZjFiNTEy" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">As she finished eating, Tony got up and went to the kitchen under her watchful and curious eyes and returned with some desert in his hands which he placed it in front of her.</p> <p class="cnNjOGJhYmVlODFmYjQ1MDBhNzE1MjZkN2I3ZTMxNmIx" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNkNGQ2MTIzZjE4MTQ4ZjdiMDdlZTQ0ZTM2M2NjYThi" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"So you can't use the Bifrost bridge because Heimdall stole the Sword used to control the said bridge, right?" Said Tony as he was watching Hela eat the cake.</p> <p class="cnM4OTE4NDFlNTFjMzQ1OTY4ZmFmNDAwNjFiMWRlZWFl" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNkZGMwNzJjMDU1OTQzYzg5NDdkY2ViNWQwMTZhZDY2" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Hela smirked at Tony's question and said while gulping down the cream</p> <p class="cnMxYTA1NmQ4ODY4MzQwYWRiNzY0NGQ2ZjNjYTcwMGJm" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM3Y2U4NDI0MGNkNTRmOWQ5YWU2ZWY0MGExMGFhODg1" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"Heimdall can't hide from me forever. Sooner or later I will find him."</p> <p class="cnNlMjQ2MTNhYTQ2ZjQ2YWRiMzUyYjJlZTk4MjM4ODlk" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM3MTYyZTk2MzA2NjQyMGE5ODJlNDdhMzljNzkxNDRm" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"I have a better way, Why not threaten to kill the Asgardians until he comes forwards under the burden of their deaths and presents you the sword himself?" Said Tony.</p> <p class="cnM5MjFjYzYwNTAwNTQ0NDI4MDhhNDBjZTBhYzdkYzU4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNjOTRiNDAzZWFjZjQ0MTRhMDcyODc0Y2VkNzAwOTVm" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Hela finished the Cake and started to stare at Tony with a smile when he continued</p> <p class="cnNmZWRlNjRmODI3ZjQ5ODA5YmYzNmNjOTM5YWQ5YjI4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNlNWVmN2E5NzczNDQwOGNhZjczYzRiMTEzNTMwOTIx" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"Of Course you shouldn't kill the civilians as you need to rule over them..They should respect you. But you can kill the prisoners, right? Heimdall will see you kill the prisoners with his All-Seeing eyes and will hear your demands with his All-Hearing ears. No one needs to know what's happening inside the Hela Castle."</p> <p class="cnNhOTU0YjM3MTRhZDQ1YTc5NjBiMGJkYTk1Yzg5YmE1" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNhMDg3N2M2ODI3ZjQxZTlhMDI4NmMxNDI5YmVhZTE3" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Hela suddenly cracked into a muffled laughter when she heard Tony say 'Hela Castle'. One after another this guy was speaking things that Hela would definitely do...the things everyone else would curse her for.</p> <p class="cnNjNjRlNDk4ZmI5OTRmMDliYTg2Nzg3OTY4NTVkOGU3" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM2MmJhMDBhYWY0NTQwNDM5M2RjZDlhYjU2ZmU3YzZk" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">After thinking a little while drinking a glass of water, Hela said</p> <p class="cnM3NDNhNjJlODMwYTQ5YWQ4ZjA4ZjQ1MjhhZDJkZjky" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM4NDQyMWU3ODc2ODRlOGY4MjA5OWUxNmQxOTE3MDlm" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"What do you want? Betraying your friend to warn me about Surtur, Trying to help me to obtain the control over Bifrost….Just What do you want, Sorcerer?"</p> <p class="cnNkNWZkMDY2ODQxOTQ0OGJiODU4Y2E2NDY1MDk4NTUy" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM4YzIyY2M0ZTY0OTRjZjg4NDJlMGIxMTc0ZTdjNzNm" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"What I want is pretty easy for you to give me. I need the Uru ore so I could have a good weapon and I want your help in acquiring and breaking the Tesseract so I can obtain the Space Stone inside of it. In exchange for all this, I will rebuild Asgard with the Repulsor tech...An arc-reactor made out of Uru ore...Just believe me that you will be extremely satisfied with the results."</p> <p class="cnM4NDQ5MzBiNTZiNTQ4MTJhNjE2YWEzNDBjYzBkMjA4" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM2NjRlYTM4MDQ5NjQyZDk5NDMwOTU0NGY1NmEyM2Nm" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"The Uru ore is fine, No big deal there but why will I give you the Space Stone?"</p> <p class="cnNjZWQxN2FhMTZiYzRmMzk5YWY5ZTM3ZWQ1ZTJiMmI5" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM4MzY3NTI5MWViNTQwYmE5OWU0ODYxMmFjZTkzYmMx" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"Because you have no use of it. The primary and only known use of the Space Stone is teleportation which you can already do with the help of the Bifrost. It is also quite challenging to control the stone as it could teleport you to the end of the universe with a slight mistake but you will have a total control over Bifrost."</p> <p class="cnM5ZTNjZWU5Njc0OTRjZDdiMjY0MzY3OTRlM2IyNDQ2" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnNlNzA0MjM0MzNjMDQ4ZjZiZjg0NDhkMzUzOTM2Y2Fh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Tony started to put reasonable demands in front of Hela while he also presented tons and tons of benefits for her. He had completely submerged the Stones with their radiations which were inside of him and Hela couldn't detect them on Tony as he was an anomaly who was not from this Multiverse. The reason Odin detected them was because Tony had not suppressed the radiations which the stones were radiating day and night.</p> <p class="cnNiYjRhZGVkZThmNjQwNDRiOTc5MGQxN2JjZWM5MzNj" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM2NjZiNTUwMWY1MjQzYjhhN2JmNDYzZDBiODgwNzJk" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">Hela continued to look at Tony with intense eyes and after what seemed like a century, she replied</p> <p class="cnM0ZGMxNjZiMzc3NTQyMzc5NmU1YWM5MDcyOGJlODMx" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnMzZjY1MzRiODU3NTQ4ODI5NDEzZjk4ZDgxOWY4MmEz" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"Come to Asgard, help me with my cause and I shall think about it" was the only thing The Asgardian Goddess of Death said before leaving Tony a silver compass.</p> <p class="cnMyN2YyYzdhNmI1ZTQ1NTk5YTI5Mzk1M2I4ZmU5ZDFh" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px"> </p> <p class="cnM4Njk0NmFhNGZkYjRmMmFhNzg3MjBlZTQ0MWE5NjJl" style="color: #83848f; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 0px 0px">"Well, This meeting was rather successful" Thought Tony as his eyes flashed yellow.</p> </div>

Thor and Loki went to meet Odin after which Tony let the original story follow till Hela broke Mjolnir and he was stranded on Sakaar to be captured and fight as a gladiator. . . "Jarvis, Use the Asgardian teleportation array sequence and send a message there." [Using the ATAC, please record your message now] [Listening…..] "Remove the Eternal Flame from Odin's vault. Thor intends to complete it with Surtur's crown and unleash Ragnarok upon you. Love Tony." [Message Recorded, Sending now] . . . Hela was sitting in the Asgardian throne when suddenly she detected a magical signal coming from Bifrost. She willed the signal to come to her as she was quite amused to receive a message from someone just after taking over Asgard. As the message reached her, She used her magic and heard it. Tony's voice started playing in the message and after the message had ended, Hela was shocked. Who was this Tony that had the capability to connect with the Bifrost? Why did he help her? She was amused and a smile crept up on her lips as she motioned her hands and sent a reply of her own. . . Tony was standing in front of a window in his room with both infinity stones revolving around him when he received a direct message from Hela. He suddenly broke into a smile after listening her reply and started walking towards his terrace. As he was climbing up the stairs, he started stripping of his normal cotton clothes and after completely stripping naked, his Endo-Sym Armor came out of nowhere and surrounded him to become a black shirt, black pant, with black boots and black overcoat. His demeanor completely changed to that of a Tyrant by the time he stepped on the terrace. Suddenly, A bright flash of light appeared in the sky and instantly, an extremely beautiful woman in black clothes was standing in front of Tony. "Hela….." Said Tony softly as he saw the Asgardian Goddess of Death smiling at him. "So, Tony Stark, The protector of earth...helping The Goddess of death against his own friend Thor? I don't understand…" Questioned Hela with the same bewitching smile. Tony listened to her question and turned around without replying. He started walking inside of his house while Hela curiously followed him. As Tony reached his kitchen, he started cutting some vegetables and motioned her to sit at a nearby dining table before speaking. "You just wanted to expand Asgard but Odin imprisoned you for that….Isn't that Hypocrisy? Like Odin Borson himself was known as Odin the Usurper….hahaha...The Usurper..The Destroyer...You know I researched about all these Gods of the Nine realms and not so surprisingly, I found a few things common between them...Can you tell me what is the most common?" Hela listened to this interesting man in front of her who was to her surprise, talking logic with her. Even she thought how bullshit it was that her own father imprisoned her for things she wanted to do, which she learned from him in the first place. Her brother wanted to kill her just because her father had asked him to do so, but this man….Who could surprisingly use Magic, informed her about her brother's plan. Tony was waiting for Hela's answer and when she noticed his gaze as she sat on the dining table, she said "The common thing in all of them is that they want to become the King of All the Nine Realms...Just like me." Tony immediately cracked a smile and replied "BINGO! Every so called God who rules over the Nine Realms wishes to be the Ruler of all the Gods. Like, if we consider the amount of people they killed in the wars, they could easily overloads several planets with the dead bodies. Heh, Do you know what your Brothers are doing right now?" The more Tony talked, the more Hela got impressed by him. She thought that their minds work the same and when he asked her about her brothers, she just shrugged her shoulder as if to ask Tony to tell her. "Thor has recruited Hulk and Valkyrie on Sakaar, and is planning to come here to defeat you. Loki will arrive a little later under the radar to use the Tesseract to teleport you straight in the heart of Ragnarok….I have already hacked into their plane and will know when and where they will arrive…." Suddenly, the temperature of the room went down when Hela heard it and said with a raised eyebrow "The Tesseract?" Tony smiled at her confusion while he served the food on a plate and started walking up to her. He placed the well cooked food in front of her and sat beside the Goddess of Death before continuing. "Yes, The same Tesseract which was once in Odin's vault is actually with Loki...And you do know what's inside of it, right? It's The Space Stone, one of the Six Infinity Stones." Hela was not happy to know about this as she never wished for her brothers death but now…They even planned to use the Tesseract to kill her? Like, They would rather destroy their planet, their home then let their elder sister rule over it? She appeared to be thinking something when she took the fork and started eating what Tony made for her. As soon as she took one bite, her pupils dilated and her mood immediately lifted up. "This...What is this?" Asked Hela while taking another bite "This is just a simple dish my mother use to cook for me before she was killed." Tony watched with amusement as the woman who could destroy worlds was sitting in front of him, eating his dish with relish. As she finished eating, Tony got up and went to the kitchen under her watchful and curious eyes and returned with some desert in his hands which he placed it in front of her. "So you can't use the Bifrost bridge because Heimdall stole the Sword used to control the said bridge, right?" Said Tony as he was watching Hela eat the cake. Hela smirked at Tony's question and said while gulping down the cream "Heimdall can't hide from me forever. Sooner or later I will find him." "I have a better way, Why not threaten to kill the Asgardians until he comes forwards under the burden of their deaths and presents you the sword himself?" Said Tony. Hela finished the Cake and started to stare at Tony with a smile when he continued "Of Course you shouldn't kill the civilians as you need to rule over them..They should respect you. But you can kill the prisoners, right? Heimdall will see you kill the prisoners with his All-Seeing eyes and will hear your demands with his All-Hearing ears. No one needs to know what's happening inside the Hela Castle." Hela suddenly cracked into a muffled laughter when she heard Tony say 'Hela Castle'. One after another this guy was speaking things that Hela would definitely do...the things everyone else would curse her for. After thinking a little while drinking a glass of water, Hela said "What do you want? Betraying your friend to warn me about Surtur, Trying to help me to obtain the control over Bifrost….Just What do you want, Sorcerer?" "What I want is pretty easy for you to give me. I need the Uru ore so I could have a good weapon and I want your help in acquiring and breaking the Tesseract so I can obtain the Space Stone inside of it. In exchange for all this, I will rebuild Asgard with the Repulsor tech...An arc-reactor made out of Uru ore...Just believe me that you will be extremely satisfied with the results." "The Uru ore is fine, No big deal there but why will I give you the Space Stone?" "Because you have no use of it. The primary and only known use of the Space Stone is teleportation which you can already do with the help of the Bifrost. It is also quite challenging to control the stone as it could teleport you to the end of the universe with a slight mistake but you will have a total control over Bifrost." Tony started to put reasonable demands in front of Hela while he also presented tons and tons of benefits for her. He had completely submerged the Stones with their radiations which were inside of him and Hela couldn't detect them on Tony as he was an anomaly who was not from this Multiverse. The reason Odin detected them was because Tony had not suppressed the radiations which the stones were radiating day and night. Hela continued to look at Tony with intense eyes and after what seemed like a century, she replied "Come to Asgard, help me with my cause and I shall think about it" was the only thing The Asgardian Goddess of Death said before leaving Tony a silver compass. "Well, This meeting was rather successful" Thought Tony as his eyes flashed yellow.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNlMzAyZmE4ZDQxNjRjMjU4ODY1MGZiMGUyNDA3MWU1"><u>Morning Speech…</u></p> <p class="cnNmODY1NjE2MTY5MjQ0YzdiZjU4MGYzMTYxNzM2NTI1"> </p> <p class="cnNlNTkyZjY3MWZmNDRiMjNiNDdmYjYyODhiMThiYjgz">‘Hmph, they think that would hurt me?! Those arrows are just for shows, it didn’t even leave a scratch on my skin.’</p> <p class="cnM1NzRjYTNkM2Y0MzRlMjRiNjBhZTc5MTgxMWVhOTgz"> </p> <p class="cnM3MGM3YTYyMzE4OTQ0MmRhOTFhZWE1Y2U5M2ZhYmMw">Another offender ran towards me with his hands on the side and his body slightly bowing. It made me remember some ninja anime running style. Why do they really have to run like that? In mere 3 seconds, he closed the 100 meter distance between us and kicked the ground. I knew what he was going to do and swiftly evade his flying kick by bending my body backwards. I should really wear some black glasses while I’m at it.</p> <p class="cnNlMTQ0NWU1OTdiYzQ3NGJiYzYyMjliNzM3YTlkZjM0"> </p> <p class="cnNhYmNlMjk0NWVjNDQ2YmVhOGNiNGE5ODk3NGRhNjE0">Still not giving up, the offender readied his stance and starts throwing punches. This is still easy for me, I parried his punches with one hand while the other hand rested comfily in my pocket. The next punch was a left hook and I immediately get close to him. Close enough that my face was a few centimetre to his face. Before his left hook could connect, I hold his body tight. This way the left hook could only connect to my body, which was still not that strong.</p> <p class="cnNiYWE4MDU5YWRlMjRkNGZhYjY4MWQ0MDhkMjE2MWQ4"> </p> <p class="cnNjNTM5MzY1ZWYzODQxN2NhZjUyNmZlY2VhNWQzNTc3">‘Wait, why am I hugging this guy?!’ Slam! His body shocked as it hit the ground.</p> <p class="cnM4NjAyNmQyZDlhNjRkN2VhYzA0MWQ0OThjMGViZmU1"> </p> <p class="cnNjOGMzY2YwMDFiOTQ2Y2RiMmRiNDVhOTUwYTU2MTVj">I threw him backwards, the style that the wrestler always used to K.O their opponents. The offender slowly stood up with his hand on the head, probably trying to detect if there was any bleeding. Still, that throw was quite strong but that wasn’t enough to take him down. I am probably underestimating this guy too much. While I was deep in thought to try finding a way to one-hit K.O him, he started to inhale deeply. Even when I thought that was the maximum amount of air he could breath in, he still keeps on inhaling until his stomach starts to swell up. I had a bad feeling about this, so I readied my stance as I await of the next move to come. Then he stopped. . . .</p> <p class="cnM2MDkxNTA5NDM0YjQxYTFiZDE1OThkZWU2MTU0Nzc3"> </p> <p class="cnNhODUyNzBlNzgwNzQ1YzY4MWM0NTc5ZTU4MGQ5NDE1">“BRINGGggGgGgGGGgggg!!!!!!!!!” What the heck?! How could he make such sounds. Isn’t this ringing sound?! My mind was fading away and light starts to pour into my eyes.</p> <p class="cnNiMWQxMTRiMjIyNDQzYzg4YmIxMGViNzY2ZTIwZTkx"> </p> <p class="cnMzMDgwMDk5ZjQxNjRjZjNiYWVmZjBiNzA0MDUzODk4"> </p> <p class="cnNhMGZhNTg0ZDlkYTRjYmI5ZjY3NmM0OGFmM2M3MWQ1"> </p> <p class="cnM2ZGZlMTQxMTdmNDRlMjI5MzY1MjlmNzE1ODgyNDE4">“RiiiiIIIingggggg!!!” I woke up from my slumber. Still half asleep, I tried to sit up. “…that was a nice fight” I mumbled.</p> <p class="cnM0YzNlNDE1NjdjOTRkYTc4NTMxOTkyZjY4ZDliNDBj"> </p> <p class="cnM2MWExZmY1YWJiMzRhNzQ4ZTA4ZTY3YjVhNDU2Yzdk">“What fight? Are still half-asleep? Your alarm has been ringing for a few minutes now, and you just didn’t wake up. Come on, dismiss those alarm, its noisy.” I unconsciously follow what the voice says.</p> <p class="cnNhYTZmOWVkYmI5YTQyN2E4MzdjYTFmNzZjZjBlYjVm"> </p> <p class="cnMzZTE0YzA5NjAzZTRmZWJiNzQzZjA1MjgyNDg1YWY4">Fully regained my consciousness, I look up, “Good morning Mom…” wearing a t-shirt with a jean, she looks as mearily as ever.</p> <p class="cnMyMTQxODA4YzZmYzQwNGQ4ZTI2YjQ0NDJiZDA1MTll"> </p> <p class="cnNmNGI5NDA4ZTJmOTQ1ZjY4NGYzY2Y3MjY4NzMxNWVh">“Hurry and get up already. You’re going to be late for school.” The same as usual, morning speech by Mom.</p> <p class="cnMwYzUzNTlhMTJmZDQ0ZWY4MTQzZjdiODMwNGFjNjlk"> </p> <p class="cnMyOWFjZWRlOTc2ODQ4ODk5NGZhYjcyMmY1OWUyMGZk"> I stood up, took my towel and wrap it around my neck as if it was a scarf. “Hey! Make your bed before you go,” shouted Mom.</p> <p class="cnM0NWU3YjhmMGJkMzQyODE5ZTk5NWYxMGM4NGNhMWVh"> </p> <p class="cnMwN2E0N2JjNzc2ZTQ0YzU5YjM0YTIyYjVkYzJkYjBh">“I’ll make the bed after my shower. I might need it again, if I’m still sleepy.” I replied as I walk to the door.</p> <p class="cnNmNDMwYzk2MTExZjQwYzU5M2E1NTRjZDUzZjU5NmUy"> </p> <p class="cnNhMzFlMTU5YzUwZjQ5NzJhNDRlMzU4OTk5MTk3YjQ5">“What, you’re going to sleep again after the shower? Fix that bad habit of yours!” Her morning speech today is quite long, and loud too…</p> <p class="cnNiODE4NTA5Y2NkYTQyYmM4NjBlZTcyYjM4OWM5M2Uz"> </p> <p class="cnNkY2Q3MGUwNWRkNjQyODhiY2EyZGJjZGM3NWQ4ZGQ5">“Anyway, what are you doing in my room?” I asked as I opened the door.</p> <p class="cnMwNDIxODIzZDI4ZjQ2OWQ4OWUyM2YxNDc0NzNlYmFh"> </p> <p class="cnM4ZDdlZmM5MzkzMjQ4YWQ5NTgxZTZhYmM4NTQ3OGM1">“What you ask?! How would I not! You’re shouting so loudly in your sleep that I could hear it from the kitchen!” she looked at me crossing her arms.</p> <p class="cnNlNDhjODUzN2UzYjRjZDVhNzU0Mjg0ZmM3ZjM3NzJm"> </p> <p class="cnNmYTQ4MWFiNmVhYTRiMzA5ZDkzYzc4ZTY0NzJlNDE1">“….ehhh, seriously? What was I even dreaming about…well whatever.” I muttered embarrassingly</p> <p class="cnM2NTFmZTUzNTcxMjQ3MmQ5MTRmNTMzYmU4ZGUxNWY2"> </p> <p class="cnNkZmI3ZGNmNGVlNDQyOGVhMWYzZTYyYjY3YmUwNTc5">And so both of us went out of the room together. I went directly to the bathroom while Mom went to the kitchen. As I locked the bathroom door, I sat on the toilet, naked. Pondering, why mom hang a door sign saying bathroom when there is no bath tub in here…lol. Anyway, I need to take shower soon. As I turn the pipe, water sprays out of the shower head. The water was freezing cold! Of course it is, its 5.30 in the morning, I turn on the heater and switch the temperature gauge to the max. The water gets warmer and warmer until it was slightly stinging my skin. It’s the perfect temperature for me. This feeling, it’s heavenly. The calming effect of warm water is superb, it was as if I am going to sleep again. I closed my eyes, slowly my consciousness swept away. At some point, I felt the water droplets slowly dripping down from my body, I felt every single water droplets, as if it was a part of me. Still half conscious, I open my eyes slowly, there I saw, the water droplets weren't falling. The water droplets was floating, no it’s actually rising up slowly, as if defying gravity. I put my hands up, to the height of my head. The water droplets suddenly moves around my hand, making a constant swirl, those swirl remind me of the twisting of the Deoxyribonucleic acid. Swiftly, the water swirls, twirls, and twists in a helix chain majestically…</p> <p class="cnMwMGNiNzczYmQ1NTRhMjc5MzM5ZTFkYzgyYjk0Y2I2"> </p> <p class="cnMwM2RmYTNkYTkwMDQ3ZDZiZDM2OTQ3YzI3ZWNkOThl">“Harry!!! How long are you going to shower!! The time is almost 6 o’clock already!!” with that shout ,I regained my consciousness. Curses, what was I doing in the bathroom for that long, I guessed I nod off in there. Maybe the water was so warm that I felt sleepy, I should remember to use cold water next time.</p> <p class="cnNhOGIxZDJlYWY0YTRiZDNiMjM4ZjAyMmQ0NzViNDQ0"> </p> <p class="cnNjMDI2N2Y3ODEyZjRlNmE5MDAwOTA3NjAzNjMzMzhj">Quickly I wore my school uniform and took my bag. I had to swallow my breakfast whole. “So, who’s going drop me to school? I don’t see Dad around, is he still sleeping? And I saw brother is still sleeping in his room” I asked as I tied my shoes.</p> <p class="cnNiMGU1Yjg2YzZkZDQ3MWM5MzZlNjcwMGMwNDA0MmZi"> </p> <p class="cnNiOTk4MTBjZTIzYTQ0ZDNhZmJkNmZhYWIzMmY5YmNm">“Your Dad just came back from travelling last night, of course he would still be asleep. Your brother…*sigh*…is probably too lazy to drive. In the end, it’s me who will be the driver that will have to send the family’s prince to school” mom lets out another sigh.</p> <p class="cnM3YWJjNTA2ZDg4MjRjZjZhMjgzNTQ0MWUzMzU4YWVl"> </p> <p class="cnM4N2RhMmFlM2M0MjQ5ZWVhZTkyZTc5MjhiY2I0Y2M5">“…ehhh, I didn’t realize Dad went for a business trip. Hmm, did you just call me prince? Am I that troublesome?! T^T” I said sulkingly</p> <p class="cnMwNDFhZjQ5Njc2MjQzNGU4ODM5ZTdhZjBmYjhlNTZh"> </p> <p class="cnM2MWNlNDU2MWY1YjQ1YWZiYWM2OWNiNGYzZTkyNWVj">“I wish you could just walk to school in the morning, you didn’t have any problem walking back from school, what is so hard about walking to school in the morning?” mom asked me grumpily as she wears her coat.</p> <p class="cnM4NDhhYTdmYTlkNjRmZTA4M2UxYzYyM2VkZTkyMTYw"> </p> <p class="cnMyNWRlNGU3MDBiYjQ3OTg4MjA5Zjg4MmFjZmY3MjM5">I looked at mom and explained “The fact that I’m always late is the reason I don’t want to walk to school in the morning. I walk back home because there will be no arriving late problem”</p> <p class="cnMzNGU1NGVkMjNhZDQ1NmQ5NjY0ZjYxNTdhN2M0YmFj"> </p> <p class="cnNhMzZhYTgyNDNkNDQ0ZDZhNWIxNTA3OWUxMGVlNWRl">“*sigh* fine…I’ll get the car key, hurry up and finish your breakfast.”</p> <p class="cnM4MjNlMWYyNDQ1NDQ3MWNiZjNiZTlhNGI2NGM3YmI3"> </p> <p class="cnM5YzQxMDVmMGFjMjQyNDhhNzZlMjhjZjU2OWU1OTU0"><u>Lazy Class Rep</u></p> <p class="cnM5NDdkOGE5MDAwODRmMzFiNDNjYzhmYmM3ODQwNjk2"> </p> <p class="cnM3NGQ2NjRkN2Y5NDQ5NDlhMDhmOWM0MDM2MjgxZmFm">*pant*pant* wow, I never thought Mom would drop me off three blocks away after seeing the long car jam in front of the school drop off zone. At least I make it in time with a few minutes to spare.</p> <p class="cnNlNGU4OTA1YzdjNTQ0NmFiMGJiMTA1MWZmZWI2Yzcx"> </p> <p class="cnM1YWI0YjJmNGMwMTQwMWQ4MjQ3ZGJhZWIwMDhlZmZm">I went to the school canteen and bought a mineral water, I chugged half of the mineral water to get rid the dry feeling in my trout. My class will be on the 2nd floor of the opposing block, the Mesipian block.</p> <p class="cnM5YjcxMDZmZmIwZDRmZjdhZmFiMzEzMDU0NjdhM2Jk"> </p> <p class="cnMyMTFlZTFhYWFjOTQzMjM5ODFmMzRmMzA3YzM5MTZl">As I started climbing the stairs, a familiar voice called out to me “Harry, it’s a rare occasion to see you coming to school early, you even went to the canteen to hang around. Rare occasion indeed,” the person nodding affirmly with his own narration was my friend, Maru.</p> <p class="cnMzYmUyY2E2ZDY0ZDQ3YTU5ZjgxMzVkMTk2YjM0YTI4"> </p> <p class="cnM1N2QzOGNkYTRjMDRhOTM5YTM4OWVhYWZmZGQ0NzFl">I hate to admit it but he was one of the famous guy in school because of his good looks. There was once, the principal decided to put up a voting for the ‘The Handsome Prince Ranking’ of all year 5 students where only the female teachers and the students from the neighbouring all-girls school were allowed to vote. Maru was ranked 3rd and also one of my classmate, Isaac, was ranked 4th. I was quite confident with myself at that time but only get ranked 24th out of 240 students.</p> <p class="cnNmMjA1MDIyNWM4ZDRmYmE5ZDc0NzZmNDIyNGZlMTBj"> </p> <p class="cnNjZGViMDBkYjU3NjQwM2VhNWZmZGQ4NTUzMDVkODdk">“Shut up! What are you doing here, aren’t you the school prefect, you’re supposed to be taking the name of the late comers at the school gate,” I said as I stare at him.</p> <p class="cnM0MGZhZjQ5NTAxZTQ4ZDVhNjZhYmE2NWM2YjgxMmRm"> </p> <p class="cnM5NzBlOWVhODM2YzQ5YTNiZjZlYjg1YWIyNWM3ZjI0">“Well, there is that one guy in front of me.”</p> <p class="cnM2Mzk0M2QyNjI5YzQwNDdhZDgxY2RhYTMzNmZjNDJk"> </p> <p class="cnM0OWYwZTE4YzcwZjRkNDhiY2NjYTZlMDcxNjFiMzM2">“I’m early today you dic*head, do your job properly!”</p> <p class="cnNlZWIwZjRjYTcyNTRjM2NiNWIzODVlOTA2ZGE0YTFj"> </p> <p class="cnNiNjI5ZDA1OWQxYTRjMDZhOTQzM2ZkOWY1Y2NmNGQx">“Ha ha ha, I don’t want to hear that from you Harry. I’m just following the footstep of a certain class representative, ditching the task that have been given is his specialty. I’m just mimicking him.” he snorted. I know for the fact that he was referring to me.</p> <p class="cnNmMzkyYmQ4NWQzNjRmZTBiNDJhZTcxYzAyNjI2NjUy"> </p> <p class="cnNhMjc4MTE0NzNlYjRjMTZiY2FjZmY4YWM5NzBmMDE1">“@:$”@:%&gt;” veins start popping on my forehead as I shout some random cursing words.</p> <p class="cnM4OTQ0ZjFmMDgzMjQwOTU4MzBlYjFiZTRlOTVmMjg3"> </p> <p class="cnMzMmM2YTA0ZTdhMDQ3NDdiNjgzNWE0MDFkNjQzODk5">“Harry, under the school rules, section 8, paragraph 3, cursing the school prefects will be given 10 demerits with 2 spanking on the buttock or 4 caning on the palm.” Maru opened his small pocket-sized notebook, ready to write down my name.</p> <p class="cnM5NjlmZTcxNzZjMzQ5OGNhY2QxNGIyMWExODAzOTI5"> </p> <p class="cnM2MDkwN2JmMGFhNDQyZTM5NDBhN2UzNzliNWUyMzVi">“Maru, it seems my fate to meet the disciplinary teacher is a given, I found it amazing to see a prefect supposedly stationed at the school gate is standing here, I guess I should also conclude the place where you caught me cursing you…” I snorted, trying to threaten him back.</p> <p class="cnM1YzU2M2U2ZGU3MjQxN2VhYjFlZmRkZmViNDU5MWRl"> </p> <p class="cnM5ZTc5ZjRiOWJkNjRkOTk5YTNmOTFiYmMzMTAwOTc2">“Harry, since you’re my friend, I will give you a warning for your first violation of the rules. You should thank me for my generous heart. Hahahahaa!!” he said and patted my back. This guy just always finds a way to piss me off.</p> <p class="cnNmZjUwNzIzNWY0YzRiMGI4MWZiYzk5ZDc2NTg5YjUx"> </p> <p class="cnNjNWZmNjY1MzMwYjRmMTRhNmRiZjdkMTA0MjE0ZjJh">*****</p> <p class="cnM1YWIxNDg5MjViNzQ3OTg4ZjYwZjhjMjhiOThhMDIz"> </p> <p class="cnNkNzY4YzIxOTliNDRiNmJiNDYzN2JkYzVjYTg5Y2I4">I’m finally in the class, and the class feels empty as always. The reason to that is because three quarter of the class is the school prefect. At this time of the morning, the prefects are busy with their duty, ‘hunting down’ late comers and problem makers. Although some of them were my friends but still, It’s my natural enemy because I always arrived late. As I greet the remaining classmate I sat down on my chair. A pile of papers was stacked up on my table, and a note was stapled on one of the paper. ‘Pass these form to your classmate, I want all of the form to be filled in and hand in today. You will be collecting all of it and hand in to me. I won’t be in the class during homeroom, so get the class’s attendance for me. –Ms.Alen. p.s don’t you dare give all work to assistant class rep.’</p> <p class="cnM4Mjg1YTJkYzQ0NTQ0MzU5YTVmYzFmNzBkY2YxYzg0"> </p> <p class="cnMzNGRiMjBlZjRjZDQxZjM5ZjRjODIwODIyZGM5M2Fi">I thought I would relax a bit during homeroom, now a pile of work was in front of me. Well, even if I want to let the assistant class rep do the work, he isn’t around though, probably absent. I breathed in and sighed heavily.</p> <p class="cnNlNWY4MjY3YTRjMjQ1YjlhZDEzYWZkNzgwZmE2OTJh"> </p> <p class="cnNjMmFlMWE0N2YzMjRhMjY4M2VhZDQ0MDNjY2U2MzIz">“What’s with the heavy sigh so early in the morning? Looks like a pile of work have descended upon you. Hehehehe.” That voice was so soothing I nearly thought it was an angle.</p> <p class="cnNkMGE2MWQzOTdkNjQ1MjFiY2UxZDQyYzc3MGM4ODlh"> </p> <p class="cnNhNjNlZTljMGIyOTQ1ZmQ4NjdkMDdlOTk4NTA4OWM4">“Ari~ I’m so happy to hear your voice in the morning!” I said happily raising my hands. Maybe because of the pile of paper, I didn’t notice Ari was putting his head down on the table next to me. Since the class seating was in pair, Ari sits a pair with me. My seat was the genuine anime MC’s seat, which was the furthest seat next to the window.</p> <p class="cnMzN2YyYmQ5YmE0NzQwZWFiM2NkOTRkYmQxYmEwNDNl"> </p> <p class="cnNkNzJjZjgxMTE2ZDQxZjM5MTc1NjI1OTg0ZTZiMzc4">“Hehehe, glad you’re happy. Vice Inchou isn’t around so I can I’ll help you with that.” Ari said as he winked at me. Well I know he called the assistant class representative as vice Inchou and he sometimes called me Inchou which means class representative.</p> <p class="cnM3YmVjMGUxYjExZDQzMTY4MTY4YjQ3ODVlNGUyYzYx"> </p> <p class="cnM0OTgyNmFkMjhiOTRkNmRiMzFhNTUwNjA5NzA1MGRj">“gyahhh!! You’re always so kind to me Ari~, can we go on a date someday” I said as I lend my hand to him.</p> <p class="cnMxOTI1YmViMWU4MTQ3MmFiZDc3YmM4MmU5NDI4NWM5"> </p> <p class="cnNmNWJhYmRkYmZkZDQ3MWVhZjRjYTQ5ZTUyZTkxNmQ4">“..ehhh, w-what are you talking about! I just want to help okay!” Ari flustered as I teased him. No matter how you see him, he doesn’t look like a guy, I would say he looked more feminine than any girl that I have met. His black hair was long enough that he would sometime tie it like a pony tail exposing his bare smooth neck. He have a fine face that does not resemble a guy, his round upturned eye was beautified with light brown pupil and long curled eye lashes, his check was soft and flushed with light pink colour, his mouth was small and her lips was moist-cherry coloured. Definitely everyone's type of girl. Even his voice sounded very soft and feminine. Although he always acted to look very masculine but he always ended up looking like a cute little girl. This was the definite law of the ‘anime traps’.</p> <p class="cnMxYmNiZjZjNTZkYjQ1MjE5MTQxODEzMTU1YWQ4NGE1"> </p> <p class="cnNkNWJmNjI2ZjI0NDQwZmE4ZmI2ODhhNmEzZDcxZGRm">In this all-boys school, this is my only chance to tease such a cute creature like this, so I hold his hand “Ari~, so you really don’t want to go out with me. Am I not good enough?! Is this the so called rejection of life?! I’m saddened to no end!! Why have I been given such despair!!!” I said which I copied from some drama that I watched yesterday.</p> <p class="cnM5ODg2N2FiYTNmNjQ3MGY5ZmQzMTM5NTk1NmU5NTI5"> </p> <p class="cnMwNTRiNzZhZDEwZTQzMmFhMDNjMDhlNDQ5ZDVjMzcz">Ari was surprised and flustered “..b-b-but its different, I don’t mind hanging out with y-y-you, but it’s d-d-different you know, it’s not a d-date, it’s just normal outing right?!” his cheek was bright red as he didn’t know what to do. My heart suddenly jumped as I look at him panicking. ‘Curses! If only this cute creature was a girl!!’</p> <p class="cnMyMmQ5MDUxYTFiMjQ3YTFhZmI1YjIxMmQ3ZGUwYTNj"> </p> <p class="cnMwMjc1ZjFhNmMzYjRkY2JiMDEyYWRiZWZlNzU4MWE2">“Hahahaha, calm down Ari, I’m just joking. You looked cute when you’re panicking.” I said as I calmed him down.</p> <p class="cnNiOWQ0MGZlZTc0YTRjYTFhYmIwOTYyMDM4OGI5YTQ3"> </p> <p class="cnNkNjM1MmI2MTk0MzRiYTc5OTEyOWRiYzZmNjliYWMw">“Hmph! I hate it when you’re teasing me like that. I changed my mind on helping you later, do it yourself.” Sulking Ari also looks cute, it was still a reward for me.</p> <p class="cnM4YTAyMDU1NjcyMjRiZTQ4YmZhYTJiYjJjMWIwMTgw"> </p> <p class="cnNhNjM4ZjI5YWUwYTQ5YmZiNTIxMzA2MmFjZGI1OTBk"> “Sorry about that Ari, but I can’t do this thing alone. Help me please!”</p> <p class="cnMzNDY3Y2VhYWM4NDQ2Mzc4MzA0ZjEyY2FjNzU5Mzg0"> </p> <p class="cnM2ODBkMGEyNzU5ZjQ0NWQ5N2Q0ZDg1NGEzN2NjMmRm">“ I don’t think you’re apologising honestly though.” he paused and continued “*sigh* I’ll help, but you will be teaching me maths after school.”</p> <p class="cnNkNmY2Yjc0NTc4MjQ2MDBiMmMwNWU4N2FjZjllMDU3"> </p> <p class="cnM2NmFjMWQ1YjBmYTQ5MDhhNWMwZmYzYmY0YTUzYWI0">“…ehhhh!! Why do we have to study after school?! I’ll treat you to lunch instead.” I said lazily.</p> <p class="cnM4OTIwODcyZjE1NjQ3NjhiMjk1Y2NjZWVmMjM3MGM3"> </p> <p class="cnNjZjQwZmQwZWNjNzQwYzQ5ZTYwMTgzMzMyOWNhYzI5">“No, I brought food from home. The exam is just around the corner, I really need you to teach me the differentiation and integration. Seriously, just how did you get second placing in the last test ranking. You even get full marks for maths doing nothing while I’m struggling to understand the formula.”</p> <p class="cnM1ZDA3ODFmNzAxNTQ4MGRhMmJmNDYzMjNjMjc1YmE5"> </p> <p class="cnNkYWUxOTFlODMyZjRkYzZhNzg2NjQ4ZjlkY2ZhZDQz">“*sigh* fine I’ll teach you. Just for your information, I finished all the homework given okay, so I’m not doing nothing, I’m doing something at least.” The class suddenly starts to become noisy. It seems like the prefects have finished their duty. With everyone here, it’s time to start homeroom. I stood and went to the teachers table. “Attention Everyone!"</p> <p class="cnMyODIyYzNlMWUwYjQxMmY5ZmRlNzE0OWM0ZDE5ZmJk"> </p> <p class="cnM3NTc1YjFlYWIxODRjMzQ4OTEyMTQzNGFlZTk2NWNl"><u>Filling in the Form</u></p> <p class="cnNkYzdjYjQyZWMyYTQzY2M5OTM2MjI3MDViYjdkY2Qw"><u> </u></p> <p class="cnNkMWFiMWZhY2VmMTRlMzJiYmZiNDY0ZDRmY2NmNzA5">After the bell rang, everyone went to their respective seats except for Maru who was standing in the middle of the class. Ari also went up to the teachers table as I gave him portion of the form and we started distributing it.</p> <p class="cnM4N2I4YzI0NDI4NTQzMDQ5NWQzOWE0YWRmMDQ5Zjc5"> </p> <p class="cnNiMTNhM2M1Nzk4MjQ1YmM4YTc1YTFkYmRjNGQ5ZTI1">“Okay everyone please fill in the form and hand in to me as soon as you’re done.” I shouted to them as they were chit-chatting amongst themselves. I went and sit down on the teachers seat since its a lot more comfy than my own chair.</p> <p class="cnMxMjQ3MDZlNWJjNTRjYzQ4YzUwYzhhNTQzYjRkMTI3"> </p> <p class="cnM1OTdkNWUwZTdkNzRiZTk5MDEyY2QxMjdiMDJjYzlm">“Hey Inchou, don’t you think you should go through this form together?” Gerome raised his hand and asked.</p> <p class="cnNiZTMzZDJhYTFhOTRmNDQ5MmNhMDNiODVjZDRlNmYz"> </p> <p class="cnNhZGE1OGNjMDhlYzQ0YzRiNWY4YTNmMWZlZmQ3NGNk">“What is it four-eye? Do you really need me to write down your names in the form too?” I replied to him sarcastically as I find no reason to go through this form together.</p> <p class="cnNmY2Y1ODAyMjhmYjQzODBiZDZhNmVkNTU2MDcxYzJj"> </p> <p class="cnNkNTM5M2QwNmZkZjQ5MjZhMjM2N2RhZDY3YjI3Nzgw">Maru then stood in front of me and shoved my form to my face, “Lazy Inchou, I think you should go through this together because there is some fields that I don’t know how to fill. Don’t tell me you haven’t even read it yet?”</p> <p class="cnM2OTlkY2U0YjJmMDRiMGRhYTViOTc4NWIyNzk5OWEy"> </p> <p class="cnM2YjJkMzk0NWNhMDQ5N2ViYjFmZjBjNjkyYTgxMDM4">I pushed his hand aside and stare at him, “What do you mean some fields you don’t know Maru? Did you forgot your father’s name?” I snorted back at him.</p> <p class="cnMwMzdjMGZhYzdmZDRiN2ZiY2QzZjdjNDZkNjA3ZTc1"> </p> <p class="cnM5M2M3OWFkMTViNzRhOGNiZDZmZTM2M2E0M2YzM2Y0">As I looked at the form, it wasn’t just a single paper form but a thin booklet that looks like a piece of paper. I hate to admit it but this form was definitely odd. The first page was filled with fields that resembles those character creation in RPG games and the rest of the pages was filled with small fonts which says terms and condition. The terms and condition was so long and small that if you look from afar it would look like a page filled with lines. Just who the heck thinks that all these 17-year-old boys would read this whole thing. There was also a space to write a signature at the end of the terms and conditions. The paper for the form itself looked old with the colour slightly brownish and the texture was rough. Looking at the front page of the form was quite simple;</p> <p class="cnM2YmU2NjMwOWJhOTRjOWQ5ZWYzYjI3ODcyNjMxMGZi"> </p> <p class="cnNmMWIxYTExMzQ5ZjRjYzVhZmM3NmEwMmRjZjMxOTY0">*Name:____________________</p> <p class="cnMyMDJlNTJlNTUzYjQ3MWNiMDUwMWM0MDZiM2QxYTlh">*Race:_____________________</p> <p class="cnMyODYyNDc4MTZlMjRjMTc5NzFhYjcwNzkzNWU0MTYy">*Profession:_________________(eg, Knight, Hunter, Cleric)</p> <p class="cnM0ZTBjYzcwMWU0NzRhOWJhMmVmZDI0NGEzYWRmYWM2">*Special Skill(s):</p> <ul> <li>_______________</li> <li>_______________</li> <li>_______________</li> </ul> <p class="cnNmNmU5YmY1ZmVlZjRmNmVhN2Q2ZGMyZTllMDExOGVk">(eg; forgery, equipment enchantment)</p> <p class="cnNiNzUwMjdjOWNkYTQ5OTE5ZDViMGMwNDhjOWFmOGMy">*Party members:</p> <ul> <li>_____________</li> <li>_____________</li> <li>_____________</li> <li>_____________</li> <li>_____________</li> </ul> <p class="cnNjM2NiZWRjYTdhNjQ1ZDg4ZmI1MWFlYzM5ODMzODI2">*Guild:_______________</p> <p class="cnNkYmFhZGIwZTg0NjRiODZiYzhiMDhmYzdiNzQ2ZGY5"> </p> <p class="cnMyM2QwZjllZGM3MzQxNWNhZmY0YzQzYmM3YTZmNDA1">Aside from the fields in the form, there were also some kind of crest or emblem on every page of the form. It also looks so much like in RPG games with circular shape with bows shield sword and a staff in the middle of the crest or should I say emblem.</p> <p class="cnM0YmNlOTRhNTg0MTQyYmNiYTQzZTJjZTU5MTg4Mjc4"> </p> <p class="cnMyMzZlMmNjODkyNTQ1MDA4MTBkYTYxNWIwOGM0MjJj">I guessed there was a need to go through this form, “Well I guess our great Maru here is right. Maybe I should go through this form together with you guys. For the…”</p> <p class="cnM2ZmMyZTRmODBiMjQxY2ZiODM5ODExM2JlZmQ2OTYz"> </p> <p class="cnM3OGQ1MWIxODljMzQ0NGFhMDdhM2UyMzYzNWYzNTky">“Woahh! Our Lazy Inchou is doing his job once in a while!” someone started yelling,</p> <p class="cnNhY2U3NTVkMTVlYjQyOTdhZDIwY2Y3MDhmZmRiMTQ0">“Woohooo!!” and another one continues… “This is a rare occasion! Lets partyyy!!” and another one, which I think is Maru… “OHH YEAHH!!” ““Let’s get this PARTY GOINGGGG!!!*opens shirt*” </p> <p class="cnM4NDMyNDE1ZTNkMDRhNDc5ZjA2MWNmN2YyMzEwYTU1">“*animals sound*” “*Twerk*Twerk*” “Marry me Ari!” “wahahaha-WAHAHAHAHA!!!” “Wha- no! Why should I?!” “woot-woot!!” “*flips table*” “*bang chairs*” “*climbs wall*”</p> <p class="cnNmZjkxZDY2MTFmNTQyNzY4YjljODM3NTAxNWY0MTVm"> </p> <p class="cnNhZDA1N2M0YmRkZDQxM2RhZDc1M2IxYTdlOGQyODU1">Before I could finish my sentences my started to have some kind of a hysteria and I can even hear Ari’s voice being flustered. I sat down and started filling in the form with most of my classmate doing some crazy things. This is one of the reason why I rarely do my job as the class rep properly…</p> <p class="cnNkMjQ0ZTg4NDYwMTQ0OTFiNThlOTg0MGU5ZWQ1YzQ4"> </p> <p class="cnM3ZjNhMTdlNGM1OTQ0NTRiZjkyMTM3OTAwODdkZGVi">*****</p> <p class="cnMyMDdiMWM5MDg4NjQ1ZjViMjdmOTFmYmM1MTJkZmRm"> </p> <p class="cnM5ZDRhY2NiMDRmODQzNjhhMmJjNTNhYmE1YWViZWQ1">As I waited for my classmate to finish their daily hysteria attacks, I have completed my form while leaving some parts. Before I knew it, Ari was already sitting next to me. He probably was running away from those hysterical classmates to fill in the form. He occasionally looked at my paper to see how I filled the fields.</p> <p class="cnM3MGQ2NDllMWFhZDQyMzU5YmYyNTk0ZDc3ZjIwNGY5"> </p> <p class="cnMzOWRlYjE0ZjBjNjQzMWJhYzBmYmRkYzIyYWMwYjJm">*Name:<u> Harry Mills </u></p> <p class="cnM2MTYyOGI3NzRlYjQwYTg4OWRkZWQzYzhiYTJjOWQw">*Race:<u> </u><u><span style="text-decoration: line-through">Demon</span></u><u> Human </u></p> <p class="cnMwYzM4ZDM2NzI2NTRiYjBiYjgxOWJiMmE5MGIxM2E5">*Profession:<u> Necromancer Ninja </u>(eg, Knight, Hunter, Cleric)</p> <p class="cnNhZGViMmY2NTJiMzQwZGViMmYyMmI5ZDMzYzI1YTQ2">*Special Skill(s):</p> <ul> <li><u>Chantless Incantation </u></li> <li><u>Mana Manipulation </u></li> <li><u>Eye of Calamity </u></li> </ul> <p class="cnM2ODc4MjhjZTYwOTQyY2U4ZjZhODYxYjExMzI0Njli">(eg; forgery, equipment enchantment)</p> <p class="cnM4NWM3ODRkMTEyMzQ1YmM4YTkzZmE2ZmYxZTc5ZWQz">*Party members:</p> <ul> <li>_____________</li> <li>_____________</li> <li>_____________</li> <li>_____________</li> <li>_____________</li> </ul> <p class="cnNiNjkyMzI5NTc1MDQ5N2FiYWNlZTE5Y2M0NjNkNjhm">*Guild:_______________</p> <p class="cnM1MjVhYTg4YTkzNDQzYWU4NmUyZjNjOTZiMDhkOWUy"> </p> <p class="cnM2YmVkMWFjNzY0NzQ4YmI4ZGRlNDhmZjlmZDM5YTY0">The class finally started to calm down and everyone was already seated. “Are you all done? Can you fill all the things that you can fill first before we go through some of the fields together.” I stood up and asked.</p> <p class="cnMxYzYxNDVmN2RiYTQxZTJhY2ZlNzg0NDFhYTEwM2Mw"> </p> <p class="cnNkZjA4NmNmOWM4YTQ2NzU4ZjgwYWUyMDZjNzhlMjk4">Maru was still standing up and replied, “We have already filled the necessary parts, I think everyone only left the Party and Guild part empty.”</p> <p class="cnM2ZWQ2OWFhNjVlNzQyMTdhYjI1ZGI4YWUzODI5ZmIz"> </p> <p class="cnM4YjJmNGRkOTcyNzRkMzhiNDRlNTg0OThkM2JjNzFj">“Wait you’re done? You guys were going all crazy just now, how did you-” since I thought thinking those kind of thing is pointless, I let out a sigh and continued, “Nevermind, lets just continue then…”</p> <p class="cnM1OTJiZGYyNjk3ZjQyNjA4OWNiYmJlMzA2NDdjZjAw"> </p> <p class="cnM4MzI0ZmI2MGU2NDQ4MzRiNGJiZjJlYWI4ZjI1NmQ5">For the party part, since there were only allowed for 5 members per party so we can have 7 party in this class. Since assistant class rep was absent there will be total of 35 students in the class and a full 7 party. So I ordered the class to form a party among themselves. I also reminded them to bear in mind the balance of profession in their party.</p> <p class="cnM2M2FlNTlhMDVmOTQwMTBhZjg3NWJjYzRlYjkxMGM0"> </p> <p class="cnNlOGI1YTI2MmU3OTQ5NGJiZWY4ZGMxMmE0MzY2NWVh">And so, the party creation was successful without anyone going crazy again;</p> <p class="cnNiOTkzYjlkOWVlMDRiMzFiYWIwMTM4Zjc4NDZkODMw">My Party: 1) Me [Necromancer Ninja]</p> <ul> <li>Maru [Magic Swordsman]</li> <li>Ari [Cleric]</li> <li>Rudy [Sentinel Knight]</li> <li>Shai [Spear Master]</li> </ul> <p class="cnMzM2ZjYWRlYTA1ODQ4YzVhZDg1YjlmZTFhODI1MGQy"> </p> <p class="cnM3YTViZjRkYmIwMTQ2YzJiOTEzNGQ1OGE1MTJhNmMz">The other party such as Gerome(High Wizard) was quite balanced with Isaac as a Paladin and Joe as an assassin. The only party was quite inbalance was Darren’s party with most of them are of supporting roles. Even one of them set their profession as engineer. Well it wasn’t wrong too since engineer is also a real role in rpg games.</p> <p class="cnMyN2RmNDMzNjdlNTRkOWVhYzU1MmMwZGZjMjAxMDlm"> </p> <p class="cnM4Y2M2OGJlYjY3NTQ2MTZhMTlhZTlmYWIxMzY1Njlm">After everyone was done filling in the form for the party members. I decided to went out of the class to meet with the classroom teacher, Ms. Allen, to ask about the last field when suddenly someone opened and slammed the door.</p> <p class="cnMwM2U5NzNhNWJhNzRlMjg4ZDQwOTQzNTEwOWIwZTU4"> </p> <p class="cnNlYWJhZWYzNGQxMTQyOTk5ZDI5NDcyYzU1MjA3Yjdm">“Who was the idiot who made such a ruckus in this class!” Ms. Alen barged in and shouted.</p> <p class="cnMwODZlZWRiNWU4NTQzNDRhNzMwZTQ1N2UxMjYzMzI3"> </p> <p class="cnM1ZjllY2U3MDgzYTRlNTJiZDBjZTY5NTBmMjg5M2Q2"><u> </u></p> <p class="cnNlNzU4ODA0MmViYTQzYjg4ZDM2MjQ3ZmM2OTNkNTQ4"><u>The prestigious 5 A(nimal) Class</u></p> <p class="cnMxYjQyYjNjMzI3MTRjNmE5Mzg0ZjU5MTIxZTJmNjQ3"><u> </u></p> <p class="cnNlMDdkOWMzZjUwMTQ2ZGZiZWYxZjRhN2RkYjJkOGQ0">For some reason, I was standing on a chair at the corner. After Ms. Alen barged in, she babbled about something. I didn’t really heard what she said because I was too focused on enjoying the view of Ms. Alen flushed angry face. She was sweating a lot though. Maybe because she ran all the way here from the staffroom, but she does not look like she was out of breath.</p> <p class="cnMyZmJjOWQ0OGYxNDRmMTE4ZTEyZjVhZTYyYzEyZTNj"> </p> <p class="cnM4Yjk5NzIyZmY4YjQyMzI5NjI5NWY3ODZkNmMwZDBm">Her shirt was wet due to sweat and starts to stick to her skin. Her body shape was showing as her shirt clings more the skin. The white shirt also starts to become translucent due to the sweat, enabling me to see some parts. Especially some plump looking bulge wrapped in a white bra. When she noticed my gaze, her face became as red as blood. That was how, I got my punishment.</p> <p class="cnMzN2E0NjZjZmNkYzRkN2FhOGVlZDY2ZmFjZTk4MTU2"> </p> <p class="cnMwN2ZlMmMyMjAyNzRkOTNhMjRjMmYzYTYwZTkxNWRk">She went back to the washroom to change her clothes and went back to the class after the first period bell rang. Why am I the only one getting punished? I’m sure my other classmates saw it too. First period was supposed to be Math, but the math’s teacher was on a field trip to some other school. So Ms. Alen took the opportunity to take the first period and let us finish filling in the form. Since I still looked like I’m sneering, I wasn’t allowed to leave from my position. Does she hate my face that much? She was also scolding for so loud that the other classes complained to her.</p> <p class="cnNiZDYyYjQ2ZWY4NTQzNDk4NGI2N2RjODA2OGIwYTM1"> </p> <p class="cnNkNDA0YmZlMzg4OTQwNTdiYzJjNTQ3OGZlMTBhNWJj">There was still that weird form though, so I asked her about it. “Shishou, what was that other form, the one with the weird emblem. Is it for some game survey?”</p> <p class="cnM1N2FkZTIwMWYyMDQzNzc5NTZmYTE1YTdiNDQ0M2Fk"> </p> <p class="cnM0ODE5ZGZjNzAyMDRkNzNhYzdmMjg1NjlkNWMyNGFm">“I don’t know. The principal suddenly gave it to me. Looks like only our class got this form.” she said.</p> <p class="cnNlZjhkYTZlNTgyYTQ1YTVhODY1M2YwODMzZTUzNDdi"> </p> <p class="cnM4OWY0ZTlhODIzMjQ0ZjliZTRjM2JhYzg4OTllMTEy">That was really weird. I still thought that it was some game survey though. I usually called Ms. Alen shishou(Master). For some reason, the other classmate started to call her shishou too.</p> <p class="cnM1MGIxMDBlZGMxZDQ3ZDNhZTA4ZmRhNzk5YjM2OTZl"> </p> <p class="cnM5MThmN2MwODcxNDQxZWRiN2Y4ZDJhMGVkZDUwYTFi">Then she mumbled, “…but why did I get that form too? I really don’t understand.”</p> <p class="cnMwNmFmYjZjZjY3ODRlMzVhOGNhOGU4YTVhNjFmMzg3"> </p> <p class="cnM4ZjhhZTUyYjRiYTRhMDI5NTUyYTI2NjBkMjMwZTQ4">Her voice were tiny but I could still make it out. “…ehhh, you have that form too? Let me see. What’s your profession,” I took her form and saw ‘berserk healer’. This made me remembered some anime with a girl using an estoc.</p> <p class="cnMyM2NhZWY4YTYzMDRiMTQ4ZTRhNWJjZDM4OGM4Mjhh"> </p> <p class="cnM3MjQ2NzZjZjA1OTQ5YTBhNTEyNzA3MDI4NzhkM2Jh">“Hey! Don’t read it you idiot!! Go back and stand on the chair!!” she fiercely glared at me.</p> <p class="cnMyZjY2NjY0ODAzZjQ3MGZhNjY1Y2MxNTYwYzE5ZWJk"> </p> <p class="cnNkZDUyNjI2NDE4MDQxMGY4MTEwNjYwOTY1ZGE5NjJk">I went back to stand on the chair and asked “Did you fill in your party and guild? The rest of the class have already finished it. Only the guild part was left blank. It’s just a survey for a game right? So I think we don’t really have to fill in all of it in since it’s not important.”</p> <p class="cnM1N2FkYTI3NGM5MTQyYzQ4Mzg2ZjI4ZTE4MTcxMzg4"> </p> <p class="cnNhY2MwM2JlNTY1NjQ3ODZhYjYyNTNlNjA2ZjkxMDZl">“Hmmm… what party? There’s no party in my form. About the guild…I remembered the principal said to create one with you guys and he also said this form takes top priority.”</p> <p class="cnNlYTE3OWZkNzE1ODQ5NGM5MDMzYjYzY2VmNzljMzBk"> </p> <p class="cnNhMGRmNTk3ODIwNzRkMjk5ZDgyOGJmM2QxMWMwZjE2">“ehhh?! Seriously?! Don’t you think it’s just the principal weird way of doing things?” I asked.</p> <p class="cnM3NWVmN2ViZjBlZDQ0YTU4YmRlMTc5YmZlMThiOGM0"> </p> <p class="cnNiOTYzZjFkMjNiMjQyYjQ5NjRiYzI4NTYyODM3NGJk">Then Maru suddenly join in the conversation “…here’s the form shishou. So we’re creating the guild huhh… then shall we start naming it?”</p> <p class="cnMzZTk3MjRjZjE1ZTRmNjk5MjdjNDZkZDE0NGRmMWUx"> </p> <p class="cnNkNWM1N2UxYWJmNzRiZTc5OGJiYzg3OTQyMmZiYmZl">“””Yeah let’s do that””” the whole class agreed with Maru’s suggestion. </p> <p class="cnM0ODE0MzkzMjczNDRmM2FiZmNiZjgxYmI0NWI1ZGUz"> </p> <p class="cnNjMzJiODIwNTA2YjRjZmZiOGY3NjRhOGUyMWU3OGY0">“The ‘A’nimal should be good, since our class are called by that name” suggest Maru.</p> <p class="cnMyNjgxMTZmYjE5MjRjNzk4NmFkZjZhZGY3NDI1ZWNk"> </p> <p class="cnM1ODVjODBiMDhkZDRiZDdhYTA2YjM0N2ZlYWNmZWE0">“NO!! Why do you even liked to be called by that. Since I will also be in the guild, you should reconsider on your naming sense. I think House of Tulip should be good,”</p> <p class="cnMzM2JlY2U3ZmQzZTQ4MjNhOTM4NjI2MjBhNzdhZGJl"> </p> <p class="cnM4NTcxZWQ1NDM3ZTQwMmNiNTAxOGIxYWZjNzFmOTgw">“Objection!! Why does it have to be Tulip of all the other flowers?! Shishou, the guild is made up of 36 male, a masculine name should be used instead.” Maru was backed by the classmate as he forced his opinion on shishou. At some point, they started to take this naming session seriously. I have no idea how things end up this way. I am sure it was just Maru trying to liven things up but it was really becoming very noisy. Surely, the other classes will start to complaint again.</p> <p class="cnM4N2QyNGM1NWI4MDQwMDBhN2RlZmRjOTJlNzdhOGVk"> </p> <p class="cnNiMjExZmZmZTQwNjQwNmQ5ZjVmNDA4MWI4ZmQ1Mjdi">When I saw shishou was trying hard to make the class accept her opinion, I decided to just go with the flow. I sat on the chair I was standing just now and looked at my form. The race column was weird though. I wanted to write demon hybrid on it but, for some reason I cancel both of it and wrote human. Was it supposed to be that way? I’m sure the others wrote some weird race like elf or angel. So I asked “What did you all write for the race column?”</p> <p class="cnM2ODIwNTFlNzgyNDQ1ZDQ4NmQ3ODM5YmEyYTk4ZGZk"> </p> <p class="cnM1YjhiNWY0ZDc1NzRjMGFhYTJkZmIxYjc5ZjFmNDgy">Maru snorted and exclaimed “Hmph, human of course. Are you not a human? Then you must be a sloth?! Hahahahaha!”</p> <p class="cnM3MjJiZjk1ZTA4MjQ4ZmFhMTlmMmI2NGRjNWI4MmY5"> </p> <p class="cnM4YWU0YzExNzg3ODQ3NmNhMTU3OGY3NmYzZDg0MDUy">This guy really knows how to get on my nerves. “How about you shishou? What did you write?”</p> <p class="cnM1ZmEyZTYwZjE0OTQ5YTI5MTYyZDA3Y2NkZGIzZGZk"> </p> <p class="cnM2M2FkN2FlYzBhZTRhMGVhY2VhYTVhMzFiMjc3ZTcw">“Human of course, I wanted to write fairies but for some reason I feel like it was wrong. So I changed it.”</p> <p class="cnM0NGJmZTE1Nzg1MjRjNzg4YmIwMDc1NTBlNjI0ZGE2"> </p> <p class="cnNlMTUyMTNkMWRmODQ4OWE5MzliZWU4ZGM3Yzk4ZjY5">Even after I asked them those question they still continued to quarrel on about the name for the guild. With the noise in the background I just sat and think hard on a good name.</p> <p class="cnM0NGMxODcyYWM0MTQyYzA5MDBhYmM4ZWMyZWM1Njk3"> </p> <p class="cnMyZWQxYTZjNGFhZTRhNGQ5ZWY1MmU0MGY1ZjkxYWVl">An idea suddenly popped out of my head, “Then how about this, ‘Enigmas of the Human’ for our guild? Enigmas mean something that is puzzling, a mystery and cannot be fully understood. I think it suits us since we are the 5’A’nimal. Our weird way of doing things, and unique personality but yet we still grasp the best achievement. For the human, I think it’s just that to say all of us are humans though. The suitable guild leader would be the home room teacher. How about it, shishou?”</p> <p class="cnMxYzNkMzg0N2IyNjQzMWNiNzNkNjYxY2RhMDQ0NDY4"> </p> <p class="cnM0MTgzMjVhZWM3MjQ4Njk5MzA1NTNhNDI5ZjQxOGVl">“…ehhh, sure. I can be the guild leader but I want tulip, I think it’s better.”</p> <p class="cnM1MzJlY2IyZjk4YTQwOGU4YTBjN2RjNWNiY2QyYTBi"> </p> <p class="cnNmODEzYmU5MDEzNDRlMmZiYzQ0ZGZlYjdjMmZkOTIz">“Shishou, I have no idea why you are so obsessed with tulip. I think it just shows how immature you are. Basically it means you’re a virgin.”</p> <p class="cnM0ZThlZWQ1NmFhMjRjNDA4Zjg4OWFkODNmZDEyYmNh"> </p> <p class="cnM4MWNjMmY1M2VjMjQ1ZTI5ZTJjM2MyZDIyOTg1NDNh">“….e-ehhh!! B-but how did you?!...wait, forget what I say!!” the bean have been spilt, it’s official that Shishou was single. She looked just like Ari when she was panicking, well they are siblings though.</p> <p class="cnM5ZDc3YjIwMTVjZDQxNjJhZjRjMGU1MWZiZjIwNWI3"> </p> <p class="cnMyMmE4MTM1MWU3NjQyMDk4ZWM3ZTQxNGE4YzBmNDBl">“So what do you guys think?”</p> <p class="cnMyZWIzNmNmZGI0ZDQxOWFiMGQwZGRlNjdhMDNmMWMz"> </p> <p class="cnM5ZGEwNDhhMGFjZDRkNWY4NDYwMWJkYzZkZjkxYTUy">“Well-well, you can give quite a good name sometimes. So I agree with that name!!” shouted Maru.</p> <p class="cnNjNThhZGM3N2RlZjQyMDJiODQ5NTE4ZWYyODFmMjk1"> </p> <p class="cnM4Njk4OTcyZWIwYjQ1NmY4OWZlODIxYWQwNWQwZjA1">“Yeah!! I knew you can do it Inchou!!”</p> <p class="cnMxYzdlZTQ4NjRiYjQ3ZWViMzVhNTRkMWNlOGYwMDNl">“Woo-hooo!!”</p> <p class="cnNlMjJhNWVkNjY5NDQ0MjdiYmIzMmZlODE4NjBlZmFl">“Just marry him already Ari~!! There’s no need to wait”</p> <p class="cnM1ZjY3NzU1MTA4MzQzYWNhYTIzZjRmZTFlMzI1NDI4">“T-t-this has nothing to do with m-marriage!!”</p> <p class="cnM2MjdmMjZjZTZkYjQ0N2U4MjU5YmU1YjE4NDA4NGRh">“Inchou!! You can help me name my pet!!”</p> <p class="cnNhZWNmYmEzMWQ0YjRkY2Q4MmYzNDk4MDZmMzY1NDg5">“Lazy Inchou Is going to graduate into Cool Inchou now!!!”</p> <p class="cnMwOTJhMjY3Y2NjODQ4MTNiMDBhZWEwZWE5OTU2ZGIw">“Let’s get this PARTY GOINGGGG!!!*opens shirt*”</p> <p class="cnMxNTZmZDg4YWM5NDRjNDNiOGYxZGE5N2RmNWM5OTVh">“*animals sound*” “*Twerk*Twerk*” “wahahaha-WAHAHAHAHA!!!” “woot-woot!!” “*flips table*” “*bang the chair*”.</p> <p class="cnM0YTBkZTVjM2M5YjQ3NGI4MjM0MjQ5ZDhlMTAzYTQ5"> </p> <p class="cnM2Y2ZjZWZkODNiNzRkODBiNTFlZTNlYzAzY2ZlOWE5">Again, I sit silently, and watch wild animals in their natural habitat. As for Shishou, she has already gotten used to this and she just sat down to take the attendance.</p> <p class="cnNhZmQ0YjJkMzU0NDQ1NjhhY2IxY2VjMjY5ZmEyMmNl"> </p> <p class="cnM5M2Y0Y2Y4NzkyOTRjZWM5OGNmNzhjZmY0MWNkYzNj"><u>Date at the Library?</u></p> <p class="cnNkMzY2NjViMTcwODRkNzlhOWI0M2IzMDUwYjNhOTNh"><u> </u></p> <p class="cnMwODY1Zjc5MjkwMTRmNGZhOWM3NDczMmZmYTY4ZTli">After everyone was done with their ritual, I collected the forms and hand it to shishou. Later I helped shishou to carry the forms to the principal. <br><br>School finished as usual, at 2 o’clock. After I put all my books and utensils in the bag, Ari tugged my sleeve “Hey, you’re not going home right? You promised to teach me maths later.”</p> <p class="cnM1NDlkYmQ0ZDUxODQ2NWM4MWY1YWE5ODE0ZGFiZmY3"> </p> <p class="cnM3MWVkZTBmYjI5ZDRkYWJhZThjM2E1NWUyODcyYTI3">“Yeah, I’m going to teach you but we need to have lunch first.” I replied.</p> <p class="cnM5NjRmMzcwNjFlNzQxNDFiYzQ4YmRkYTU1NWIxZjMy"> </p> <p class="cnNjN2QzNDMzZDUzZjRkZDZhOTUwZTkzNDY4NTBkNzdi">“ohhh, I said I brought lunch this morning. I have lots so you can have you’re share.”</p> <p class="cnMzMzU5MGMwNGViZDRlOTBiNWE5NWRiZmQ0OGRjNjc1"> </p> <p class="cnNmMTNiZWRiZjY5NjRlNTU4M2Q0NTIxOGQ2NDI1Y2E2">“Wahhh!! I’m so happy that such a cute creature would share their cooking to me!!”</p> <p class="cnM2ZGZkNWE5YTFmNTQzOThhYmUzMDVjNTc0ZjU5MDVh"> </p> <p class="cnNkZDIwNDQ3OWVhMDQ4ZDg5NjRkNmZmMjY1MzVkNTEw">“Shhhh! You’re too loud! By the way, my sister cooked this for me.”</p> <p class="cnM2N2I5ODQ4YzhiNTRmNDc4YTkxNzM3YTNhZTIwOGI1"> </p> <p class="cnNlMDViYTZhYmUxZDRkZTViMGQ3Y2E3MzY2NzUxMmI1">“Really!! Then it’s even better, to eat food cooked by such a beautiful teacher. It’s just what I’ve been dreaming for!!”</p> <p class="cnMyNjczYWI5NWM4MTQ3YzVhMmI0ZDkwMGY0Nzc2MTRm"> </p> <p class="cnM3MjgyYzc2ZjE5NjRhZGRhZDhmMzQ3OTMwZDQ4YTc5">“…eehhh. I see..” suddenly Ari starts to pout. Then she continued, “Anyway, I’m going to be eating a lot today so you can only have a small portion. Hmph!”</p> <p class="cnM1NDVjZDVmZGI5ZjQ5MWFiZGRmNjVhMTM2YzY2ZDFh"> </p> <p class="cnM3YjAzZTY2NGQ1NTQwNWY4Y2U1YWMzNTNiM2M0NThi">I can feel that he was acting cold towards me now. We went to the school’s sitting area near the canteen and eat lunch there. He really meant what he said. He really did gave me a small portion.</p> <p class="cnMyZmE5OTg2MDE3ODRjYTdhNjFkMjE3NmYzYTFiYzQ1"> </p> <p class="cnM1MTgyYmI4MzhjNzRkNmRhMzQ4ZmM3MWNiNWYxM2Y3">Since I was still hungry, I went to the canteen and bought some more food. As I was walking back to Ari, I saw some guys standing near him. Then one guy lend Ari some piece of paper while bowing down. Ari looked at it with wide eyes and he shocked his head. The guy lending the paper looked depressed while the other guys laugh. So I ran towards them.</p> <p class="cnNlNmNkN2MzY2JhNDQ0ZGZhODNiNDE3ZGRmNGYzM2Qz"> </p> <p class="cnMyNmY4YTQ2YWViMzQ3MjA4MDg3N2Y5MGNmZGEwZWQ4">“Oi…Do we have problems here!” I said in a menacing way. I have never seen their faces before. They must have been the 1st year student. They panicked as they saw me coming.</p> <p class="cnMzYzFhYTFjYWNkNzQyNDU5NDhiOGQ0NzA0NmQ5Mzk0"> </p> <p class="cnNlNTc4OWZlZDAxMTQzNTdhNjUwY2E1MDZkMWVlYjM1">“S-shit, it’s him. We’re going home now, I’ll meet you at the gate buddy.” One of the guy pat his friends shoulder and left with the others. The guy who was lending Ari the piece of paper was still in front of me. “S-s-sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb your friend.” He stumbled a bit and ran toward his friends.</p> <p class="cnNkMjUxMmE3MTQ4YjQ5ZDNiZDUzMjFmODI0ZjQxZDg4"> </p> <p class="cnNlM2MwMzdmMTFhMDQ2M2E4MTEwODhlOGZjMWZmYWFh">“So what happened?” I asked Ari as I sat next to him.</p> <p class="cnMxNTUzYWNlNDlmODQxOTY4MTViZGMyZDM4NmQ0Y2Rj"> </p> <p class="cnMxOWNjN2M2MTI3ODQyNDVhYmE4Zjg5NGM5ZWI1ZDcx">“As usual. He wanted to give me a letter, but I refused. It was probably a love letter. Juniors these days are really brave huh.”</p> <p class="cnM3ODU1NWNlMGMyNjQ5ZDc5ZWFkMWU0ZWEwN2NlM2Jk"> </p> <p class="cnM5YmQ3NDI3ZjBkMjQ4YjRhYzRmYmQ3YWY0MzM3ZTRj">“Hehhh, its hard being famous huh. I really hope I will get a love letter someday.”</p> <p class="cnNmNWE3ODU1Yzk2OTRmMjhhNmM5MTAyOTgyNGQ2YTQ2"> </p> <p class="cnM1ZjhmZTQzN2NjYTQyZDA5OGY0NmYyM2EzYTEzOGZk">“Well, I hope you don’t..” Ari said while giving a straight face.</p> <p class="cnNiY2Y0NGVjMjQwYjRjMDRiNTJlODE5ZTE3YjU5Y2U0"> </p> <p class="cnNjYjE5MjE3OWJmZDQxMGRhZWZiODM5MTlkZDVkZGU5">“Wait, why?”</p> <p class="cnMwMDcyNjIyN2RiODRjNzU4ODM3NWMyNmIzODc4YjNh"> </p> <p class="cnMxMDdhODNiZDZmOTRkN2Q5MmM2OWNlYzMzMzYyYmQz">“Why are you so dense?” he muttered sillently</p> <p class="cnMyZDFmZGYzN2FkZTQ5MThhOTcwNDM5MDhkOGU2NDc5"> </p> <p class="cnNhZjQ2MjQ3NWZiOTRiYmFiNzk1MDVjY2M5OGFhM2Zm">“What are saying suddenly?”</p> <p class="cnNhYThmNjZhNDQ0YjRmYzE5ZGY3ZjZhZjQ0YzRmZDNm"> </p> <p class="cnNhNDA1YmQ3YWJhYTQwYTNiODI1MTgxM2FkZWExMWUx">“Hmph…nothing!!.” he started to pout again. Well, Ari sure was famous. He gets many confessions and most of it was from males. All I could say was, they really fallen for a trap. No matter how you look at him, Ari definitely looks like a girl. He resembles her sister(the Shishou) a lot, only that he does not have the bust. Even the way he eats and talks right now was very feminine. I really understand their reasons for falling for this trap.</p> <p class="cnM4NjY3NDFjZTJjMTRkYjc5ZmJhNzcyYjY2N2NjMDE4"> </p> <p class="cnM2OWFlMjEyOTE2YjQ3NjJiZjgxOGFiYTJhNDA3ZGM1">“Harry, you really scared him just now.” “It’s just the usual me okay. He’s just afraid of me because of the rumour.”</p> <p class="cnMxMjk5NGE1MmM0ZjRjODFiYWI2OTE0NDcxMzJjMWVm"> </p> <p class="cnNmNTlkZGNhNDdmMDQzMjlhMTc5N2Q0Njc4ZTY3NjFl">“…but the rumour is true, isn’t it?”</p> <p class="cnM3OTI2MjA5MmY2NjQ2YjRiMWRmNGRkZDVlZDEwODg0"> </p> <p class="cnM2OGY3YWZmMzAxYjQ5Nzk5Nzg2OTBhMGUyY2EyZjg0">“*sigh* I know, but it’s a long time ago.” Well it was not that long, it was just last year. That time, Ari was not very close to me. Like usual, he was asked to meet someone behind the school. He thought that it was just some guy wanted to confessed to him. I heard rumours as I walk around with Maru that the seniors wanted to see if Ari was really a guy. They really wanted to know, even if they have to strip his cloth off. At first, I did not feel like helping him. Since it sounds like a bully case, so the prefects should be handling it. However, realising that I used to be in the same situation, I ran to the back of the school.</p> <p class="cnM5OWU2NDkwMzdkZjRkNDU4MjAyZGI0NjA2MWQwYzNh"> </p> <p class="cnM0OTg1YmJjNTQ2ZjRiZWM5Mjc4Mzg3ZTAyMGRlMjhm">There, I saw Ari was shouting for help. The seniors were trying to forcefully rip his cloth off. I knew I needed to do something but the seniors outnumbered me six to one. Maru suddenly came up to me and saw the scene. He was not skilled at fighting, so my best hope was for him to search for the teachers while I try to hold off the seniors. However, he was determined to fight off the seniors with me.</p> <p class="cnNmZjQwODNkOWIzNDQ0ZGZiZjlhOGNlN2ZmMWE5MjAx"> </p> <p class="cnNhOTNmNDg3ZjdiNDQ4YWM4MjQzMGU1ODY5ZDJhMzRh">With that, both of us charged towards the seniors. They already noticed us and mocked us for acting like a hero. I shrugged off those mockery and readied my stance. Since I practised martial arts before and have lots of combat experience, I decided to take on four of them and leave the rest to Maru. I never intended to go easy on them, so the seniors were injured badly with broken nose and bruises all over their bodies. However, it was still 4 to 1, so I sustained quite an injury. Maru on the other hand, was quite formidable as he beat of two seniors even without any experience and knowledge of martial arts or self defence. Even so, his injury was comparison to mine and he was barely able to stand up properly. Ari was surprised at first but thanked both of us later.</p> <p class="cnNhN2JjM2IzYTNjMzRkZjJiMTBiNWFlYmRmNWNhMTli"> </p> <p class="cnNlMTIzMWNkZTFhMzRjM2U5ZTI0ODQ1NDM2MzQ5NjAw">Since then, Ari have always been hanging around with me and Maru. The result of us beating the seniors was two weeks suspension. However, the principal did not think that the punishment was enough, so he forced us to join the prefect board. Maru accepted it without complain. On the other hand, I objected this idea so much that I decided to skip some classes. Shishou begged the principal to be lenient on my punishment but the principal’s final decision was he gave me an option to become the class rep or to be expelled. In the end, I had no choice but to become class rep.</p> <p class="cnMyOTM3NzcxM2IzYzQ2ZTRhZjY1OTg5ZjhkMWY0NTAy"> </p> <p class="cnMxYjNkMDAxYmU5NTQ4NDZhNWM4YTM1ZDg3M2YzNThk">As I was deep in thought, Ari called out to me “Hurry up and finish your food. I want to start studying as soon as possible.” He packed up his lunch and stood up. Then he swiftly bite off my burger on my hand “*munch*munch* I’ll take a bite off your burger for every two seconds. So hurry up.” Seeing that, I chomped the burger whole and swallowed it after chewing it a few time. “…w-what?! Did you just swallow that burger whole?!” Ari was surprised as he did not expected it. I have done this quite a lot since I was always late and I did chewed it a few time, so there was no worry of me getting chocked. I did not answer him and throw away the wrapping in the dustbin and took my bag</p> <p class="cnM0MTViZTY4YmE3YjRiMTA5NGRiMDg2NTFlODVhNDM1"> </p> <p class="cnNlZTlhZjVlZjFiNjQ0YmE4Mjk3OGFiOGI4MDdmNGIx">“Hurry up, didn’t you want to start studying as soon as possible. I’ll leave you behind if you’re still dazing off.”</p> <p class="cnNkMzY3MTA3Y2NlNzRkOGNhYjViZGNmY2FhYWM4MjNi"> </p> <p class="cnNiOWVkYzYzYTRmMDQwMmE4ZWY4MjFjNzllMmU0NWNi">He snapped off his surprised face then hurriedly ran up to me and pulled out two cans of soda. “Here…my treat for agreeing to teach me.” He gave me one of the soda to me</p> <p class="cnNhNThlY2MwYmE3MzQ0NDZiODVjNDdhMzIyMjk3OTQw"> </p> <p class="cnMzNmYzZDcxOWIyMDQ1OTlhMGYzM2UyMGY5YTIzNzI0">“…ehhh, we haven’t started studying yet and you’re still giving me this. Anyway, thanks.”</p> <p class="cnNlOTRiZmM1MGU0MTQ4OTFhZTI3Y2Q1NjU4OWI3YzNl"> </p> <p class="cnNlNDhiNzU5ODk1YTQ2MTVhODQ3ZWM1MjYwMzM0N2Iy">There were not many students in the library as we entered. I saw some of my classmates studying but I did not want to greet them since they might cause a ruckus seeing me and Ari together. I would not want them to go crazy in the library like how they did in the class. So we silently walked pass them. Luckily they did not noticed us as they were focusing on their books.</p> <p class="cnMxNDA5MGExOWRiYjQ3Mzk4ODZmNDBjNzFkZGYyYzc1"> </p> <p class="cnNlZDRmMTZiM2E5YTRlYjk5ZTRjZjY3MjBlMDlkYTgy">Both of us went to the furthest part of the library where there was a nice woolly carpet for students to lay down. I lay down on the carpet after I took out my history book. Since there were three bean-chairs here, Ari sat on one because he was not used to studying while laying down. He started to do some maths question with the book on his lap. It felt so nice laying down on the woolly carpet that I feel too lazy to study.</p> <p class="cnM0NTNkODg5ZWFiMzRjNmZhODQ5ZDk1MTJjYTk3ZGM1"> </p> <p class="cnM5ZWRhNjA2Mzk1MjQ0MjE5NTJiZTI0MGExY2EyNGYx">“Ari, I’m going to rest my eyes for a bit. If you have any question you can’t answer just wake me up okay.” He replied by nodding his head. That was quite cute. With the history book open, I put it on my face to cover the bright fluorescent light above for a nice nap. Slowly my consciousness travel towards the dreamland.</p> <p class="cnM5ODRhMjQ1M2NhMzQ5MWE5YWEyZDgzMzM1NmQwOTJl"> </p> <p class="cnM1ZTZhNTE2ZGE3ZDQ2OWY4NmI4NzE3Yjg4YWJjNWU1">‘I, Ember Agarictree, fairies of the night luminated with fireflies and starry skies, have received your contract’</p> <p class="cnNkZTQ1MWJlZjQ0MzQzYTNiOTI4ODY3ODFkYjY2NGQ3">What is this?</p> <p class="cnM4OTE1NjFmNjBhZTRiNTM5MmFiZmEzYmI1NTUxMzA2">‘Your desire of powerful dark ability..’</p> <p class="cnM0YzJmY2QxNDZlMTQ3NmZiMmQ2MmZlZjAxMGYzMThi">am I dreaming</p> <p class="cnMwOTAzNjEyN2EzMDQ2YmVhYmQ5MmVmYTlmOTYwMTZl">‘..shall be granted by me.’</p> <p class="cnNhNzdlNzRjMjYyMzRlOGU5YjZiZGJmOTU1ZjA1YjU2">Wait who are you</p> <p class="cnMwMDk5N2IxZThjOTRhMzY5YTg0YmQwN2UwNTYxOTM0">‘thank your luck human..’</p> <p class="cnMwZTZhMGRhZjMzNTQzOTliODk4YTU2ZDZhM2FjMWQ4">this voice sounds like a girl</p> <p class="cnNhMWRlMzQyNDUyMzQxMTA4NjdkYjliYjM3Y2M5YzMy">‘..you have been blessed with my service’</p> <p class="cnM3NGVjZTE1YjM1YjRjYTE5ODYyYTgzNWQ0MDFkMDY1">what are you talking about</p> <p class="cnNkN2ZkZGMzZTA4ZjRmZjZhNGU5MjA3ZGMyMjFhYzc2">‘with my gift…’</p> <p class="cnMyYTA4YzhlM2ZjMDRiZmM5NGFhZmNlYzI5NjVkNmYz">are you even listening to me?</p> <p class="cnM1N2ZhZDJkYTJjMzRiOWNiZGE4MGU5ZGQ5MmU1YjI2">‘your dream will be an easy task to accomplish’</p> <p class="cnMzMDAwOWUwMTI0OTQyZjU5ZTI4ZDhjNmM2NzlhNWFi">is this what they call dream control? Because It felt like I’m still conscious in the dream</p> <p class="cnM5OTRkMmY2ZGEzNDQzYWRhNjE5ZTczYTYwNmY4OGIz">‘the only wall separating us will be the blood oath’</p> <p class="cnMwZWM5YWZkOWE3OTQwNzhhODRiYzk2ODcxNjBhMTRh">hmm…where have I heard that before?</p> <p class="cnMzYTkwZDZlYmMxZjQyOTFiYTExMmVmZmY2MWYwMjNi">‘I shall be in touch with you again tonight’</p> <p class="cnM5N2M4Y2JiNGMzYjQ2ZDdhOTljMjY5NWY0YjMzNjJi">what do you mean by ton……</p> <p class="cnNkOTViM2Y2NjUyODQ4MmY5YTg0ZDdhOGRiZmRiNzUx"><br>The dream starts to fade away as I was woken by something shaking me “hey, wake up already!” Ari’s voice made me rise up hastily. The book on my face fall down with a thud as I try to sit up. It took some time for my eye to focus and I saw Ari’s face was so close to mine. He quickly backed away with blushing face. “…ahhh, sorry I startled you. How long have I been sleeping?” I asked as I rubbed my wet eyes.</p> <p class="cnM3NTc4YzZmZWUwNzQyYTVhZjAyYTdiZGQ5NDMxNGJh"> </p> <p class="cnM5NWI2ODYxOWUyNTRiYmM5OWEzNzdkZTE1OWM1Zjc3">“I-its fine, you’ve been sleeping for about an hour now. Here, I have lots of question I don’t understand. Please teach me how to answer it.”</p> <p class="cnM0YjQ1YTExYTQyMzRmNmJiMDEzNjBhMWE4OGUzZjU3"> </p> <p class="cnNlOWJlNTNlM2VmZjQ5NTJiZDJmOGY5YjYxZDZkNjg1">“Wow I’m surprised you didn’t asked any question for the whole hour. I thought you would ask me a few minutes after I dozed off.”</p> <p class="cnNiNTk2ZGI1NzdiOTQ5NGJhODYxZWVhNTFmYzg3M2U2"> </p> <p class="cnMxZTU5N2ZiN2YyZjRkMDZhZGQ4YTMyOGE4MDQxYWMx">“You looked like you were sleeping soundly so I didn’t want to wake you up. I finished all the questions I understand, and leave all the hard questions. So now I wake you up because it’s time for you to teach me.” </p> <p class="cnNkZDkwNTUwOWJhMTQ4ZGFiNzAxZjU0NDc5MTNkZDlh"> </p> <p class="cnNjOWEzMmIwNDI5MDQyMjQ4Y2NkZDBmNzYwNjJhYzBh">“That’s very kind of you Ari. Okay let’s see the question.” As we cover through the question together I forgot about the dream. After another hour, we finished all the questions. There are still some question he don’t fully understand, so I wrote all the working and formulas. I told him to try follow the working at home and if he still cannot understand then he can ask me again tomorrow. The library will be closing soon, so we packed our stuff and went out.</p> <p class="cnM0NDBhY2VlMzJhNjQ4NzI5ZTlhOGEzNjRjMTU5NzVl"> </p> <p class="cnM0NTdiYTUxYzU5ZDQ2OTViN2RkMzkxMTRiMzI4NWRj">On our way out, we stumbled with our classmate and like I predicted, they became crazy again. The librarian did not mind it and only laughed since we were the only students left. Then I walked with Ari to the staff’s carpark and met with Shishou. She looked quite exhausted today so we did not chat long until I see them off. </p> <p class="cnNmY2MwZWRlNjU3ZDQyZjk5MGQwOGJiYjVhOWIyNWZk">So I walked back alone. Using the usual route, I walked on the pathway as if it was second nature as I tried to remember something important in the library. The first thing I remembered was the scene where Ari’s and my face were so close that I could actually felt his breathing. I shaked my head off as I tried to remember again and the thing that came in mind was my dream. It was vogue and unclear, I know there was something about that dream that I need to remember. However, I came out empty even until I reached my house.</p> </div>

Morning Speech… ‘Hmph, they think that would hurt me?! Those arrows are just for shows, it didn’t even leave a scratch on my skin.’ Another offender ran towards me with his hands on the side and his body slightly bowing. It made me remember some ninja anime running style. Why do they really have to run like that? In mere 3 seconds, he closed the 100 meter distance between us and kicked the ground. I knew what he was going to do and swiftly evade his flying kick by bending my body backwards. I should really wear some black glasses while I’m at it. Still not giving up, the offender readied his stance and starts throwing punches. This is still easy for me, I parried his punches with one hand while the other hand rested comfily in my pocket. The next punch was a left hook and I immediately get close to him. Close enough that my face was a few centimetre to his face. Before his left hook could connect, I hold his body tight. This way the left hook could only connect to my body, which was still not that strong. ‘Wait, why am I hugging this guy?!’ Slam! His body shocked as it hit the ground. I threw him backwards, the style that the wrestler always used to K.O their opponents. The offender slowly stood up with his hand on the head, probably trying to detect if there was any bleeding. Still, that throw was quite strong but that wasn’t enough to take him down. I am probably underestimating this guy too much. While I was deep in thought to try finding a way to one-hit K.O him, he started to inhale deeply. Even when I thought that was the maximum amount of air he could breath in, he still keeps on inhaling until his stomach starts to swell up. I had a bad feeling about this, so I readied my stance as I await of the next move to come. Then he stopped. . . . “BRINGGggGgGgGGGgggg!!!!!!!!!” What the heck?! How could he make such sounds. Isn’t this ringing sound?! My mind was fading away and light starts to pour into my eyes. “RiiiiIIIingggggg!!!” I woke up from my slumber. Still half asleep, I tried to sit up. “…that was a nice fight” I mumbled. “What fight? Are still half-asleep? Your alarm has been ringing for a few minutes now, and you just didn’t wake up. Come on, dismiss those alarm, its noisy.” I unconsciously follow what the voice says. Fully regained my consciousness, I look up, “Good morning Mom…” wearing a t-shirt with a jean, she looks as mearily as ever. “Hurry and get up already. You’re going to be late for school.” The same as usual, morning speech by Mom. I stood up, took my towel and wrap it around my neck as if it was a scarf. “Hey! Make your bed before you go,” shouted Mom. “I’ll make the bed after my shower. I might need it again, if I’m still sleepy.” I replied as I walk to the door. “What, you’re going to sleep again after the shower? Fix that bad habit of yours!” Her morning speech today is quite long, and loud too… “Anyway, what are you doing in my room?” I asked as I opened the door. “What you ask?! How would I not! You’re shouting so loudly in your sleep that I could hear it from the kitchen!” she looked at me crossing her arms. “….ehhh, seriously? What was I even dreaming about…well whatever.” I muttered embarrassingly And so both of us went out of the room together. I went directly to the bathroom while Mom went to the kitchen. As I locked the bathroom door, I sat on the toilet, naked. Pondering, why mom hang a door sign saying bathroom when there is no bath tub in here…lol. Anyway, I need to take shower soon. As I turn the pipe, water sprays out of the shower head. The water was freezing cold! Of course it is, its 5.30 in the morning, I turn on the heater and switch the temperature gauge to the max. The water gets warmer and warmer until it was slightly stinging my skin. It’s the perfect temperature for me. This feeling, it’s heavenly. The calming effect of warm water is superb, it was as if I am going to sleep again. I closed my eyes, slowly my consciousness swept away. At some point, I felt the water droplets slowly dripping down from my body, I felt every single water droplets, as if it was a part of me. Still half conscious, I open my eyes slowly, there I saw, the water droplets weren't falling. The water droplets was floating, no it’s actually rising up slowly, as if defying gravity. I put my hands up, to the height of my head. The water droplets suddenly moves around my hand, making a constant swirl, those swirl remind me of the twisting of the Deoxyribonucleic acid. Swiftly, the water swirls, twirls, and twists in a helix chain majestically… “Harry!!! How long are you going to shower!! The time is almost 6 o’clock already!!” with that shout ,I regained my consciousness. Curses, what was I doing in the bathroom for that long, I guessed I nod off in there. Maybe the water was so warm that I felt sleepy, I should remember to use cold water next time. Quickly I wore my school uniform and took my bag. I had to swallow my breakfast whole. “So, who’s going drop me to school? I don’t see Dad around, is he still sleeping? And I saw brother is still sleeping in his room” I asked as I tied my shoes. “Your Dad just came back from travelling last night, of course he would still be asleep. Your brother…*sigh*…is probably too lazy to drive. In the end, it’s me who will be the driver that will have to send the family’s prince to school” mom lets out another sigh. “…ehhh, I didn’t realize Dad went for a business trip. Hmm, did you just call me prince? Am I that troublesome?! T^T” I said sulkingly “I wish you could just walk to school in the morning, you didn’t have any problem walking back from school, what is so hard about walking to school in the morning?” mom asked me grumpily as she wears her coat. I looked at mom and explained “The fact that I’m always late is the reason I don’t want to walk to school in the morning. I walk back home because there will be no arriving late problem” “*sigh* fine…I’ll get the car key, hurry up and finish your breakfast.” Lazy Class Rep *pant*pant* wow, I never thought Mom would drop me off three blocks away after seeing the long car jam in front of the school drop off zone. At least I make it in time with a few minutes to spare. I went to the school canteen and bought a mineral water, I chugged half of the mineral water to get rid the dry feeling in my trout. My class will be on the 2nd floor of the opposing block, the Mesipian block. As I started climbing the stairs, a familiar voice called out to me “Harry, it’s a rare occasion to see you coming to school early, you even went to the canteen to hang around. Rare occasion indeed,” the person nodding affirmly with his own narration was my friend, Maru. I hate to admit it but he was one of the famous guy in school because of his good looks. There was once, the principal decided to put up a voting for the ‘The Handsome Prince Ranking’ of all year 5 students where only the female teachers and the students from the neighbouring all-girls school were allowed to vote. Maru was ranked 3rd and also one of my classmate, Isaac, was ranked 4th. I was quite confident with myself at that time but only get ranked 24th out of 240 students. “Shut up! What are you doing here, aren’t you the school prefect, you’re supposed to be taking the name of the late comers at the school gate,” I said as I stare at him. “Well, there is that one guy in front of me.” “I’m early today you dic*head, do your job properly!” “Ha ha ha, I don’t want to hear that from you Harry. I’m just following the footstep of a certain class representative, ditching the task that have been given is his specialty. I’m just mimicking him.” he snorted. I know for the fact that he was referring to me. “@:$”@:%>” veins start popping on my forehead as I shout some random cursing words. “Harry, under the school rules, section 8, paragraph 3, cursing the school prefects will be given 10 demerits with 2 spanking on the buttock or 4 caning on the palm.” Maru opened his small pocket-sized notebook, ready to write down my name. “Maru, it seems my fate to meet the disciplinary teacher is a given, I found it amazing to see a prefect supposedly stationed at the school gate is standing here, I guess I should also conclude the place where you caught me cursing you…” I snorted, trying to threaten him back. “Harry, since you’re my friend, I will give you a warning for your first violation of the rules. You should thank me for my generous heart. Hahahahaa!!” he said and patted my back. This guy just always finds a way to piss me off. ***** I’m finally in the class, and the class feels empty as always. The reason to that is because three quarter of the class is the school prefect. At this time of the morning, the prefects are busy with their duty, ‘hunting down’ late comers and problem makers. Although some of them were my friends but still, It’s my natural enemy because I always arrived late. As I greet the remaining classmate I sat down on my chair. A pile of papers was stacked up on my table, and a note was stapled on one of the paper. ‘Pass these form to your classmate, I want all of the form to be filled in and hand in today. You will be collecting all of it and hand in to me. I won’t be in the class during homeroom, so get the class’s attendance for me. –Ms.Alen. p.s don’t you dare give all work to assistant class rep.’ I thought I would relax a bit during homeroom, now a pile of work was in front of me. Well, even if I want to let the assistant class rep do the work, he isn’t around though, probably absent. I breathed in and sighed heavily. “What’s with the heavy sigh so early in the morning? Looks like a pile of work have descended upon you. Hehehehe.” That voice was so soothing I nearly thought it was an angle. “Ari~ I’m so happy to hear your voice in the morning!” I said happily raising my hands. Maybe because of the pile of paper, I didn’t notice Ari was putting his head down on the table next to me. Since the class seating was in pair, Ari sits a pair with me. My seat was the genuine anime MC’s seat, which was the furthest seat next to the window. “Hehehe, glad you’re happy. Vice Inchou isn’t around so I can I’ll help you with that.” Ari said as he winked at me. Well I know he called the assistant class representative as vice Inchou and he sometimes called me Inchou which means class representative. “gyahhh!! You’re always so kind to me Ari~, can we go on a date someday” I said as I lend my hand to him. “..ehhh, w-what are you talking about! I just want to help okay!” Ari flustered as I teased him. No matter how you see him, he doesn’t look like a guy, I would say he looked more feminine than any girl that I have met. His black hair was long enough that he would sometime tie it like a pony tail exposing his bare smooth neck. He have a fine face that does not resemble a guy, his round upturned eye was beautified with light brown pupil and long curled eye lashes, his check was soft and flushed with light pink colour, his mouth was small and her lips was moist-cherry coloured. Definitely everyone's type of girl. Even his voice sounded very soft and feminine. Although he always acted to look very masculine but he always ended up looking like a cute little girl. This was the definite law of the ‘anime traps’. In this all-boys school, this is my only chance to tease such a cute creature like this, so I hold his hand “Ari~, so you really don’t want to go out with me. Am I not good enough?! Is this the so called rejection of life?! I’m saddened to no end!! Why have I been given such despair!!!” I said which I copied from some drama that I watched yesterday. Ari was surprised and flustered “..b-b-but its different, I don’t mind hanging out with y-y-you, but it’s d-d-different you know, it’s not a d-date, it’s just normal outing right?!” his cheek was bright red as he didn’t know what to do. My heart suddenly jumped as I look at him panicking. ‘Curses! If only this cute creature was a girl!!’ “Hahahaha, calm down Ari, I’m just joking. You looked cute when you’re panicking.” I said as I calmed him down. “Hmph! I hate it when you’re teasing me like that. I changed my mind on helping you later, do it yourself.” Sulking Ari also looks cute, it was still a reward for me. “Sorry about that Ari, but I can’t do this thing alone. Help me please!” “ I don’t think you’re apologising honestly though.” he paused and continued “*sigh* I’ll help, but you will be teaching me maths after school.” “…ehhhh!! Why do we have to study after school?! I’ll treat you to lunch instead.” I said lazily. “No, I brought food from home. The exam is just around the corner, I really need you to teach me the differentiation and integration. Seriously, just how did you get second placing in the last test ranking. You even get full marks for maths doing nothing while I’m struggling to understand the formula.” “*sigh* fine I’ll teach you. Just for your information, I finished all the homework given okay, so I’m not doing nothing, I’m doing something at least.” The class suddenly starts to become noisy. It seems like the prefects have finished their duty. With everyone here, it’s time to start homeroom. I stood and went to the teachers table. “Attention Everyone!" Filling in the Form After the bell rang, everyone went to their respective seats except for Maru who was standing in the middle of the class. Ari also went up to the teachers table as I gave him portion of the form and we started distributing it. “Okay everyone please fill in the form and hand in to me as soon as you’re done.” I shouted to them as they were chit-chatting amongst themselves. I went and sit down on the teachers seat since its a lot more comfy than my own chair. “Hey Inchou, don’t you think you should go through this form together?” Gerome raised his hand and asked. “What is it four-eye? Do you really need me to write down your names in the form too?” I replied to him sarcastically as I find no reason to go through this form together. Maru then stood in front of me and shoved my form to my face, “Lazy Inchou, I think you should go through this together because there is some fields that I don’t know how to fill. Don’t tell me you haven’t even read it yet?” I pushed his hand aside and stare at him, “What do you mean some fields you don’t know Maru? Did you forgot your father’s name?” I snorted back at him. As I looked at the form, it wasn’t just a single paper form but a thin booklet that looks like a piece of paper. I hate to admit it but this form was definitely odd. The first page was filled with fields that resembles those character creation in RPG games and the rest of the pages was filled with small fonts which says terms and condition. The terms and condition was so long and small that if you look from afar it would look like a page filled with lines. Just who the heck thinks that all these 17-year-old boys would read this whole thing. There was also a space to write a signature at the end of the terms and conditions. The paper for the form itself looked old with the colour slightly brownish and the texture was rough. Looking at the front page of the form was quite simple; *Name:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ *Race:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ *Profession:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_(eg, Knight, Hunter, Cleric) *Special Skill(s): * \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ * \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ * \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (eg; forgery, equipment enchantment) *Party members: * \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ * \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ * \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ * \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ * \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ *Guild:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Aside from the fields in the form, there were also some kind of crest or emblem on every page of the form. It also looks so much like in RPG games with circular shape with bows shield sword and a staff in the middle of the crest or should I say emblem. I guessed there was a need to go through this form, “Well I guess our great Maru here is right. Maybe I should go through this form together with you guys. For the…” “Woahh! Our Lazy Inchou is doing his job once in a while!” someone started yelling, “Woohooo!!” and another one continues… “This is a rare occasion! Lets partyyy!!” and another one, which I think is Maru… “OHH YEAHH!!” ““Let’s get this PARTY GOINGGGG!!!*opens shirt*” “*animals sound*” “*Twerk*Twerk*” “Marry me Ari!” “wahahaha-WAHAHAHAHA!!!” “Wha- no! Why should I?!” “woot-woot!!” “*flips table*” “*bang chairs*” “*climbs wall*” Before I could finish my sentences my started to have some kind of a hysteria and I can even hear Ari’s voice being flustered. I sat down and started filling in the form with most of my classmate doing some crazy things. This is one of the reason why I rarely do my job as the class rep properly… ***** As I waited for my classmate to finish their daily hysteria attacks, I have completed my form while leaving some parts. Before I knew it, Ari was already sitting next to me. He probably was running away from those hysterical classmates to fill in the form. He occasionally looked at my paper to see how I filled the fields. *Name: Harry Mills *Race: Demon Human *Profession: Necromancer Ninja (eg, Knight, Hunter, Cleric) *Special Skill(s): * Chantless Incantation * Mana Manipulation * Eye of Calamity (eg; forgery, equipment enchantment) *Party members: * \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ * \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ * \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ * \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ * \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ *Guild:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ The class finally started to calm down and everyone was already seated. “Are you all done? Can you fill all the things that you can fill first before we go through some of the fields together.” I stood up and asked. Maru was still standing up and replied, “We have already filled the necessary parts, I think everyone only left the Party and Guild part empty.” “Wait you’re done? You guys were going all crazy just now, how did you-” since I thought thinking those kind of thing is pointless, I let out a sigh and continued, “Nevermind, lets just continue then…” For the party part, since there were only allowed for 5 members per party so we can have 7 party in this class. Since assistant class rep was absent there will be total of 35 students in the class and a full 7 party. So I ordered the class to form a party among themselves. I also reminded them to bear in mind the balance of profession in their party. And so, the party creation was successful without anyone going crazy again; My Party: 1) Me [Necromancer Ninja] * Maru [Magic Swordsman] * Ari [Cleric] * Rudy [Sentinel Knight] * Shai [Spear Master] The other party such as Gerome(High Wizard) was quite balanced with Isaac as a Paladin and Joe as an assassin. The only party was quite inbalance was Darren’s party with most of them are of supporting roles. Even one of them set their profession as engineer. Well it wasn’t wrong too since engineer is also a real role in rpg games. After everyone was done filling in the form for the party members. I decided to went out of the class to meet with the classroom teacher, Ms. Allen, to ask about the last field when suddenly someone opened and slammed the door. “Who was the idiot who made such a ruckus in this class!” Ms. Alen barged in and shouted. The prestigious 5 A(nimal) Class For some reason, I was standing on a chair at the corner. After Ms. Alen barged in, she babbled about something. I didn’t really heard what she said because I was too focused on enjoying the view of Ms. Alen flushed angry face. She was sweating a lot though. Maybe because she ran all the way here from the staffroom, but she does not look like she was out of breath. Her shirt was wet due to sweat and starts to stick to her skin. Her body shape was showing as her shirt clings more the skin. The white shirt also starts to become translucent due to the sweat, enabling me to see some parts. Especially some plump looking bulge wrapped in a white bra. When she noticed my gaze, her face became as red as blood. That was how, I got my punishment. She went back to the washroom to change her clothes and went back to the class after the first period bell rang. Why am I the only one getting punished? I’m sure my other classmates saw it too. First period was supposed to be Math, but the math’s teacher was on a field trip to some other school. So Ms. Alen took the opportunity to take the first period and let us finish filling in the form. Since I still looked like I’m sneering, I wasn’t allowed to leave from my position. Does she hate my face that much? She was also scolding for so loud that the other classes complained to her. There was still that weird form though, so I asked her about it. “Shishou, what was that other form, the one with the weird emblem. Is it for some game survey?” “I don’t know. The principal suddenly gave it to me. Looks like only our class got this form.” she said. That was really weird. I still thought that it was some game survey though. I usually called Ms. Alen shishou(Master). For some reason, the other classmate started to call her shishou too. Then she mumbled, “…but why did I get that form too? I really don’t understand.” Her voice were tiny but I could still make it out. “…ehhh, you have that form too? Let me see. What’s your profession,” I took her form and saw ‘berserk healer’. This made me remembered some anime with a girl using an estoc. “Hey! Don’t read it you idiot!! Go back and stand on the chair!!” she fiercely glared at me. I went back to stand on the chair and asked “Did you fill in your party and guild? The rest of the class have already finished it. Only the guild part was left blank. It’s just a survey for a game right? So I think we don’t really have to fill in all of it in since it’s not important.” “Hmmm… what party? There’s no party in my form. About the guild…I remembered the principal said to create one with you guys and he also said this form takes top priority.” “ehhh?! Seriously?! Don’t you think it’s just the principal weird way of doing things?” I asked. Then Maru suddenly join in the conversation “…here’s the form shishou. So we’re creating the guild huhh… then shall we start naming it?” “””Yeah let’s do that””” the whole class agreed with Maru’s suggestion. “The ‘A’nimal should be good, since our class are called by that name” suggest Maru. “NO!! Why do you even liked to be called by that. Since I will also be in the guild, you should reconsider on your naming sense. I think House of Tulip should be good,” “Objection!! Why does it have to be Tulip of all the other flowers?! Shishou, the guild is made up of 36 male, a masculine name should be used instead.” Maru was backed by the classmate as he forced his opinion on shishou. At some point, they started to take this naming session seriously. I have no idea how things end up this way. I am sure it was just Maru trying to liven things up but it was really becoming very noisy. Surely, the other classes will start to complaint again. When I saw shishou was trying hard to make the class accept her opinion, I decided to just go with the flow. I sat on the chair I was standing just now and looked at my form. The race column was weird though. I wanted to write demon hybrid on it but, for some reason I cancel both of it and wrote human. Was it supposed to be that way? I’m sure the others wrote some weird race like elf or angel. So I asked “What did you all write for the race column?” Maru snorted and exclaimed “Hmph, human of course. Are you not a human? Then you must be a sloth?! Hahahahaha!” This guy really knows how to get on my nerves. “How about you shishou? What did you write?” “Human of course, I wanted to write fairies but for some reason I feel like it was wrong. So I changed it.” Even after I asked them those question they still continued to quarrel on about the name for the guild. With the noise in the background I just sat and think hard on a good name. An idea suddenly popped out of my head, “Then how about this, ‘Enigmas of the Human’ for our guild? Enigmas mean something that is puzzling, a mystery and cannot be fully understood. I think it suits us since we are the 5’A’nimal. Our weird way of doing things, and unique personality but yet we still grasp the best achievement. For the human, I think it’s just that to say all of us are humans though. The suitable guild leader would be the home room teacher. How about it, shishou?” “…ehhh, sure. I can be the guild leader but I want tulip, I think it’s better.” “Shishou, I have no idea why you are so obsessed with tulip. I think it just shows how immature you are. Basically it means you’re a virgin.” “….e-ehhh!! B-but how did you?!...wait, forget what I say!!” the bean have been spilt, it’s official that Shishou was single. She looked just like Ari when she was panicking, well they are siblings though. “So what do you guys think?” “Well-well, you can give quite a good name sometimes. So I agree with that name!!” shouted Maru. “Yeah!! I knew you can do it Inchou!!” “Woo-hooo!!” “Just marry him already Ari~!! There’s no need to wait” “T-t-this has nothing to do with m-marriage!!” “Inchou!! You can help me name my pet!!” “Lazy Inchou Is going to graduate into Cool Inchou now!!!” “Let’s get this PARTY GOINGGGG!!!*opens shirt*” “*animals sound*” “*Twerk*Twerk*” “wahahaha-WAHAHAHAHA!!!” “woot-woot!!” “*flips table*” “*bang the chair*”. Again, I sit silently, and watch wild animals in their natural habitat. As for Shishou, she has already gotten used to this and she just sat down to take the attendance. Date at the Library? After everyone was done with their ritual, I collected the forms and hand it to shishou. Later I helped shishou to carry the forms to the principal. School finished as usual, at 2 o’clock. After I put all my books and utensils in the bag, Ari tugged my sleeve “Hey, you’re not going home right? You promised to teach me maths later.” “Yeah, I’m going to teach you but we need to have lunch first.” I replied. “ohhh, I said I brought lunch this morning. I have lots so you can have you’re share.” “Wahhh!! I’m so happy that such a cute creature would share their cooking to me!!” “Shhhh! You’re too loud! By the way, my sister cooked this for me.” “Really!! Then it’s even better, to eat food cooked by such a beautiful teacher. It’s just what I’ve been dreaming for!!” “…eehhh. I see..” suddenly Ari starts to pout. Then she continued, “Anyway, I’m going to be eating a lot today so you can only have a small portion. Hmph!” I can feel that he was acting cold towards me now. We went to the school’s sitting area near the canteen and eat lunch there. He really meant what he said. He really did gave me a small portion. Since I was still hungry, I went to the canteen and bought some more food. As I was walking back to Ari, I saw some guys standing near him. Then one guy lend Ari some piece of paper while bowing down. Ari looked at it with wide eyes and he shocked his head. The guy lending the paper looked depressed while the other guys laugh. So I ran towards them. “Oi…Do we have problems here!” I said in a menacing way. I have never seen their faces before. They must have been the 1st year student. They panicked as they saw me coming. “S-shit, it’s him. We’re going home now, I’ll meet you at the gate buddy.” One of the guy pat his friends shoulder and left with the others. The guy who was lending Ari the piece of paper was still in front of me. “S-s-sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb your friend.” He stumbled a bit and ran toward his friends. “So what happened?” I asked Ari as I sat next to him. “As usual. He wanted to give me a letter, but I refused. It was probably a love letter. Juniors these days are really brave huh.” “Hehhh, its hard being famous huh. I really hope I will get a love letter someday.” “Well, I hope you don’t..” Ari said while giving a straight face. “Wait, why?” “Why are you so dense?” he muttered sillently “What are saying suddenly?” “Hmph…nothing!!.” he started to pout again. Well, Ari sure was famous. He gets many confessions and most of it was from males. All I could say was, they really fallen for a trap. No matter how you look at him, Ari definitely looks like a girl. He resembles her sister(the Shishou) a lot, only that he does not have the bust. Even the way he eats and talks right now was very feminine. I really understand their reasons for falling for this trap. “Harry, you really scared him just now.” “It’s just the usual me okay. He’s just afraid of me because of the rumour.” “…but the rumour is true, isn’t it?” “*sigh* I know, but it’s a long time ago.” Well it was not that long, it was just last year. That time, Ari was not very close to me. Like usual, he was asked to meet someone behind the school. He thought that it was just some guy wanted to confessed to him. I heard rumours as I walk around with Maru that the seniors wanted to see if Ari was really a guy. They really wanted to know, even if they have to strip his cloth off. At first, I did not feel like helping him. Since it sounds like a bully case, so the prefects should be handling it. However, realising that I used to be in the same situation, I ran to the back of the school. There, I saw Ari was shouting for help. The seniors were trying to forcefully rip his cloth off. I knew I needed to do something but the seniors outnumbered me six to one. Maru suddenly came up to me and saw the scene. He was not skilled at fighting, so my best hope was for him to search for the teachers while I try to hold off the seniors. However, he was determined to fight off the seniors with me. With that, both of us charged towards the seniors. They already noticed us and mocked us for acting like a hero. I shrugged off those mockery and readied my stance. Since I practised martial arts before and have lots of combat experience, I decided to take on four of them and leave the rest to Maru. I never intended to go easy on them, so the seniors were injured badly with broken nose and bruises all over their bodies. However, it was still 4 to 1, so I sustained quite an injury. Maru on the other hand, was quite formidable as he beat of two seniors even without any experience and knowledge of martial arts or self defence. Even so, his injury was comparison to mine and he was barely able to stand up properly. Ari was surprised at first but thanked both of us later. Since then, Ari have always been hanging around with me and Maru. The result of us beating the seniors was two weeks suspension. However, the principal did not think that the punishment was enough, so he forced us to join the prefect board. Maru accepted it without complain. On the other hand, I objected this idea so much that I decided to skip some classes. Shishou begged the principal to be lenient on my punishment but the principal’s final decision was he gave me an option to become the class rep or to be expelled. In the end, I had no choice but to become class rep. As I was deep in thought, Ari called out to me “Hurry up and finish your food. I want to start studying as soon as possible.” He packed up his lunch and stood up. Then he swiftly bite off my burger on my hand “*munch*munch* I’ll take a bite off your burger for every two seconds. So hurry up.” Seeing that, I chomped the burger whole and swallowed it after chewing it a few time. “…w-what?! Did you just swallow that burger whole?!” Ari was surprised as he did not expected it. I have done this quite a lot since I was always late and I did chewed it a few time, so there was no worry of me getting chocked. I did not answer him and throw away the wrapping in the dustbin and took my bag “Hurry up, didn’t you want to start studying as soon as possible. I’ll leave you behind if you’re still dazing off.” He snapped off his surprised face then hurriedly ran up to me and pulled out two cans of soda. “Here…my treat for agreeing to teach me.” He gave me one of the soda to me “…ehhh, we haven’t started studying yet and you’re still giving me this. Anyway, thanks.” There were not many students in the library as we entered. I saw some of my classmates studying but I did not want to greet them since they might cause a ruckus seeing me and Ari together. I would not want them to go crazy in the library like how they did in the class. So we silently walked pass them. Luckily they did not noticed us as they were focusing on their books. Both of us went to the furthest part of the library where there was a nice woolly carpet for students to lay down. I lay down on the carpet after I took out my history book. Since there were three bean-chairs here, Ari sat on one because he was not used to studying while laying down. He started to do some maths question with the book on his lap. It felt so nice laying down on the woolly carpet that I feel too lazy to study. “Ari, I’m going to rest my eyes for a bit. If you have any question you can’t answer just wake me up okay.” He replied by nodding his head. That was quite cute. With the history book open, I put it on my face to cover the bright fluorescent light above for a nice nap. Slowly my consciousness travel towards the dreamland. ‘I, Ember Agarictree, fairies of the night luminated with fireflies and starry skies, have received your contract’ What is this? ‘Your desire of powerful dark ability..’ am I dreaming ‘..shall be granted by me.’ Wait who are you ‘thank your luck human..’ this voice sounds like a girl ‘..you have been blessed with my service’ what are you talking about ‘with my gift…’ are you even listening to me? ‘your dream will be an easy task to accomplish’ is this what they call dream control? Because It felt like I’m still conscious in the dream ‘the only wall separating us will be the blood oath’ hmm…where have I heard that before? ‘I shall be in touch with you again tonight’ what do you mean by ton…… The dream starts to fade away as I was woken by something shaking me “hey, wake up already!” Ari’s voice made me rise up hastily. The book on my face fall down with a thud as I try to sit up. It took some time for my eye to focus and I saw Ari’s face was so close to mine. He quickly backed away with blushing face. “…ahhh, sorry I startled you. How long have I been sleeping?” I asked as I rubbed my wet eyes. “I-its fine, you’ve been sleeping for about an hour now. Here, I have lots of question I don’t understand. Please teach me how to answer it.” “Wow I’m surprised you didn’t asked any question for the whole hour. I thought you would ask me a few minutes after I dozed off.” “You looked like you were sleeping soundly so I didn’t want to wake you up. I finished all the questions I understand, and leave all the hard questions. So now I wake you up because it’s time for you to teach me.” “That’s very kind of you Ari. Okay let’s see the question.” As we cover through the question together I forgot about the dream. After another hour, we finished all the questions. There are still some question he don’t fully understand, so I wrote all the working and formulas. I told him to try follow the working at home and if he still cannot understand then he can ask me again tomorrow. The library will be closing soon, so we packed our stuff and went out. On our way out, we stumbled with our classmate and like I predicted, they became crazy again. The librarian did not mind it and only laughed since we were the only students left. Then I walked with Ari to the staff’s carpark and met with Shishou. She looked quite exhausted today so we did not chat long until I see them off. So I walked back alone. Using the usual route, I walked on the pathway as if it was second nature as I tried to remember something important in the library. The first thing I remembered was the scene where Ari’s and my face were so close that I could actually felt his breathing. I shaked my head off as I tried to remember again and the thing that came in mind was my dream. It was vogue and unclear, I know there was something about that dream that I need to remember. However, I came out empty even until I reached my house.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNkMjdmMTkwNThjNDQ3M2Q4MTRiYjE2N2Y2NzQzNTQy">A cold wind was blowing through the forest, as we repositioned, hidden by concealment-spells and waiting for Lenore to give more information on our enemies’ reaction. As the mist was cleared away by the wind, I heard Lenore make a surprised noise, and was told that the clearing was empty. Nothing was left from the splattered remains of the sylvan, his corpse was just gone. Did Traveller-Corpses simply despawn?</p> <p class="cnM5YzBkODMxNWZhNjQ4MDI5ZDZjMjE2NzMwMjc3Mzcz">And the other three, either all three of them had very good concealment or they had escaped by simply logging out. It was a good tactic, if you are attacked by unknown forces, retreat and come back another day. Especially if not all of them logged out, the leopard had looked like some kind of stealth-class so I'd guess that he was somewhere hidden nearby making sure that the coast is clear. Anyway, they were gone and there was nothing we could do about it but to put distance between them and us. A short look to my log told me that I had gained some EXP for killing the sylvan, approximately as much as I'd gained for a nymph on the same level.</p> <p class="cnM5NTdiMGIyNzIzYzQxN2ZhMmY2N2RmZWNhYjNjY2Vl">“Any ideas?” I asked the other two.</p> <p class="cnM3NWRlY2I1ZTFkYjQwY2Y5OTlhYmUwY2I5MzAyMGI2">“They are... gone?” asked Adra “How can they be just gone? Your partner was watching from the air, wasn’t she? I refuse to belief that they were able to get away that easily.”</p> <p class="cnMxYTYxNWU3MGYwMjQyMjhiYTJjZDY3NTJhODRkYzNj">“I guess that they are Travellers. We are just guests to this world and we can leave as we please. They can simply stay outside this world as long as they want, they might even use other forms of communication to call for support. I don't think that they have allies nearby but I honestly don't know.” I explained.</p> <p class="cnM2N2Y5MjM4NzJiNjRiNjk4YTQyY2VjMGEyMjIzZGY2">“So they will continue to hunt us? Has either of you an idea how to get rid of their tracking?” asked Sigmir through gnashed teeth.</p> <p class="cnMzMzBmZjUwNDk5YzQyNGZiNDdiNDIzZGNiNzcyYzEz">I could only shake my head, slightly disappointed with myself.</p> <p class="cnMxZTBiZjQwMTI1NjRkNTM5YTEwYjE1YzkwYjA3Y2Ex">Adra spoke up “It depends. If the tool is made by a normal spellcaster, simply get a better spellcaster to destroy the connection between you and things that could be used to link to you. Sadly, I don't know the needed ritual, it's not part of my abilities. However, if the tool is system-made for a quest fully defeating it is next to impossible. To end the tracking you would have to end the quest, probably by killing the one who put it up. For now, I don't think we can do anything here.”</p> <p class="cnM3MjJjZGZhMDRjNzRkZTI4NDg4NWQ4MTdkYzUwYTIz">“I agree. We should get to Neyto, maybe we can get help there.”</p> <p class="cnMwODNjZGUyYzQ3NzQ3YzU5ODAxZmQwNDA4ZGY1NTVk">Once more, we mounted up, Adra turned into her strange goat-antelope thingy-form and we were off, heading towards Neyto. After we realised just how brutally an attack from ambush could devastate you, we turned cautious, not wanting to be on the receiving end. I recreated the Ice-Shields I had used in the dungeon, this time with ice-runes engraved into them so I could increase their size within moments, giving me the option to tank a couple of attacks as long as I wasn't taken fully by surprise. In addition, Lenore consented to flying reconnaissance every so often giving the way in front of us the once-over. Adra used search-spells as well - but as she put it, those kinds of spells were the most varied spells, as there were thousands of ways to search for a multitude of things, from the most simple life-force search-spell to more complex spells with higher range, better detection that looked for specific souls. In addition, she told me that while there were thousands of ways to find someone, there were thousand and one way to avoid getting found. No spell would ever be perfect, so we had to remain vigilant at all times.</p> <p class="cnM0ZjY4NmFlNTUzNzQyNTE4NmNiMzYxNjE5NjdiZTAx">With our heightened vigilance, I expected something to jump out any moment but the journey to Neyto was completely boring. Nothing wanted to mess with us out here, the predators looked for easier prey and we only hunted what we needed, mainly Adra did so as she was quite adept when it came to silent movement and stalking through the snowy forest.</p> <p class="cnM2ZTI5OWI0YTVmZDRkZmU4Y2Q2ZTVlODZmODI2ZDcy">During our night-rest, Adra was once more shaping her bow, slowly muttering under her breath in a way that reminded me of the few times my grandmother had dragged me into church, repetitive murmured prayer, over and over. I was curious about the greatly different style when it came to magic, mine was all concepts - expressed through runes - and mental imagery. However, both Kallista and now Adra used their magic in a totally different fashion, and what little I had found on the forums was all over the place as well. And her ability to change into animal forms, I hadn't the foggiest idea how to even start something like that.</p> <p class="cnMzOGZkN2JlZmFiMzQyZGQ5MWRjMDBlOTdkMjUxNjIx">There was so much I didn't know about magic and I felt as if I was playing catch-up with the world.</p> <p class="cnNhOGI0ZmU3ZmE2NjRlNTNhMTM3YTM2YjM0YmIyMzFl">We also told Adra a bit about Neyto so she wouldn't be too surprised by the strange town or the nexus. I had a feeling she would feel it just as strongly as I did.</p> <p class="cnNlN2RjMGNlOTU0ODQwNTQ5MmQwOGMxZTY0YWNmMmFm">It was afternoon as we reached Neyto, two days after our run-in with the other Travellers. As we came closer to the white trees surrounding the village, once more a tree grew a face.</p> <p class="cnNlM2Q2OWM5NDY2ZTQzZTY5ZDA3YTM0Y2I4NzRjNzI3">“It's good to see you back. Morgana, why don't you bring your guest to see me before going to the Grandmother in the morning.” said the tree-face and now, with a little creativity, I was able to see that it was Kallista's face and voice that spoke to me through the tree.</p> <p class="cnNmYzI4YWVhYTBjNzQ4MDY4YWYxMjEwYTM5ZWNlOGFh">“We will do so, thank you, Kallista.” I answered and looked over to Adra.</p> <p class="cnNlNzRmYTJlNzkyMjQ0Njc5MmE0YWU0ZDM3ZmY3ZjQz">She was still in her animal form, giving me no clue how she reacted to seeing her own face come out of a tree. We dismounted and watched Adra turning back into her own form. Part of me thought about the fact that her garments looked similar to the garb the nymphs in Tegi had worn, as if it was made out of leaves, bark and wood, changing shape with her without any trouble.</p> <p class="cnMxYzUwYzk3ZDQ2MDQwZTE5NzZhYTI1ZTBlNzJkZThi">I looked her over after she was back to her normal form, at least what I thought as her normal form, and she looked shaken, either from the palpable magic in the air or because she had just seen her face in a tree.</p> <p class="cnMyOTVjYjRhZThlODQ0OTM5NzlhOTc4YmIyODhmNGRl">“Sigmir, Adra, would the two of you mind if we go to Praxi first? I'd like to deliver the ashes he wanted.” I asked, trying to give Adra a little more time to gather herself before meeting Kallista.</p> <p class="cnMxMTdjZGNiY2FhYzQ5YWM5NTQ2NTE3OGUwN2UzZjEw">Adra shrugged while Sigmir answered, “No, that's fine. It feels good to be back.”</p> <p class="cnNmNmU5MGI2ZjRiZDRiZmM5MmE0YmU1Zjg1M2QzYTg2">As a group we walked over to Praxi's house before knocking on his door. I didn't want to risk another dose of his charm-effect and neither did I want Sigmir to get hit by it. So we waited outside for him. It only took a short moment, then the door opened for us.</p> <p class="cnNhODE4ODM1Y2RlNDQ5NTlhN2FiYjdlZTRlYmQ4MTE0">“Ah, you are back. It's good to see you again, you have the ashes?” he greeted us with a smile.</p> <p class="cnMxZWEwMzNhMDBmMjRjYTg4N2M1NTNmMjRhNTYzM2U1">“Yes, here they are.” acknowledged Sigmir, before handing over the gathered ashes. By now, they were in a small leather pouch.</p> <p class="cnMxMmE2MGVjMzEzYTQzYmJiZTdmMzM5ZjE4MGQzM2Jl">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM5NzVjZTZmMzdjNzQzMzM4NDQ0N2VhNjIwZjFmNTBm"><br><br><br></p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td>Quest Completed</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ashes to Praxi...</td> </tr> <tr> <td>You gained: 25.000 EXP</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnMyYmNhYmIxMTQ0MjRhNzZiZjNlODAxOTgwOTNkMTQ2">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4NGMwNjE0ODUxNjQ3NTJhM2Q2ZDdiYTJiOTBhOWFj">“Yes, very good. Thank you. Ashes to me and dust to dust. You already have the Brigandine I made for you, so I believe we are even.” He said with a smile. He looked at Adra for a second and almost opened his mouth but suddenly, he snapped it shut and almost fled back in his house. Strange behaviour for a strange guy but who knows. Sigmir and I exchanged a look and shrugged in confused unison.</p> <p class="cnNhMzEyMmE2NTAxMDRhY2JhMWI3ZWY2ZGQyZjVkOGRl">“Let's go to Kallista. She has hosted us before and invited us.” I told the other two and we walked around the nexus-lake.</p> <p class="cnNlMTE2NDM4NGVlZDRlN2FiNTk3ZDkyYzczOGM4Y2Zh">After knocking on Kallista's door, we were quickly ushered in. It was almost funny, looking at Kallista and Adra, they looked so much alike, without their different auras and their skin colours, they could be mirror-images.</p> <p class="cnNlZDQ1OTM2ZGJiYTRjMjBiMjkyNGY1MWVkZmM0MWMw">“I see you did as I asked. Thank you.”</p> <p class="cnMxNzE5NzJiNTlhMjQ5YzU5MWJiMDMzNGE5OGY4NTgx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3MTFkZjliY2ZlYTQ4NGI4NzM2YzZiMDEzZDkxM2Iw"><br><br><br></p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td>Quest Completed</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Save the Sacrifices.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>You gained: 25.000 EXP</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnNiZmY1Y2JiZTY4MjQwZDhiNzI4ZTlkZWM4MDRhNzNm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzOTQzMTI4OGFlMzRhMjI5OThhMzZiNjdkMmNjMTg5">“Yes, and look what we found.” I smiled and gestured to Adra. “Kallista, meet Adra. Adra, meet my dear friend Kallista.”</p> <p class="cnMxZjEzZGY0NWMzMzQxNjU4MWI0MWQ0ODdiMmUwNTIx">Kallista was still visibly shaken, maybe even more so than Adra. “Sigmir, why don't you and Adra relax a bit. Morgana, would you please help me in the kitchen?”</p> <p class="cnNjMzc0MmE1MWM2MDQ0MTY5YTliZDk0MWEyNDZlYTQy">With that Kallista practically dragged me into her kitchen.</p> </div>

A cold wind was blowing through the forest, as we repositioned, hidden by concealment-spells and waiting for Lenore to give more information on our enemies’ reaction. As the mist was cleared away by the wind, I heard Lenore make a surprised noise, and was told that the clearing was empty. Nothing was left from the splattered remains of the sylvan, his corpse was just gone. Did Traveller-Corpses simply despawn? And the other three, either all three of them had very good concealment or they had escaped by simply logging out. It was a good tactic, if you are attacked by unknown forces, retreat and come back another day. Especially if not all of them logged out, the leopard had looked like some kind of stealth-class so I'd guess that he was somewhere hidden nearby making sure that the coast is clear. Anyway, they were gone and there was nothing we could do about it but to put distance between them and us. A short look to my log told me that I had gained some EXP for killing the sylvan, approximately as much as I'd gained for a nymph on the same level. “Any ideas?” I asked the other two. “They are... gone?” asked Adra “How can they be just gone? Your partner was watching from the air, wasn’t she? I refuse to belief that they were able to get away that easily.” “I guess that they are Travellers. We are just guests to this world and we can leave as we please. They can simply stay outside this world as long as they want, they might even use other forms of communication to call for support. I don't think that they have allies nearby but I honestly don't know.” I explained. “So they will continue to hunt us? Has either of you an idea how to get rid of their tracking?” asked Sigmir through gnashed teeth. I could only shake my head, slightly disappointed with myself. Adra spoke up “It depends. If the tool is made by a normal spellcaster, simply get a better spellcaster to destroy the connection between you and things that could be used to link to you. Sadly, I don't know the needed ritual, it's not part of my abilities. However, if the tool is system-made for a quest fully defeating it is next to impossible. To end the tracking you would have to end the quest, probably by killing the one who put it up. For now, I don't think we can do anything here.” “I agree. We should get to Neyto, maybe we can get help there.” Once more, we mounted up, Adra turned into her strange goat-antelope thingy-form and we were off, heading towards Neyto. After we realised just how brutally an attack from ambush could devastate you, we turned cautious, not wanting to be on the receiving end. I recreated the Ice-Shields I had used in the dungeon, this time with ice-runes engraved into them so I could increase their size within moments, giving me the option to tank a couple of attacks as long as I wasn't taken fully by surprise. In addition, Lenore consented to flying reconnaissance every so often giving the way in front of us the once-over. Adra used search-spells as well - but as she put it, those kinds of spells were the most varied spells, as there were thousands of ways to search for a multitude of things, from the most simple life-force search-spell to more complex spells with higher range, better detection that looked for specific souls. In addition, she told me that while there were thousands of ways to find someone, there were thousand and one way to avoid getting found. No spell would ever be perfect, so we had to remain vigilant at all times. With our heightened vigilance, I expected something to jump out any moment but the journey to Neyto was completely boring. Nothing wanted to mess with us out here, the predators looked for easier prey and we only hunted what we needed, mainly Adra did so as she was quite adept when it came to silent movement and stalking through the snowy forest. During our night-rest, Adra was once more shaping her bow, slowly muttering under her breath in a way that reminded me of the few times my grandmother had dragged me into church, repetitive murmured prayer, over and over. I was curious about the greatly different style when it came to magic, mine was all concepts - expressed through runes - and mental imagery. However, both Kallista and now Adra used their magic in a totally different fashion, and what little I had found on the forums was all over the place as well. And her ability to change into animal forms, I hadn't the foggiest idea how to even start something like that. There was so much I didn't know about magic and I felt as if I was playing catch-up with the world. We also told Adra a bit about Neyto so she wouldn't be too surprised by the strange town or the nexus. I had a feeling she would feel it just as strongly as I did. It was afternoon as we reached Neyto, two days after our run-in with the other Travellers. As we came closer to the white trees surrounding the village, once more a tree grew a face. “It's good to see you back. Morgana, why don't you bring your guest to see me before going to the Grandmother in the morning.” said the tree-face and now, with a little creativity, I was able to see that it was Kallista's face and voice that spoke to me through the tree. “We will do so, thank you, Kallista.” I answered and looked over to Adra. She was still in her animal form, giving me no clue how she reacted to seeing her own face come out of a tree. We dismounted and watched Adra turning back into her own form. Part of me thought about the fact that her garments looked similar to the garb the nymphs in Tegi had worn, as if it was made out of leaves, bark and wood, changing shape with her without any trouble. I looked her over after she was back to her normal form, at least what I thought as her normal form, and she looked shaken, either from the palpable magic in the air or because she had just seen her face in a tree. “Sigmir, Adra, would the two of you mind if we go to Praxi first? I'd like to deliver the ashes he wanted.” I asked, trying to give Adra a little more time to gather herself before meeting Kallista. Adra shrugged while Sigmir answered, “No, that's fine. It feels good to be back.” As a group we walked over to Praxi's house before knocking on his door. I didn't want to risk another dose of his charm-effect and neither did I want Sigmir to get hit by it. So we waited outside for him. It only took a short moment, then the door opened for us. “Ah, you are back. It's good to see you again, you have the ashes?” he greeted us with a smile. “Yes, here they are.” acknowledged Sigmir, before handing over the gathered ashes. By now, they were in a small leather pouch.   | Quest Completed | | --- | | Ashes to Praxi... | | You gained: 25.000 EXP |   “Yes, very good. Thank you. Ashes to me and dust to dust. You already have the Brigandine I made for you, so I believe we are even.” He said with a smile. He looked at Adra for a second and almost opened his mouth but suddenly, he snapped it shut and almost fled back in his house. Strange behaviour for a strange guy but who knows. Sigmir and I exchanged a look and shrugged in confused unison. “Let's go to Kallista. She has hosted us before and invited us.” I told the other two and we walked around the nexus-lake. After knocking on Kallista's door, we were quickly ushered in. It was almost funny, looking at Kallista and Adra, they looked so much alike, without their different auras and their skin colours, they could be mirror-images. “I see you did as I asked. Thank you.”   | Quest Completed | | --- | | Save the Sacrifices. | | You gained: 25.000 EXP |   “Yes, and look what we found.” I smiled and gestured to Adra. “Kallista, meet Adra. Adra, meet my dear friend Kallista.” Kallista was still visibly shaken, maybe even more so than Adra. “Sigmir, why don't you and Adra relax a bit. Morgana, would you please help me in the kitchen?” With that Kallista practically dragged me into her kitchen.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNjZDNkNzk5MWI1MjRhNTE5OTFmNjBlMWNkYjY1YTk5">Neo awaked a little while later, he opened his eyes and staredat a compacted earthen path. He was bouncing up and down, his guts pressured by something cool and hard. A voice spoke out above him, it was Bethany, "Hey, Gie, he's awake."</p> <p class="cnM5OTBjYTE3ZWE5ODQ0MWI4ODVlZjc2NDQyODY0NjZk">Gie stopped before speaking in his new sophisticated voice "Neo, do you think you can walk?"</p> <p class="cnNkYzYzNjU3MjliMzQ5Y2FiN2ExZjZiODVkYjExNGZh">"Hm, I don't know let's get give it a try."</p> <p class="cnM0ODJmNDZlYzMxNDRmOTdiZGM5ZTQ1YjQ3NWY2ZjA5">Gie crouched down and slowly let Neo down. Once Neo's feet had touched the ground, he stood up right causing all the blood to rush to his feet and making him feel light headed. After a few moments passed, Neo was fine, even if his eyes were drooping. Yawning, he looked around to see that they were in the dormitories area.</p> <p class="cnM0NzY5OTFjZWEwOTQ0ZjRhY2I1NmFhYWQyMDg4YWRj">Giewas still crouching down in front of Neo and started to speak. "Neo, I would like to thank you again for giving me back my voice and identity. It's I lost it." He said while touching his face. It made Neo shudder as what Neo assumed to be an unintelligent being and one that was built or created could communicate so well. It made him wondered how intelligent it was and if it was an AI of some kind. Neo thought and decided not to ask, 'if he wants to tell me, he can. I’m not going to pry too much, but I would like to know why he couldn't make his own face.'</p> <p class="cnM4NDM4OGUzZDJjNTRmODViNzdhNGViODUyZTQ0MTRj">Gie’s face cracked into a smile, which sent more chills down Neo spine. "I didn't have the creativity to create more or make something. I got those stones placed on me asa joke. They were tired of seeing a blank face, so they just shoved those onto it for me and to their surprise I talked, but to their ignorance or arrogance they didn't think of improving my face to even see if they could increase my intelligence. So thank you Neo!"</p> <p class="cnM2ODY2NDNjODRjMzQ0MzhhNTExMzFiYzY2MTJjZmI1">As Gie was talking, Neo felt that Gie had quite a bit of anger. Neo thought about it and found he had good reason to, 'It must be infuriating to have '</p> <p class="cnNiODc0M2IxODYzNzRlYmZhODA2NWY5YmY4YWE2MmQx">Neo patted Gie on the shoulder, "Well you’re here now, why don't you go off and have a vacation and live life and enjoy?"</p> <p class="cnM5ZjAzZjliOTgzYjQ5NmJiYTE3YTc3OTRjM2YzMTUy">Gie seemed grateful even if he was stone and had little movement.Gie stood up, "Thank you, Neo, but not while I am on assignment. I think that'll be a good idea, though. I'll put in a request, I do have a lot of vacation time to use."</p> <p class="cnMzMWE4NWZkZTE0NTQwYjRiMmI5YzYzMTk2MTVmZDk0">Neo smiled while they continued toward their dorm, talking a little about Gie's long life, but it fell away as Gie seemed content to look around with new appreciation of everything.</p> <p class="cnM1MTYwNmRmMjgxNzQ4MjZhOTIwNGVkMzhkZjc3ZTE0">They made it back to their rooms a little while later and Neo wondered aloud, "So Gie what will you do now?"</p> <p class="cnNkZjYxZGU0NTE1ZjQ0M2U4N2E4OWYyNmZkZGM4Njc1">Gie, who was staring at him through the door, said, "I think I will sleep for a little bit to rest and recover my energy, but otherwise I might walk around a little and think."</p> <p class="cnM3MmY2MTY4ZThmNzQzNzJhZWU2ZmM5NjgyOWJlMDI3">Neo nodded and saidbefore closing the door, "Sounds like a good idea, more people should do that. Good night Gie."</p> <p class="cnNmZDlmM2RhYjUwMzQ0ZDhiYzliNGQ4ZTdjOGNjYTg4">Gie replied with a simple, "Goodnight."</p> <p class="cnNkNDQ3NzFkYjI4OTQxM2RiNDkwNmViZjgyYjk5MGNl">Neo was awoken when the surroundings around him changed, disrupting his sleep.As he opened his eyeshe found himself in a room with a black ceiling and black floor. There as on he knew that it was black was because there was a floating disco ball that was lighting up the area with several coloured lights. As the ball spun it glittered throughout the black room.</p> <p class="cnNmZTZjZTYyMDk2NDQwZDBhYTI2NTc0MzM2NWI4OGI0">A beat started to rise from aboom box, a flash came from the ceiling and a spot light lit up a still figure that stood with a finger pointing into the air and his right arm on his hip. As Neo overcame his bafflement, he noticed that the person was dressed in a glamorous 1970's disco fashion, with the ever-expanding trousers and colourful jacket. Before Neo could say anything the beat reached its crescendo and the song started.</p> <p class="cnM4MGUyMjgyOGNkODQwM2Y5YjE0OTY0ODFlYzJkY2Jm">'Then I get night fever, night fever <br> We know how to do it'</p> <p class="cnNjYzQ5YmJmNDlmZjRhNjY4OTZhZjA5MTdjOGJkMzEy">'Ow damn, what hell have I been brought to?' Neo thought as he watched Death do poor imitations of disco moves.He did go through the Robot, the Bus Stop and more, but it was all a bit cringe worthy. But even Neo couldn't help but get in to the beat of the music and lost in the song, he even enjoyed watching the dancing. Once the song had ended Death had stopped dancing in front of Neo and asked, "So what do you think, any good?"</p> <p class="cnNiNTY2ZDAwOGI4ODRmMWNiY2IwZjQ0ZmI0MzMxNGQx">Neo had no idea what to say, and after a while only managed to come up with a neutral, "Could use some more practice, but it was entertaining. Um so what was all that about?"</p> <p class="cnM5MThmZDEzOGZhYTRjYzRhNDg2YWY5MGQ3ZDA1MzJi">Death looked at his clothes and the disco ball before speaking, "Got to live life in the now, not in the future."</p> <p class="cnNmYzkzYWNjYWNkMzQwYWE4MzlmOTcwYjljMzllMGY0">Neo knew that was a weird comment and asked,"Considering that the 1970's is not now, that might be a bit weird of a comment.”</p> <p class="cnMxNDZmYjlkMzBlMjQxY2NhNGNlOWJmNDZhNWU0MmM0">Death answered, "It was a about five minutes ago, and it always will be since it's in the present even now, otherwise would you know those dance moves and that song if it isn't the now?"</p> <p class="cnM1YTI4MDI4NTkyNjRmNjQ4NWE1ZDMzZTM3ODFhMWFm">"What?" Neo asked, then thought over what Death had said. He eventually got it, at least thought he did, but there were more important questions that came to mind "What's happened, it hasn't been a month yet?"</p> <p class="cnNmZWEyMzFiZjI5YTQ0ZDc4NDBiZmUwMzQ4NzRiZGUz">"Ah yes, well two things really." Clicking his fingers, the lights, disco ball, beat box all disappeared. Sadly, he kept his disco clothing, but those things that disappeared were replaced with a desk, a computer, and a screen. At least He then wondered if his Mobile phone had more processing power then this thing.</p> <p class="cnM2YTkzMTI2Njk4YzQ3MDNhM2M4NTUxY2I1MjczNDhi">Death appeared in front of it, crouched over the desk watching the monitor, and sheepishly asked, "How do you deletethe search history?"</p> <p class="cnM0Mzc4NDJjZTBkNjQyYmVhMTgwNDA4YTljN2EwYTQ0">Neo burst out laughing and looked at the screen finding it dull and bluer then it should be. His eyebrow rose, coughing Neo said, "So there are two ways to deal with this. One, you could chuck it since the history is attached to your computer and replace it with a new computer, preferablyfrom the modern era with a full complement of firewalls and antivirus programs, or …" Before Neo could suggest the second option the computer disappeared into a fiery hot hole. Neo assumed that it was vaporised.</p> <p class="cnNlNjJkZjE1YmYwOTQ2ZGU5ZTc3NWYwZWU4NTE1MjBl">Death said, "Wait here I'll back soon," and disappeared in a puff of smoke.</p> <p class="cnM3YjNhOWFjNmY5MTRlZjFiYjg5MGI3NmMwY2I2OTgz">He returned about ten minutes later with a much better and sleeker computer. It had a bright and more colourful monitor, with a lit mouse and keyboard.</p> <p class="cnNlOTFjNWVjOTI1MDQ2OTZiMWRmZjIzNTZjMDc0YzA2">And Death snobbishly said, "Better?"</p> <p class="cnNlN2QwNzA5MzkyNTRmZDFiYTIzNTg3M2NjNTZkMmFk">Neo smirked at Death’s weirdness, "Much, so do you have a power outlet or internet attachment?"</p> <p class="cnNlZDEzMGQ5ZGM5YzQ3ZDdiNDAxMzYxMDJjOWIyMDQ1">"Nope," Death said. He clicked his fingers and themonitor and desktop started with no wires in it at all.</p> <p class="cnNmOTY1MjlhNDEwYjQ2Yzk4MTA2Mjg5NDYxMmVhMzQz">Neo gave a short laugh, "That's convenient, not a single wire to get caught and then sort out."</p> <p class="cnM1N2UyMTIxMTkyZjQ4MDBiYjVjMGY5YmFmYmQwYWJm">As the screen startedup Death asked, "So I found this place where people supposedly drowning in sorrows tell everyone about it. But before I can explore its sweet, sweet sorrows, I need to sign up. Also, what's an e ... email whatever that is."</p> <p class="cnM5NmZjNjFkMTBkNjQ4ZmE4NjQ4NDcxOTc5M2JiNTM0">Neo tilted his head before speaking, "Which social media are you thinking of joining?" He ignored the sorrows comment.</p> <p class="cnM2M2IyYjVmNjE1YzQxNzQ4NTg4MWNmZjhmMWQ1NjBm">"You know that one with a blue birdie thing, and the thumbs up one.They seemed to have plenty of material to go through," Death said while eyeing up the Windows 10 start-up screen.</p> <p class="cnMwZGM5NGJjMzAyZjRkNWNiOWQ4YWM3NjQyNWRmMDhj">"Right, you do know the rules of the internet and social media, right?" Neo said, a little worried what Death would do with the internet in his hands. He wondered if he should let this god-like being onto the internet.</p> <p class="cnNkMGYyYzY0NWNkODRiOTc5ZmIwMmZkZmY2YWVjZDQz">"There are rules? I thought it was the internet, everything and anything was allowed." Death said tilting his head.</p> <p class="cnM2ZTkwNjdmYWI3ZDQ1ZGFhM2Q3OWZiNGZmYTYyZjI5">"It is, about as much as the laws allow in the country you're in. Even then there's ways around, not that I know anything about that, but it's more along the line of the unspoken rule. For a few examples, never challenge the internet because it'll win, never tell it to not to do something because it’ll go ahead and do it, never argue with the internet because a lot of it is trolling thus pointless to argue, and take everything you read with a few grains of salt and research the subject…."</p> <p class="cnNkMGRiOTFlMDcxYTQ5YTViMTkyNTNkMDE3NGFiMzI0">Neo was going to continue informing Death of the collective hive mind that is the internet, but he interrupted Neo before he could get into his tirade, "So how do I make an email?"</p> <p class="cnNkNDE4NWM5NjViNjQ2ZmU4NTE0ODczY2Q3NzA0ZTNj">Resigning himself to let Death trawl the internet, Neo showed him how to create an email. This is where things got a little sticky, since Death wanted his name sprawled across the internet. So, considering that was one of the hardest names to get seeing as it wasone of the easiest to think up, almost everything Neo typed in was rejected. With an obvious tick starting to show on Deaths face, Neo suggested that they use his name, New Death, since that was his name and position, and they both could use it, maybe. It would depend on if he could find away to use the internet.</p> <p class="cnNjNjFjOWZkMWRlMDRiYWQ5ODJlMzEwNjM4NWFjZThj">After Death’s acceptance of the new name, which was also accepted as an e-mail thankfully, they went off to the thumbs up site and there they couldn't use Death’s name or New Death which caused Death to shake in anger. But Neo just used his own name and then tried creating a page for Death, but found that people had already take every possible typing of Death.</p> <p class="cnMyMjg3ZDI0NTRkMzQwZDZhY2ZkNmJhOTllNjY1Y2Jl">This was when Death stood and spoke in menacing voice as a scythe formed in his hands,"I'll be back!"</p> <p class="cnNlMGIyN2JmMTNlZDQ3NWJiYzU3YWMyMDIyOWRhZjkx">Before he could disappear, Neo jumped and grabbed him, "Oh slow down, you don't even know who has the name and even if you kill them you still won't be able to use it."</p> <p class="cnM4Y2FlNmFiNTdkMTQxOGE4YmY5YmY4ZmVkZWQ4MDJl">Death growled, giving up before moping back into his seat, "So the birdie one, hopefully that'll be easier?"</p> <p class="cnNhNmQwMTk1MzZiYjRlNjBhNDdlNjYzYjg2OTljM2M3">But sadly, Death didn't get his wish. The blue bird of hope crushed his dreams as they were unable to get his name so he had to settle for ‘New Deaths.’</p> <p class="cnMyYWQzNGMyZGRjOTQ1Y2Q5MTE1NWUyM2M1YWRiYjNk">"There, it wasn't exactly what you wanted but you now have your basic social media accounts, so I hope your murderous intent doesn't become action." Thinking about Death as he stewed arms crossed, Neo decided that he needed to distract him. "So, Death, what was the other thing you wanted me for, since I wasn't expecting you to want me to set up accounts for you.It doesn't feel as though that was the whole reason you brought me here?"</p> <p class="cnM1ZTQ4MmUxNjliYzQwYmFiNTkwZGY3MDZmYzI5Mzk1">Death stopped his feet taping and focused in on Neo with a blank face, "ow right, sorry I forgot, um right I think you need to concentrate on your academy’stests since those on top will be placed into Beacon's tournament and I need you in it, so win it. It'll also give you some good experience you sorely need.I'll probably grab sometime to teach you some lessons, though I don't quite know whenyet so yeah, enjoy and bye."</p> <p class="cnNhMzNkOTAxYmMxYzRlZGQ5Yzk2MTY5YzhiNzE2MjFh">Neo frowned as he said that but with a sudden chilly burst and slight cry of annoyance he was yanked out of the darkness and into the light that was pouring through the window. He groaned, he'd been a little excited to learn what he was going to be doing for the rest of his life but, as he went over his thoughts, he realised that if he was going to be trapped doing one thing as Death for life, he might not want to rush toward it. His thoughts turned a bit cheerier now that he'd been given more time to adjust and learn.</p> <p class="cnNjN2IzODVlMGRlMzQ2ZjQ5YzY0ZDI5MTBmZWI1ODRj">He jumped out of bed, put his clothes on,and went off to face the Demon. For the next four weeks he had to endure the hellish training that he wasn't lucky enough to avoid. He forgot what it was like to have a normal body as everything ached. He had more burns, broken bones, and hunger pains then he'd ever had in his life within those four weeks, mainly thanks to that damn fiery demon wrapped in a nice furry ball that wasTan.</p> <p class="cnM1M2EzZGU1MWI4ODQ1YmJiYmM4YzU0YWE3MDdmNDIw">Sure, Neo had better martial arts and proved it inthe first spar when he crushed her to her own surprise, and embarrassment. But then she called flame on and it was Neo who ran around the practise field, running for his life and getting to know the on-duty healers by name, most of their families names, and where they were born.</p> <p class="cnNkNTk5OGFjMDJiZDRmMTQ4YjFkY2RlNGIxN2U3ZTk2">Not only was it physically destroying, but Neo found out how white mana users were so useless in combat, as was far too slow a process, and Tan always had her blade resting up against his neck before he could finish. His telekinesis only worked so well. If there was anything around him to throw in the first place, Neo was finding it difficult to grab it in the heat of battle. And there was no way he was going to use his main weapon, it was only for an emergency. He once threw it at Tan and she turned it to ash almost instantly and was then subsequently beaten for his idiocy.</p> <p class="cnMzMmE3OWJiNTZmZjQ5MWZhNTMyNDRkNGIwMDgxYjcx">But he had learnt a lot and made a lot of progress in those four weeks. Now he was standing in the training fields with every student in his year, all looking excited asthe headmaster announced the tests, the tournament rules, and what was required of them.</p> </div>

Neo awaked a little while later, he opened his eyes and staredat a compacted earthen path. He was bouncing up and down, his guts pressured by something cool and hard. A voice spoke out above him, it was Bethany, "Hey, Gie, he's awake." Gie stopped before speaking in his new sophisticated voice "Neo, do you think you can walk?" "Hm, I don't know let's get give it a try." Gie crouched down and slowly let Neo down. Once Neo's feet had touched the ground, he stood up right causing all the blood to rush to his feet and making him feel light headed. After a few moments passed, Neo was fine, even if his eyes were drooping. Yawning, he looked around to see that they were in the dormitories area. Giewas still crouching down in front of Neo and started to speak. "Neo, I would like to thank you again for giving me back my voice and identity. It's I lost it." He said while touching his face. It made Neo shudder as what Neo assumed to be an unintelligent being and one that was built or created could communicate so well. It made him wondered how intelligent it was and if it was an AI of some kind. Neo thought and decided not to ask, 'if he wants to tell me, he can. I’m not going to pry too much, but I would like to know why he couldn't make his own face.' Gie’s face cracked into a smile, which sent more chills down Neo spine. "I didn't have the creativity to create more or make something. I got those stones placed on me asa joke. They were tired of seeing a blank face, so they just shoved those onto it for me and to their surprise I talked, but to their ignorance or arrogance they didn't think of improving my face to even see if they could increase my intelligence. So thank you Neo!" As Gie was talking, Neo felt that Gie had quite a bit of anger. Neo thought about it and found he had good reason to, 'It must be infuriating to have ' Neo patted Gie on the shoulder, "Well you’re here now, why don't you go off and have a vacation and live life and enjoy?" Gie seemed grateful even if he was stone and had little movement.Gie stood up, "Thank you, Neo, but not while I am on assignment. I think that'll be a good idea, though. I'll put in a request, I do have a lot of vacation time to use." Neo smiled while they continued toward their dorm, talking a little about Gie's long life, but it fell away as Gie seemed content to look around with new appreciation of everything. They made it back to their rooms a little while later and Neo wondered aloud, "So Gie what will you do now?" Gie, who was staring at him through the door, said, "I think I will sleep for a little bit to rest and recover my energy, but otherwise I might walk around a little and think." Neo nodded and saidbefore closing the door, "Sounds like a good idea, more people should do that. Good night Gie." Gie replied with a simple, "Goodnight." Neo was awoken when the surroundings around him changed, disrupting his sleep.As he opened his eyeshe found himself in a room with a black ceiling and black floor. There as on he knew that it was black was because there was a floating disco ball that was lighting up the area with several coloured lights. As the ball spun it glittered throughout the black room. A beat started to rise from aboom box, a flash came from the ceiling and a spot light lit up a still figure that stood with a finger pointing into the air and his right arm on his hip. As Neo overcame his bafflement, he noticed that the person was dressed in a glamorous 1970's disco fashion, with the ever-expanding trousers and colourful jacket. Before Neo could say anything the beat reached its crescendo and the song started. 'Then I get night fever, night fever We know how to do it' 'Ow damn, what hell have I been brought to?' Neo thought as he watched Death do poor imitations of disco moves.He did go through the Robot, the Bus Stop and more, but it was all a bit cringe worthy. But even Neo couldn't help but get in to the beat of the music and lost in the song, he even enjoyed watching the dancing. Once the song had ended Death had stopped dancing in front of Neo and asked, "So what do you think, any good?" Neo had no idea what to say, and after a while only managed to come up with a neutral, "Could use some more practice, but it was entertaining. Um so what was all that about?" Death looked at his clothes and the disco ball before speaking, "Got to live life in the now, not in the future." Neo knew that was a weird comment and asked,"Considering that the 1970's is not now, that might be a bit weird of a comment.” Death answered, "It was a about five minutes ago, and it always will be since it's in the present even now, otherwise would you know those dance moves and that song if it isn't the now?" "What?" Neo asked, then thought over what Death had said. He eventually got it, at least thought he did, but there were more important questions that came to mind "What's happened, it hasn't been a month yet?" "Ah yes, well two things really." Clicking his fingers, the lights, disco ball, beat box all disappeared. Sadly, he kept his disco clothing, but those things that disappeared were replaced with a desk, a computer, and a screen. At least He then wondered if his Mobile phone had more processing power then this thing. Death appeared in front of it, crouched over the desk watching the monitor, and sheepishly asked, "How do you deletethe search history?" Neo burst out laughing and looked at the screen finding it dull and bluer then it should be. His eyebrow rose, coughing Neo said, "So there are two ways to deal with this. One, you could chuck it since the history is attached to your computer and replace it with a new computer, preferablyfrom the modern era with a full complement of firewalls and antivirus programs, or …" Before Neo could suggest the second option the computer disappeared into a fiery hot hole. Neo assumed that it was vaporised. Death said, "Wait here I'll back soon," and disappeared in a puff of smoke. He returned about ten minutes later with a much better and sleeker computer. It had a bright and more colourful monitor, with a lit mouse and keyboard. And Death snobbishly said, "Better?" Neo smirked at Death’s weirdness, "Much, so do you have a power outlet or internet attachment?" "Nope," Death said. He clicked his fingers and themonitor and desktop started with no wires in it at all. Neo gave a short laugh, "That's convenient, not a single wire to get caught and then sort out." As the screen startedup Death asked, "So I found this place where people supposedly drowning in sorrows tell everyone about it. But before I can explore its sweet, sweet sorrows, I need to sign up. Also, what's an e ... email whatever that is." Neo tilted his head before speaking, "Which social media are you thinking of joining?" He ignored the sorrows comment. "You know that one with a blue birdie thing, and the thumbs up one.They seemed to have plenty of material to go through," Death said while eyeing up the Windows 10 start-up screen. "Right, you do know the rules of the internet and social media, right?" Neo said, a little worried what Death would do with the internet in his hands. He wondered if he should let this god-like being onto the internet. "There are rules? I thought it was the internet, everything and anything was allowed." Death said tilting his head. "It is, about as much as the laws allow in the country you're in. Even then there's ways around, not that I know anything about that, but it's more along the line of the unspoken rule. For a few examples, never challenge the internet because it'll win, never tell it to not to do something because it’ll go ahead and do it, never argue with the internet because a lot of it is trolling thus pointless to argue, and take everything you read with a few grains of salt and research the subject…." Neo was going to continue informing Death of the collective hive mind that is the internet, but he interrupted Neo before he could get into his tirade, "So how do I make an email?" Resigning himself to let Death trawl the internet, Neo showed him how to create an email. This is where things got a little sticky, since Death wanted his name sprawled across the internet. So, considering that was one of the hardest names to get seeing as it wasone of the easiest to think up, almost everything Neo typed in was rejected. With an obvious tick starting to show on Deaths face, Neo suggested that they use his name, New Death, since that was his name and position, and they both could use it, maybe. It would depend on if he could find away to use the internet. After Death’s acceptance of the new name, which was also accepted as an e-mail thankfully, they went off to the thumbs up site and there they couldn't use Death’s name or New Death which caused Death to shake in anger. But Neo just used his own name and then tried creating a page for Death, but found that people had already take every possible typing of Death. This was when Death stood and spoke in menacing voice as a scythe formed in his hands,"I'll be back!" Before he could disappear, Neo jumped and grabbed him, "Oh slow down, you don't even know who has the name and even if you kill them you still won't be able to use it." Death growled, giving up before moping back into his seat, "So the birdie one, hopefully that'll be easier?" But sadly, Death didn't get his wish. The blue bird of hope crushed his dreams as they were unable to get his name so he had to settle for ‘New Deaths.’ "There, it wasn't exactly what you wanted but you now have your basic social media accounts, so I hope your murderous intent doesn't become action." Thinking about Death as he stewed arms crossed, Neo decided that he needed to distract him. "So, Death, what was the other thing you wanted me for, since I wasn't expecting you to want me to set up accounts for you.It doesn't feel as though that was the whole reason you brought me here?" Death stopped his feet taping and focused in on Neo with a blank face, "ow right, sorry I forgot, um right I think you need to concentrate on your academy’stests since those on top will be placed into Beacon's tournament and I need you in it, so win it. It'll also give you some good experience you sorely need.I'll probably grab sometime to teach you some lessons, though I don't quite know whenyet so yeah, enjoy and bye." Neo frowned as he said that but with a sudden chilly burst and slight cry of annoyance he was yanked out of the darkness and into the light that was pouring through the window. He groaned, he'd been a little excited to learn what he was going to be doing for the rest of his life but, as he went over his thoughts, he realised that if he was going to be trapped doing one thing as Death for life, he might not want to rush toward it. His thoughts turned a bit cheerier now that he'd been given more time to adjust and learn. He jumped out of bed, put his clothes on,and went off to face the Demon. For the next four weeks he had to endure the hellish training that he wasn't lucky enough to avoid. He forgot what it was like to have a normal body as everything ached. He had more burns, broken bones, and hunger pains then he'd ever had in his life within those four weeks, mainly thanks to that damn fiery demon wrapped in a nice furry ball that wasTan. Sure, Neo had better martial arts and proved it inthe first spar when he crushed her to her own surprise, and embarrassment. But then she called flame on and it was Neo who ran around the practise field, running for his life and getting to know the on-duty healers by name, most of their families names, and where they were born. Not only was it physically destroying, but Neo found out how white mana users were so useless in combat, as was far too slow a process, and Tan always had her blade resting up against his neck before he could finish. His telekinesis only worked so well. If there was anything around him to throw in the first place, Neo was finding it difficult to grab it in the heat of battle. And there was no way he was going to use his main weapon, it was only for an emergency. He once threw it at Tan and she turned it to ash almost instantly and was then subsequently beaten for his idiocy. But he had learnt a lot and made a lot of progress in those four weeks. Now he was standing in the training fields with every student in his year, all looking excited asthe headmaster announced the tests, the tournament rules, and what was required of them.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM3NWU2MmEwZDU4YTQwZGU5YTAyMzYyMmRmZGU4Njkw">Alyssa closed the door to Svotty’s office, stepped over one body, moved to the desk, and sighed. Was it a bad sign that she didn’t feel ill anymore? When she had killed the two in her home, she had felt queasy. Not just queasy, but she had actually thrown up. Now, even looking at the mangled body lying on the floor, Alyssa didn’t feel much but exhaustion. She had had a bit of stomach churning ten minutes ago before Tenebrael had shown herself. Now? Nothing.</p> <p class="cnNkNTM0MjcwYTgwNDRiMTFhMDM1ZWE4MjVmYWM3ZGVi">Things had gotten out of hand.</p> <p class="cnM2MmMzZWQ1MTRmOTRkNGI5OTNlMzFiYTRiYTIwYzU1">So drastically far out of hand that, even though she had experienced every moment of it, she had no clue how she wound up where she was.</p> <p class="cnMzNzZjZjA1NzZhYTQ3MGE5ZDQwYTI3ZDQ0M2Y3MTNi">Too much acting. Too much bluffing. It was exhausting. All she had wanted with her evening was to sit around the inn and test out some magic. Now here she was, sitting in the basement of a brothel whose proprietor she had murdered. Murder? Was it actually murder? She hadn’t been in immediate danger, but keeping herself from being sold surely counted as self defense. Or was it all semantics. Did this world—This city have self defense laws?</p> <p class="cnM0MzY3ZDJmZmUxZTQzZmY5ZjY2MTQ5NGFhM2VhNjhi">Her list of things to learn was drastically exploding to an unreasonable size.</p> <p class="cnMxZjM1NmQzOGRmMTQ0MzNhMDg1NDc4Y2ZjZmUwZTZm">Shaking her head, Alyssa knelt down and quashed her feelings of guilt. Not guilt over killing him, but of what she was about to do. Svotty wasn’t here. Just a body. Tenebrael had taken his soul, something she could confirm just by looking around for the large pig. He was well and truly gone and she couldn’t afford to let his affluence go to waste. Patting down his body, she quickly found something. A brown pouch. Two flat pieces of some kind of leather stitched together to make a purse. It clanked as she picked it up. Looking inside, she smiled. Coins jangled together within. The same bar-like money that she had received from Yzhemal, though there was far more than she had been paid. Several of the coins were flat gold pieces. Altus, if she remembered correctly. Lots of silver medi and a handful of bronze prav.</p> <p class="cnMyYjhjYmNmZTQ3ZTQxOTM4ZmRkY2RkMDA4YmZjZmIy">At least that was something. She still had only a vague idea of the value of this world’s money, but it should get her a single room in a moderately well-off inn on the other side of the city. But there was probably more in the room. If the working girls were really going to stay and carry on their same job, they would probably need funds to keep going. But there was probably more elsewhere in the brothel. The day’s earnings probably wouldn’t be down here. They could use that. With her guilt further assuaged, Alyssa pulled open the drawers of the desk.</p> <p class="cnNmN2I4NGFhNjg1ODQ4NzFiODAzOWM1NmEyOGI5MTdi">But had to pause as someone knocked on the door.</p> <p class="cnMxM2Y4NmNhODY3MjRiYmJiYmE4Mzc1ZWJhM2VjODVk">The sudden sound, even as light and dainty as it was, made Alyssa jump. It actually took her a moment to realize just who was likely on the other side of the door. Once she did, she wasn’t sure if she tried to calm down, but couldn’t help the thin layer of sweat from forming on the palms of her hands.</p> <p class="cnNkZmZlNjA4ZTZlNDRmNmQ5Yjk2Mjg4Y2QwMDI1NDYy">With the chair still pinned under Svotty’s body, Alyssa just sat on the edge of the desk, shotgun lowered but ready, just in case. “Come in,” she said.</p> <p class="cnNkNWYwN2Y5YTU2NjQ0NmJiYjdjMDEyODBiZWQzMjNi">The beautiful woman—the mimic stepped into the room. She paused at the body in the doorway, looking down at it and giggling ever so softly. Careful to step over it, she moved over to just in front of Alyssa. The other three followed her in. The elf, the bee, and the lizard. They lined up in front of the desk, keeping a fair distance from Alyssa, thankfully. Not that she was nervous, but… well, she might be a little nervous. The lizard looked weak with her scrawny arms and blunted claws, but the bee somewhat unnerved Alyssa. Though Alyssa noted that the elf had her hands on the lizard’s arms, leading her along.</p> <p class="cnNjNTA1ZGJmOTQ2NDQyNjBhNzMyOTA4NDQ3MGE0MmRi">“First, before anything else, I’d like to say that if I say something that offends you, I’m sorry. It isn’t my intention. The only monster I have ever interacted with was an injured harpy a few weeks ago.”</p> <p class="cnM3YWIyMTJlNTg4MTQ2NTQ5MTY4MTU1ZTY2ZjEwM2Q3">“My my, how civilized for a human.”</p> <p class="cnM1MmIzYzMwNjQ0ZTQ3ZmNiNjk2MGExZmQ0Y2YzYWIy">“I’m Alyssa,” she said, choosing not to respond to the mimic’s minor barb. Being monsters who had been slaves—sexual slaves at that—to a human, they probably weren’t overly fond of her in general. And that wasn’t even taking into account whatever it was that had people and monsters hating each other. “You are..?”</p> <p class="cnM0ZDY5ZTY4YzU1MzQzNTliZTZmZGQ2YjM0YWE2NjFi">“Ufufu~ Call me Kasita.”</p> <p class="cnNlZmU2NDQwMDQ0YzRmZGI4NzFkZTE2N2ViODA0YjY0">“Kasita. I’ll remember that,” she said as she turned to the elf. “And you?”</p> <p class="cnM0N2Y2M2M1OGM3NjQ3MmI5ODJlOTZmZmE4M2EzODYx">“E-Enrique.”</p> <p class="cnNhOWQyODA3YWQ0ZDQxMjJhYjdiMWVlNWQ0MWEzMzYw">“Enrique,” Alyssa said, repeating the name for a bit of affirmation. She almost told the elf that it was a good name, but stopped herself. What if it was a human given name? Or what if it meant something in some other language? Best to remain silent and play it safe. Turning to the bee-girl, Alyssa hesitated. “Can you speak?” With a mouth that looked like it needed hinges to open, she wasn’t actually sure that the bee could talk. She hadn’t so far either in this room or back in the larger room.</p> <p class="cnMzNzg5ZDNhNWM4ZjQwODA4YWJlMTkyM2U4ODhlMzc1">The wings twitched a little, as did the lone antennae. “Can. Speak.”</p> <p class="cnNmZjQ2YmYyMTBhZjRhZGM5MGQzYzRmZDNjOGZkNDdk">Alyssa jumped in her seat, eliciting another giggle from Kasita. Ignoring it, she focused on the words. They were… stilted. But sounded like… When Alyssa had been a child, her family had a large floor fan. She and her brother quickly learned that if they talked into it, their words came out all chopped up. Hearing it from the bee-girl wasn’t scary, just unexpected.</p> <p class="cnMzOTMyNzRiODk0MjQ3ODE4NzBmMjQzODQ4NzYzYWM5">“Name. Pho.”</p> <p class="cnM3OWE3NmM5MmU5YjRhNWM4ZmM0N2NjZjIzNDk2NjA0">As with the others, Alyssa repeated the name. “Pho. I apologize if your name also includes the vibration. My throat can’t make that noise.”</p> <p class="cnM4NDA5NDEwYjVhZTQxNTU5ZjI1NzMxY2Y2NTAyMzI4">“Un. Necess. Essary.”</p> <p class="cnMwOWNiOWYyYmE1ZDQ0Y2Y4MjExYzJkZDc1ZGMzYzQx">“Good to know.” With another nod, Alyssa looked to the final person in the room. Unfortunately, the lizard didn’t make a move to respond. Was she even aware of what was going on around her?</p> <p class="cnMwZjgzNjBlZGMxODRlOGE5ZDFhZmVlYTVlNmRlZmRk">“Rizk,” Kasita supplied. Her smile turned to a frown, but it didn’t do so the normal way. There was a slight flicker around her mouth, not unlike a television with momentary poor reception. In one instant, she smiled. The next, she frowned. “Poor girl. She used to be so full of <span style="font-style: italic">fire</span>.”</p> <p class="cnM1NDA3OWE0N2Q3YjQwNjk5NTA2OTZiZDA4YTA4MmNj">“Is she alright?” Alyssa asked with a nod toward the lizard—Rizk. She already knew the answer. No one who acted like that was alright. At least not a human. Maybe it was normal for a lizard. Probably not, though.</p> <p class="cnMzZTdiYTdhN2Y5MzQzMjk5Y2U1ZThmMjRlODYyMDg5">“Regrettably, no. The years here have not been kind to her. She has been beaten down and broken.”</p> <p class="cnNjODZlMTAzYjMzMDRmOWU5NGY0MDM5YmM5MDU3YzNi">A deep scowl crossed Alyssa’s face. “Will she recover? <span style="font-style: italic">Can</span> she recover?”</p> <p class="cnMzMTA5N2YwOGI5ZDRhMGNhMzUxYmI1MzgzZDNkYTNj">The mimic hummed in thought, glancing back over her shoulder. “Perhaps if… <span style="font-style: italic">exposure</span> to you humans were minimized, her mental health might improve.”</p> <p class="cnM4YjUwZjY4NDY2NDRiZDU4ZDE4ZjZlZGRlYjVkMWI4">Alyssa nodded. As she did, her eyes flicked to the heavy chains around the arms of three of the four in front of her. Since they weren’t attached to anything, they had to be more symbolic than useful. Maybe they were somehow magical, but they looked entirely mundane. Like something one would use to secure a heavy load to a truck. “Can those be removed? I can’t imagine they’re helping her state.”</p> <p class="cnMwMmI5NjdlNTFiYTRmOTU5MTMxMmViMjE2MTc0MTUx">“Her bindings?” That was the elf. Her voice was deeper than Alyssa had expected, but smooth. She stepped forward, eyes wide. “You’ll remove them? M-Mine too?”</p> <p class="cnM1NGEwZGM2YTAwZDQxODA4ZTM1NTFlODdiNDVmMWY2">Nodding again, Alyssa held out her hand. “Let me see?”</p> <p class="cnM1ZTBjNjJiNWU2YzQ3YWE5ZDJjM2MwYWYyNmQwNjIy">The elf hesitated for a moment, drawing her hand to her chest. Patiently, Alyssa remained as she was, offering what she hoped was an encouraging smile. It worked. The elf took another step forward and slowly stretched out her hand.</p> <p class="cnM3OGY3MTQ5MDdkODQ3OTA4MGQ5YTA3OWQ0MmVmOTMx">The chain was heavy. Extraordinarily so. A few metal links dangled from the main manacle. Just those weighed half as much as a bowling ball. And the lizard had several more links on each chain than the elf. The bee, Pho, had only the cuffs around her thin limbs, no links, but the cuffs were probably weighty on their own. Yet they all moved around like it was nothing. Maybe a little sluggish, but not even half as much as Alyssa would if she had been forced into those things. How strong were these monsters? Had they started out this strong? Or had carrying this weight made them stronger?</p> <p class="cnNjZTg1NzE0YjFhZjQ1ZTg5ODM1MmNlZWFiYjFkMWNh">A chill ran down her spine. Just a slight shudder down to her toes at what these four might be capable of unfettered. As bad as she felt about their chains, it was almost a relief to note that she wouldn’t be able to open the manacles.</p> <p class="cnM2ZTE4NjBmZmFmNjQ0NGVhYmE0OWY4MzZhNDU1MGM1">“Looks like this needs a key. I didn’t exactly have a chance to ask Svotty where he kept valuable things before I killed him, so unless you know…” Alyssa trailed off at the elf’s expression. It was like a grown adult who moved into their own apartment only for them to find out that Santa wasn’t real when no presents appeared under their Christmas tree. And also got a phone call five minutes later saying that their parents had died in a horrific accident. “I’ll look for it,” Alyssa said, moving back around the desk. “It’s probably here somewhere. Unless…” Again, she paused before she could rummage through the desk, looking up to the mimic. “You can turn into anything?”</p> <p class="cnMxOTY2NDE5M2NiMjRmOGQ5MzA2OTdkOGU3OTkxZTJm">The mimic quirked an eyebrow. “You’re odd for a human. Promising to remove our bindings? Speaking cordially? <span style="font-style: italic">Helping</span> us?”</p> <p class="cnM2ZjAzZWRmMTcwMjQ5ZTVhZjEzYTUyZWZjYjA3YzUw">“I dislike slavery. The humans upstairs said that they wanted to stay. If they don’t leave, I’m not going to let myself lose sleep over it. But you didn’t say that you wanted to stay. You said that you <span style="font-style: italic">couldn’t</span> leave. I don’t like that.”</p> <p class="cnNjMDMwNDY0MzgxNjQ2MGE5MWMzNmQ3NTkwYTVjZWE2">“So it is pity then?”</p> <p class="cnNlOGYzNmY2NGNjYzQyYmZhMWQ2NmQwODkwYTZiYjM1">“It’s help. I don’t know if you want to accept it. Maybe not. My plan might get us all killed for all I know. I’ll ask you all what you think before.” Well, if it looked like it would come to that, she would probably abandon the monsters without hesitation. She had a feeling that Tenebrael, as much as that angel liked her messing with the book, wouldn’t hesitate to eat her soul if she did end up dying.</p> <p class="cnNmNDg5MWFiZTMwMTQ5NzQ5YjUzZjJiZTJkYTE4MGEy">Now that she was considering it, she couldn’t see the monsters’ souls anymore. None of them had any caricatures hovering around them. The spell must have worn off.</p> <p class="cnNmNThmOGM5MTRlZDQyN2Q5NjczYWNmZTE0OTA5MWJl">Shaking her head, Alyssa focused on the mimic in front of her. “Before that, however, you can turn into a teacup? Or anything? Can’t you turn into a key?”</p> <p class="cnMzYTdjNTYwMmVlNDQzNjY5ZjY2ODFiZTlkODc3ODYx">“Ah, well, unfortunately, I can’t turn into something I haven’t seen before.”</p> <p class="cnM0YzYyMzhjYTdjYzRiMzg4MmU5ZDAxYmY5ZDRiMmQz">“And Svotty was careful to keep the key out of your sight.” That explained why she lacked the manacles that the others had. That and her apparent weakness. And, if she could turn into a teacup, she would presumably be able to escape from any chains, but so long as she never saw the key, she wouldn’t be able to free her comrades. “But… I am a possibility?” Alyssa couldn’t help but ask. She was curious to see the mimic’s abilities in action.</p> <p class="cnM4NWQxOTRmYWYxNjRkY2VhOGY0MTEwZjUwMTU3ZTk3">Instead of responding, a shimmer crossed over her form. Her alabaster skin darkened to a moderate tan and her golden hair dulled and browned. The shape of her body shifted as well. Muscles grew over her lean and lithe form as she grew an extra inch or two. Her frankly absurd chest shrank down to a far more reasonable size. For a few moments, she continued wearing her sleeveless evening dress. Alyssa made special note of one difference. Where Alyssa had a series of tribal tattoos running from her shoulder down to her elbow, the mimic’s arms remained bare. That area quickly became covered as her dress stretched out into Alyssa’s long sleeved shirt.</p> <p class="cnNhZTQ2NTFiYzM0MTQxNzk5NmE2YmIxOTNlYTVhMmMy">Soon enough, Alyssa had a mirror standing before her. The whole process took only a few seconds. Thirty, tops. But the more she stared at herself, the more Alyssa felt unnerved. It was just a subtle drop in her stomach like a roller coaster dipping. The problem was that it was just like looking in a mirror. Her hair was slightly longer on her left side—by design, not accident—but the mimic’s hair was longer on the <span style="font-style: italic">right</span> side. It got even worse when the mimic started inspecting her body. She ran her hands over her face, chest, back… The simple curiosity on her face—<span style="font-style: italic">Alyssa’s face</span>—as she cupped her butt actually made Alyssa shudder.</p> <p class="cnMyOWRlYTFhZTE4MTQ1ODc4NDk1YTgxZmM1OWY0ZTkz">“You have a nice body. Stronger than I expected.”</p> <p class="cnM5ODhiMjRjZmM4NDQ1NDBhNGM2OTJmYWUyZTU1NDk0">Which raised the question of how the mimic knew what her musculature was like while not knowing about the tattoo. A mistake? Or maybe there were some nuances to the magic that Alyssa didn’t understand.</p> <p class="cnM5OWE2MTM2ZDU3YjQzNTg5NmMyZmRhMTA2YzJmZjhj">But hearing her own voice speak only compounded the unnerving problem. “This is a lot stranger than I thought it would be. And, <span style="font-style: italic">ugh</span>, is my hair really that bad?” Alyssa ran her own fingers through her own hair, grimacing at the feel of grease. “I need a shower.”</p> <p class="cnNiNDVjYWQ3ZmZlYTQ5MWM5YmExMTc3NWFkNzMzOGE2">“Ufu~ Indeed.”</p> <p class="cnMyNWRkYzA1Mjc0NjQ0MDNiM2ExZjA2M2FkNjU5OTEz">Alyssa did not giggle like that. Hearing herself do so… she shuddered. In doing so, she blinked. “I don’t suppose you would be willing to return to normal.” In the one second that she had her eyes closed, Kasita reverted to her normal form. “Thank you. That was much faster going back.”</p> <p class="cnM0MzFhMmM5MzJhMjQxOGE4MDZkMjkzMTg1YzgwNjU4">“I am quite used to this shape. Men find it pleasing. Easier to twist around my fingers.”</p> <p class="cnM5YTczZDFiMDNjNzRmYTRiNmFhZmM3MWQxNGNhOTM2">“Right.” Looking away from the monster, Alyssa focused on the group as a whole. Only half focused. At the same time, she started pulling open desk drawers. Ostensibly, she was looking for the key to their manacles. And, despite her momentary concerns about their strength, she would hand it over without hesitation should she come across it. However, she hadn’t had a chance to search the desk for herself yet. If she found something else that looked valuable, useful, or simply interesting that wouldn’t be obvious as having been Svotty’s, she wouldn’t hesitate to pocket it.</p> <p class="cnMyOWYxYzY1ZmY0MTRlMDU4OWZlZWI2MThkYzZmNjJl">“My plan,” Alyssa continued, “is to walk you out of the city. Nice and simple.” Was incense valuable? Probably. Unless it was illegal. Were certain drugs illegal? There was so much that probably counted as common knowledge for other people that she just didn’t know. But spotting another, much larger bag of money, she couldn’t help but smile. That would be handy. She doubted that she would be considered wealthy, but she should be able to buy time to get situated in the city.</p> <p class="cnNiMTYyZDhlMjZiMDRlNDFiODQ1YmRmZGYzZDdiNzg3">“Walk us out? How—Ah… I see.”</p> <p class="cnM2ODdmZTI5NTUxYjQyZDNiYmMxNzIxYmE1NDA0NWIw">“Yep. If anyone has a problem with you, I’ll just tell them that you’re slaves I’m selling to some magical researcher outside the city.” Would that work? Honestly, she wasn’t sure. She had seen a few elves around, in chains of course. If there were laws about taking them in and out of the city that she didn’t know about, there would be hiccups.</p> <p class="cnM4OWNkNjg4YjhmMTQzOGJiYWZjZDkyN2EwMWUzOGEy">Though, now that she thought about it, the mimic could pretend to be a human and walk the others out. No need for Alyssa to get involved at all. As soon as she realized that, she looked to Kasita. “Or, could you walk the others out? Pretend to be a human slave owner? I’m sure the others would be more comfortable with you rather than another human calling them slaves.”</p> <p class="cnM3ZGZjNjU3NDVlNTRiYzViMTcwNGI4ODU5NWQ1YzVl">The elf nodded twice, not hiding her eagerness for the revised plan in the slightest. But Kasita giggled again. “That could be possible.”</p> <p class="cnM4MjNmNDY0NGNmMTQyYTQ5MTYyMzRkZmMxMmQ0YjQ2">“I’m sensing a but…”</p> <p class="cnM2Yzc0Yjc3NTMwMDQ3ZGM4MzRjNjY0MzA0MmNlMTc3">“But, while I might be able to walk out, that’s only because you humans rarely look twice at one another. Rarely being the key word. There remains a slight chance that they check to see if I am one. Which, as you might expect, wouldn’t be fun for us.”</p> <p class="cnM4ZDFhOGQ2NDdjMDQ0YWViY2U3NTg1NDM3NDBlYjlm">“There are ways to do that?”</p> <p class="cnNhNzI3ZjVjYTEzYTQ5YWY4Y2UxZTQ2MGZjMThlMjY0">“A few monsters, such as myself, can disguise themselves as human. There are a handful of spells that were designed to reveal such creatures.”</p> <p class="cnM1YTE4NzAzNzYwZDQzY2FhYzJhZGQxNTI5NzVmOGJh">Alyssa nodded. That made sense. If there was some sort of war between humans and monsters, weeding out infiltrators would be an imperative. “My original plan then, unless you see something wrong with that as well?”</p> <p class="cnMwNTkwZmM3NWI4NzQzYTY4NDc1NTUwNmE4ZmQwM2Ux">“Ufufu~ You would know more about human reactions to your plan than I would.”</p> <p class="cnMwMzM3YjM2YzU2MDQ2MDRiNzk0Yzc2NTYxODUyOGJh">“You would be surprised,” Alyssa mumbled as she pulled open a second drawer. There was a notebook inside, some kind of ledger. It had long lists of names followed by numbers that were presumably dates and monetary amounts. Whether that was money spent or money owed, she didn’t know. Whatever the case, she snapped the book shut and tucked it back where she had found it. The names meant nothing to her and it could tie her back to Svotty. Though, in replacing it, she found something a little more immediately useful.</p> <p class="cnM1NWUwMmNkYTdhNzQzNTA5ODVkMjY4MjI1MzE0ZmE4">“Keys!” Her exclamation got everyone to look up. Even Rizk turned her eyes to Alyssa’s direction, even if she didn’t react much beyond that. There was a large iron ring with a whole set of keys attached to it. The keys weren’t modern. Each one looked like the stereotypical old-fashioned key common to cartoons or movies. Apparently there was one thing Hollywood got right. Two of them were overly large. They wouldn’t fit in the relatively tiny manacles. Door keys, perhaps. However, one looked just right. The shade of the iron even matched the metal around their wrists. “Enrique, we’ll find out if this is the right key if you would be so kind as to lend me your wrist.”</p> <p class="cnM3MjJjOTU4MjJkMTRlYzg5NzE0YWFiYjU1YzM4Mjc1">This time, the elf didn’t hesitate in the slightest as she practically threw her arm in Alyssa’s face. Her overexcited stare was tempered with a giddy sort of nervousness as she eyed the key. The whole room, even Kasita, went utterly silent as Alyssa placed the key to the keyhole. It fit. A good sign. When she turned the key, a loud click shattered the silence. Enrique stared at her wrist in complete disbelief as the manacle fell from her wrist and landed with a thud against the desk.</p> <p class="cnNjNzFiNjFiMjMxNTRhOThiZjRlMzUwNTcyYWJkMmZk">“It’s off.” Her voice was a whisper. Barely loud enough for Alyssa to hear from only an arm’s length away. Water welled in her eyes. After a few blinks, she started crying.</p> <p class="cnMxMGI2YjcyMWQ0NTQ5NGU5Y2RlNWQwN2MwMzY0NGZi">Alyssa actually felt a pang of guilt. When she had first realized just how strong the elf had to be, she had thought for just an instant that it would be better to leave them chained up. Seeing just how happy the elf was almost made Alyssa cry a little as well.</p> <p class="cnNkNTY3YWJmZDIwZDRiYTI4N2EyZjVhNzkzZDJhYjMw">Almost. She wasn’t that sentimental a person.</p> <p class="cnNhNjMwN2JkM2NmZDQ5MjdhN2U2OWU2Y2UxMGQ0Zjgx">But it made what she had to say next all the worse. “Unfortunately,” Alyssa said slow and soft, “we should probably leave them on.”</p> <p class="cnNiMjkyYTRkYTJmMTRhMWZhYWJhYWY4OGM1ZWNiZWQ4">“Wha… What?” She blinked twice, further pushing tears out of her eyes, before her gaze hardened. “What do you mean?”</p> <p class="cnM3N2I2OWNlYTExMjQwMGU5YzQ1ZjlmYzEzMzdmYjY3">“She’s right.”</p> <p class="cnM4NDk4NTkyMzY4NTRjOTQ5MTEwZjlkNzZiM2I1YmQ1"><span style="font-style: italic">Thank you Kasita</span>, Alyssa thought as the mimic came to her defense.</p> <p class="cnM4MjNkMGE2ZWJlODQwZDM4YTA0ODZmNDVlZTlkMTMx">“If we’re to pose as slaves to get out of the city, we need to look the part. Luckily, that isn’t too hard. We have <span style="font-style: italic">a lot</span> of experience.” As she spoke, identical manacles formed around Kasita’s wrists. That wasn’t the only change. Her glossy golden hair shimmered and vanished as white curly fluff started growing out of her head. Her dress and body underwent a similar change. Soon enough, except her humanoid face and her hands and feet which became hooves, she was covered in a thick wool. Her eyes, which had been normal human eyes, remained mostly the same except for the pupils. The black spots widened to long horizontal bars.</p> <p class="cnNmZTQ0YzYzYmRkODRmOTc4NGNiNjMzNGUzNWVhZmZk">“You are a sheep,” Alyssa blurted out.</p> <p class="cnNkNTE5MjkwODFiNDQ3Nzk5YWVmNDkyZWVjYTdhNjRl">“Ufu~ Indeed. A human might wonder why you’re headed out of the city to sell someone who looks human. Selling another monster? They’ll be glad to see us go.”</p> <p class="cnMwOTMxYTIwMTM5YTQ0MjE4ZTUyMDI2OTE2NDg0MGEz">Frowning, Alyssa glanced between the four monsters in front of her. Why did they all look so human? Even with the wool fur, the scales, or the bee’s wings and abdomen, they all had the silhouette of a human. From even a mild distance, she could easily have mistaken them for normal people. Back home, none of them would have looked out of place at the local comic and costume conventions.</p> <p class="cnNkOTgxNjIyZDE1NTQ2MjM5NzJkNjc5Yzg2OTg4N2E5">There were some extenuating factors. This was a brothel. A brothel that catered to humans, presumably. The people who had captured or sold these monsters wouldn’t have sold a truly monstrous monster to a brothel. They needed to be appealing to human men. The harpy had been much the same as well, but the harpy was a classical monster that looked roughly how Alyssa expected one to look. She hadn’t even thought twice over its appearance. Did all monsters look like a jumble of human and animal parts?</p> <p class="cnNmMTY3ZjNhMmJkYzQ3NjdhNjFhNWUyNmUzNjk4ZmU0">Well, no. Enrique was an elf. Tall, slender, very Tolkien. And Kasita… probably didn’t look like an unearthly beautiful woman in whatever her natural state was. Alyssa was almost afraid to ask what that form was. Maybe after they left the city and were about to part ways, she could ask. For now, she would let her be.</p> <p class="cnMyMTEwZWFiNzEwNTRjMjRhNDcyMzNhY2RiMjdlZWJl">“Enrique. I’ll tell you what. You can hold onto the key. That way, you know that you can take off your manacles whenever you want. Though…” They were all naked. The chained elves she had seen earlier had been wearing clothing. Not anything exquisite, but clothes nonetheless. Enrique wouldn’t be able to hold the keys if she were nude—were there laws against public nudity? “Are there some rags we can have you all wear? I don’t think marching you around the city naked would be the best idea.”</p> <p class="cnNiNjVjZDM5YzBhNzQ1MDlhOWYxYzkwYWUxYjIyZDhi">“There certainly are. If you are ready to depart, I’ll show you where. Ufu~ I must admit, I am a little excited to get out of here.”</p> <p class="cnM1YTBmMThiYzM5NzQ5ZDBhY2YyNDllZTZkNWI5Mjll">Alyssa nodded, looking around. She hadn’t fully searched the desk, but she got a few bags of money and really, what else would there be that was valuable? And she should leave <span style="font-style: italic">something</span> for the women who were staying, even if she thought they were idiots for doing so. Pulling the purple cloak from her backpack, she squeezed it into one of the desk drawers. Maybe it wasn’t the best gift. Oh well. She had nothing else she was willing to give at the moment. Besides, she really didn’t want to stay longer than necessary. Alyssa did pick up the three empty shotgun shells that were lying on the floor. No real reason why. They were useless to her now. It wasn’t like they could be reused. But they were hard evidence that she had been here. No one else in the entire world would have a shotgun.</p> <p class="cnMzOTUwZmJkODJjMDQ2OGE4ZjljYmZlOTE3NDE0YTk2">Though, now that she thought about it, the shot embedded in the bodies might be telling as well. Nothing she could do about that though.</p> <p class="cnNkMmEwMmY0M2ZjMDQwNjY4N2M4NzBiYmMwZDVjOWJm">“Alright.” Alyssa held out the keys for Enrique to take. All of them. If there was some locked door, whoever remained would just have to break it down.</p> <p class="cnM4OTkwZTBkY2EyMTQ4ZTI4ZGFmN2I1NTkzYWQwNjc3">The elf stared for a moment before taking the keys in an almost reverent manner. “Thank you.”</p> <p class="cnMwNzVjYjBhMWJkYzQ0Yjc5ZTFiY2MwMDJmNmQxOWEx">Before Enrique could break down crying again, Alyssa smiled. “Let’s get out of here, shall we?”</p> </div>

Alyssa closed the door to Svotty’s office, stepped over one body, moved to the desk, and sighed. Was it a bad sign that she didn’t feel ill anymore? When she had killed the two in her home, she had felt queasy. Not just queasy, but she had actually thrown up. Now, even looking at the mangled body lying on the floor, Alyssa didn’t feel much but exhaustion. She had had a bit of stomach churning ten minutes ago before Tenebrael had shown herself. Now? Nothing. Things had gotten out of hand. So drastically far out of hand that, even though she had experienced every moment of it, she had no clue how she wound up where she was. Too much acting. Too much bluffing. It was exhausting. All she had wanted with her evening was to sit around the inn and test out some magic. Now here she was, sitting in the basement of a brothel whose proprietor she had murdered. Murder? Was it actually murder? She hadn’t been in immediate danger, but keeping herself from being sold surely counted as self defense. Or was it all semantics. Did this world—This city have self defense laws? Her list of things to learn was drastically exploding to an unreasonable size. Shaking her head, Alyssa knelt down and quashed her feelings of guilt. Not guilt over killing him, but of what she was about to do. Svotty wasn’t here. Just a body. Tenebrael had taken his soul, something she could confirm just by looking around for the large pig. He was well and truly gone and she couldn’t afford to let his affluence go to waste. Patting down his body, she quickly found something. A brown pouch. Two flat pieces of some kind of leather stitched together to make a purse. It clanked as she picked it up. Looking inside, she smiled. Coins jangled together within. The same bar-like money that she had received from Yzhemal, though there was far more than she had been paid. Several of the coins were flat gold pieces. Altus, if she remembered correctly. Lots of silver medi and a handful of bronze prav. At least that was something. She still had only a vague idea of the value of this world’s money, but it should get her a single room in a moderately well-off inn on the other side of the city. But there was probably more in the room. If the working girls were really going to stay and carry on their same job, they would probably need funds to keep going. But there was probably more elsewhere in the brothel. The day’s earnings probably wouldn’t be down here. They could use that. With her guilt further assuaged, Alyssa pulled open the drawers of the desk. But had to pause as someone knocked on the door. The sudden sound, even as light and dainty as it was, made Alyssa jump. It actually took her a moment to realize just who was likely on the other side of the door. Once she did, she wasn’t sure if she tried to calm down, but couldn’t help the thin layer of sweat from forming on the palms of her hands. With the chair still pinned under Svotty’s body, Alyssa just sat on the edge of the desk, shotgun lowered but ready, just in case. “Come in,” she said. The beautiful woman—the mimic stepped into the room. She paused at the body in the doorway, looking down at it and giggling ever so softly. Careful to step over it, she moved over to just in front of Alyssa. The other three followed her in. The elf, the bee, and the lizard. They lined up in front of the desk, keeping a fair distance from Alyssa, thankfully. Not that she was nervous, but… well, she might be a little nervous. The lizard looked weak with her scrawny arms and blunted claws, but the bee somewhat unnerved Alyssa. Though Alyssa noted that the elf had her hands on the lizard’s arms, leading her along. “First, before anything else, I’d like to say that if I say something that offends you, I’m sorry. It isn’t my intention. The only monster I have ever interacted with was an injured harpy a few weeks ago.” “My my, how civilized for a human.” “I’m Alyssa,” she said, choosing not to respond to the mimic’s minor barb. Being monsters who had been slaves—sexual slaves at that—to a human, they probably weren’t overly fond of her in general. And that wasn’t even taking into account whatever it was that had people and monsters hating each other. “You are..?” “Ufufu~ Call me Kasita.” “Kasita. I’ll remember that,” she said as she turned to the elf. “And you?” “E-Enrique.” “Enrique,” Alyssa said, repeating the name for a bit of affirmation. She almost told the elf that it was a good name, but stopped herself. What if it was a human given name? Or what if it meant something in some other language? Best to remain silent and play it safe. Turning to the bee-girl, Alyssa hesitated. “Can you speak?” With a mouth that looked like it needed hinges to open, she wasn’t actually sure that the bee could talk. She hadn’t so far either in this room or back in the larger room. The wings twitched a little, as did the lone antennae. “Can. Speak.” Alyssa jumped in her seat, eliciting another giggle from Kasita. Ignoring it, she focused on the words. They were… stilted. But sounded like… When Alyssa had been a child, her family had a large floor fan. She and her brother quickly learned that if they talked into it, their words came out all chopped up. Hearing it from the bee-girl wasn’t scary, just unexpected. “Name. Pho.” As with the others, Alyssa repeated the name. “Pho. I apologize if your name also includes the vibration. My throat can’t make that noise.” “Un. Necess. Essary.” “Good to know.” With another nod, Alyssa looked to the final person in the room. Unfortunately, the lizard didn’t make a move to respond. Was she even aware of what was going on around her? “Rizk,” Kasita supplied. Her smile turned to a frown, but it didn’t do so the normal way. There was a slight flicker around her mouth, not unlike a television with momentary poor reception. In one instant, she smiled. The next, she frowned. “Poor girl. She used to be so full of fire.” “Is she alright?” Alyssa asked with a nod toward the lizard—Rizk. She already knew the answer. No one who acted like that was alright. At least not a human. Maybe it was normal for a lizard. Probably not, though. “Regrettably, no. The years here have not been kind to her. She has been beaten down and broken.” A deep scowl crossed Alyssa’s face. “Will she recover? Can she recover?” The mimic hummed in thought, glancing back over her shoulder. “Perhaps if… exposure to you humans were minimized, her mental health might improve.” Alyssa nodded. As she did, her eyes flicked to the heavy chains around the arms of three of the four in front of her. Since they weren’t attached to anything, they had to be more symbolic than useful. Maybe they were somehow magical, but they looked entirely mundane. Like something one would use to secure a heavy load to a truck. “Can those be removed? I can’t imagine they’re helping her state.” “Her bindings?” That was the elf. Her voice was deeper than Alyssa had expected, but smooth. She stepped forward, eyes wide. “You’ll remove them? M-Mine too?” Nodding again, Alyssa held out her hand. “Let me see?” The elf hesitated for a moment, drawing her hand to her chest. Patiently, Alyssa remained as she was, offering what she hoped was an encouraging smile. It worked. The elf took another step forward and slowly stretched out her hand. The chain was heavy. Extraordinarily so. A few metal links dangled from the main manacle. Just those weighed half as much as a bowling ball. And the lizard had several more links on each chain than the elf. The bee, Pho, had only the cuffs around her thin limbs, no links, but the cuffs were probably weighty on their own. Yet they all moved around like it was nothing. Maybe a little sluggish, but not even half as much as Alyssa would if she had been forced into those things. How strong were these monsters? Had they started out this strong? Or had carrying this weight made them stronger? A chill ran down her spine. Just a slight shudder down to her toes at what these four might be capable of unfettered. As bad as she felt about their chains, it was almost a relief to note that she wouldn’t be able to open the manacles. “Looks like this needs a key. I didn’t exactly have a chance to ask Svotty where he kept valuable things before I killed him, so unless you know…” Alyssa trailed off at the elf’s expression. It was like a grown adult who moved into their own apartment only for them to find out that Santa wasn’t real when no presents appeared under their Christmas tree. And also got a phone call five minutes later saying that their parents had died in a horrific accident. “I’ll look for it,” Alyssa said, moving back around the desk. “It’s probably here somewhere. Unless…” Again, she paused before she could rummage through the desk, looking up to the mimic. “You can turn into anything?” The mimic quirked an eyebrow. “You’re odd for a human. Promising to remove our bindings? Speaking cordially? Helping us?” “I dislike slavery. The humans upstairs said that they wanted to stay. If they don’t leave, I’m not going to let myself lose sleep over it. But you didn’t say that you wanted to stay. You said that you couldn’t leave. I don’t like that.” “So it is pity then?” “It’s help. I don’t know if you want to accept it. Maybe not. My plan might get us all killed for all I know. I’ll ask you all what you think before.” Well, if it looked like it would come to that, she would probably abandon the monsters without hesitation. She had a feeling that Tenebrael, as much as that angel liked her messing with the book, wouldn’t hesitate to eat her soul if she did end up dying. Now that she was considering it, she couldn’t see the monsters’ souls anymore. None of them had any caricatures hovering around them. The spell must have worn off. Shaking her head, Alyssa focused on the mimic in front of her. “Before that, however, you can turn into a teacup? Or anything? Can’t you turn into a key?” “Ah, well, unfortunately, I can’t turn into something I haven’t seen before.” “And Svotty was careful to keep the key out of your sight.” That explained why she lacked the manacles that the others had. That and her apparent weakness. And, if she could turn into a teacup, she would presumably be able to escape from any chains, but so long as she never saw the key, she wouldn’t be able to free her comrades. “But… I am a possibility?” Alyssa couldn’t help but ask. She was curious to see the mimic’s abilities in action. Instead of responding, a shimmer crossed over her form. Her alabaster skin darkened to a moderate tan and her golden hair dulled and browned. The shape of her body shifted as well. Muscles grew over her lean and lithe form as she grew an extra inch or two. Her frankly absurd chest shrank down to a far more reasonable size. For a few moments, she continued wearing her sleeveless evening dress. Alyssa made special note of one difference. Where Alyssa had a series of tribal tattoos running from her shoulder down to her elbow, the mimic’s arms remained bare. That area quickly became covered as her dress stretched out into Alyssa’s long sleeved shirt. Soon enough, Alyssa had a mirror standing before her. The whole process took only a few seconds. Thirty, tops. But the more she stared at herself, the more Alyssa felt unnerved. It was just a subtle drop in her stomach like a roller coaster dipping. The problem was that it was just like looking in a mirror. Her hair was slightly longer on her left side—by design, not accident—but the mimic’s hair was longer on the right side. It got even worse when the mimic started inspecting her body. She ran her hands over her face, chest, back… The simple curiosity on her face—Alyssa’s face—as she cupped her butt actually made Alyssa shudder. “You have a nice body. Stronger than I expected.” Which raised the question of how the mimic knew what her musculature was like while not knowing about the tattoo. A mistake? Or maybe there were some nuances to the magic that Alyssa didn’t understand. But hearing her own voice speak only compounded the unnerving problem. “This is a lot stranger than I thought it would be. And, ugh, is my hair really that bad?” Alyssa ran her own fingers through her own hair, grimacing at the feel of grease. “I need a shower.” “Ufu~ Indeed.” Alyssa did not giggle like that. Hearing herself do so… she shuddered. In doing so, she blinked. “I don’t suppose you would be willing to return to normal.” In the one second that she had her eyes closed, Kasita reverted to her normal form. “Thank you. That was much faster going back.” “I am quite used to this shape. Men find it pleasing. Easier to twist around my fingers.” “Right.” Looking away from the monster, Alyssa focused on the group as a whole. Only half focused. At the same time, she started pulling open desk drawers. Ostensibly, she was looking for the key to their manacles. And, despite her momentary concerns about their strength, she would hand it over without hesitation should she come across it. However, she hadn’t had a chance to search the desk for herself yet. If she found something else that looked valuable, useful, or simply interesting that wouldn’t be obvious as having been Svotty’s, she wouldn’t hesitate to pocket it. “My plan,” Alyssa continued, “is to walk you out of the city. Nice and simple.” Was incense valuable? Probably. Unless it was illegal. Were certain drugs illegal? There was so much that probably counted as common knowledge for other people that she just didn’t know. But spotting another, much larger bag of money, she couldn’t help but smile. That would be handy. She doubted that she would be considered wealthy, but she should be able to buy time to get situated in the city. “Walk us out? How—Ah… I see.” “Yep. If anyone has a problem with you, I’ll just tell them that you’re slaves I’m selling to some magical researcher outside the city.” Would that work? Honestly, she wasn’t sure. She had seen a few elves around, in chains of course. If there were laws about taking them in and out of the city that she didn’t know about, there would be hiccups. Though, now that she thought about it, the mimic could pretend to be a human and walk the others out. No need for Alyssa to get involved at all. As soon as she realized that, she looked to Kasita. “Or, could you walk the others out? Pretend to be a human slave owner? I’m sure the others would be more comfortable with you rather than another human calling them slaves.” The elf nodded twice, not hiding her eagerness for the revised plan in the slightest. But Kasita giggled again. “That could be possible.” “I’m sensing a but…” “But, while I might be able to walk out, that’s only because you humans rarely look twice at one another. Rarely being the key word. There remains a slight chance that they check to see if I am one. Which, as you might expect, wouldn’t be fun for us.” “There are ways to do that?” “A few monsters, such as myself, can disguise themselves as human. There are a handful of spells that were designed to reveal such creatures.” Alyssa nodded. That made sense. If there was some sort of war between humans and monsters, weeding out infiltrators would be an imperative. “My original plan then, unless you see something wrong with that as well?” “Ufufu~ You would know more about human reactions to your plan than I would.” “You would be surprised,” Alyssa mumbled as she pulled open a second drawer. There was a notebook inside, some kind of ledger. It had long lists of names followed by numbers that were presumably dates and monetary amounts. Whether that was money spent or money owed, she didn’t know. Whatever the case, she snapped the book shut and tucked it back where she had found it. The names meant nothing to her and it could tie her back to Svotty. Though, in replacing it, she found something a little more immediately useful. “Keys!” Her exclamation got everyone to look up. Even Rizk turned her eyes to Alyssa’s direction, even if she didn’t react much beyond that. There was a large iron ring with a whole set of keys attached to it. The keys weren’t modern. Each one looked like the stereotypical old-fashioned key common to cartoons or movies. Apparently there was one thing Hollywood got right. Two of them were overly large. They wouldn’t fit in the relatively tiny manacles. Door keys, perhaps. However, one looked just right. The shade of the iron even matched the metal around their wrists. “Enrique, we’ll find out if this is the right key if you would be so kind as to lend me your wrist.” This time, the elf didn’t hesitate in the slightest as she practically threw her arm in Alyssa’s face. Her overexcited stare was tempered with a giddy sort of nervousness as she eyed the key. The whole room, even Kasita, went utterly silent as Alyssa placed the key to the keyhole. It fit. A good sign. When she turned the key, a loud click shattered the silence. Enrique stared at her wrist in complete disbelief as the manacle fell from her wrist and landed with a thud against the desk. “It’s off.” Her voice was a whisper. Barely loud enough for Alyssa to hear from only an arm’s length away. Water welled in her eyes. After a few blinks, she started crying. Alyssa actually felt a pang of guilt. When she had first realized just how strong the elf had to be, she had thought for just an instant that it would be better to leave them chained up. Seeing just how happy the elf was almost made Alyssa cry a little as well. Almost. She wasn’t that sentimental a person. But it made what she had to say next all the worse. “Unfortunately,” Alyssa said slow and soft, “we should probably leave them on.” “Wha… What?” She blinked twice, further pushing tears out of her eyes, before her gaze hardened. “What do you mean?” “She’s right.” Thank you Kasita, Alyssa thought as the mimic came to her defense. “If we’re to pose as slaves to get out of the city, we need to look the part. Luckily, that isn’t too hard. We have a lot of experience.” As she spoke, identical manacles formed around Kasita’s wrists. That wasn’t the only change. Her glossy golden hair shimmered and vanished as white curly fluff started growing out of her head. Her dress and body underwent a similar change. Soon enough, except her humanoid face and her hands and feet which became hooves, she was covered in a thick wool. Her eyes, which had been normal human eyes, remained mostly the same except for the pupils. The black spots widened to long horizontal bars. “You are a sheep,” Alyssa blurted out. “Ufu~ Indeed. A human might wonder why you’re headed out of the city to sell someone who looks human. Selling another monster? They’ll be glad to see us go.” Frowning, Alyssa glanced between the four monsters in front of her. Why did they all look so human? Even with the wool fur, the scales, or the bee’s wings and abdomen, they all had the silhouette of a human. From even a mild distance, she could easily have mistaken them for normal people. Back home, none of them would have looked out of place at the local comic and costume conventions. There were some extenuating factors. This was a brothel. A brothel that catered to humans, presumably. The people who had captured or sold these monsters wouldn’t have sold a truly monstrous monster to a brothel. They needed to be appealing to human men. The harpy had been much the same as well, but the harpy was a classical monster that looked roughly how Alyssa expected one to look. She hadn’t even thought twice over its appearance. Did all monsters look like a jumble of human and animal parts? Well, no. Enrique was an elf. Tall, slender, very Tolkien. And Kasita… probably didn’t look like an unearthly beautiful woman in whatever her natural state was. Alyssa was almost afraid to ask what that form was. Maybe after they left the city and were about to part ways, she could ask. For now, she would let her be. “Enrique. I’ll tell you what. You can hold onto the key. That way, you know that you can take off your manacles whenever you want. Though…” They were all naked. The chained elves she had seen earlier had been wearing clothing. Not anything exquisite, but clothes nonetheless. Enrique wouldn’t be able to hold the keys if she were nude—were there laws against public nudity? “Are there some rags we can have you all wear? I don’t think marching you around the city naked would be the best idea.” “There certainly are. If you are ready to depart, I’ll show you where. Ufu~ I must admit, I am a little excited to get out of here.” Alyssa nodded, looking around. She hadn’t fully searched the desk, but she got a few bags of money and really, what else would there be that was valuable? And she should leave something for the women who were staying, even if she thought they were idiots for doing so. Pulling the purple cloak from her backpack, she squeezed it into one of the desk drawers. Maybe it wasn’t the best gift. Oh well. She had nothing else she was willing to give at the moment. Besides, she really didn’t want to stay longer than necessary. Alyssa did pick up the three empty shotgun shells that were lying on the floor. No real reason why. They were useless to her now. It wasn’t like they could be reused. But they were hard evidence that she had been here. No one else in the entire world would have a shotgun. Though, now that she thought about it, the shot embedded in the bodies might be telling as well. Nothing she could do about that though. “Alright.” Alyssa held out the keys for Enrique to take. All of them. If there was some locked door, whoever remained would just have to break it down. The elf stared for a moment before taking the keys in an almost reverent manner. “Thank you.” Before Enrique could break down crying again, Alyssa smiled. “Let’s get out of here, shall we?”

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNiOGVkODZjNjE2MDRhNDBhNjZjOTVkNDhiODQ2YWY1"><strong>Chapter 62</strong></p> <p class="cnMxZTliOGY2ZWZmZDQyZGRiNjI3OTRhZjU0Zjk5OTgw"><strong> </strong></p> <p class="cnM4NGRlNDU3MTFmZjRhMzA5NzAwMTNmNWQxNjg2MjY0">Gerald gazed at the distant streets through the study's window. Under the mild heat of day, the streets brimmed with life. The once lifeless paths were now crowded with tradesmen and craftsmen. Merchants had recently begun to pour into Ard in numbers. It was an opportunity for most of them.</p> <p class="cnNlM2VhYjkwYWI4MzRjYzk5ZjU1YTI5YjgxNTUwMmNl">It was a place where craftsmen were devoid of work and would accept any price for their wares. With the arrival of the merchants, the idle had more work and more coin. And more coin meant more merchants coming to sell their wares.</p> <p class="cnM1NTM1ZWViZTI5NjRmMTNhYjU1YjU5ODlmYzEzZDg2">The reason Ard was even more crowded with merchants, however, was the preparations some of them were making to commence trade from Maric to Andross. Quite a few merchants had arrived to gain knowledge about the possible tolls and the condition of the roads between the Kingdom and the Empire.</p> <p class="cnM5MzAxMzQ5ODk1ZjRlMGQ4YTgwMTkzNTkyYmJiMjA4">The liveliness in the streets wasn't just because of the merchants though. Work in the scorched land in the west had begun. Men worked on clearing the land where a forest once stood, preparing it for cultivation. Gerald had commanded for the idle men inside of Ard to be given the opportunity first. For simple reasons, he didn't like the thought of numerous young, idle men dawdling within his walls.</p> <p class="cnMwYWQxMDU1NmY1YzRmMzliOThiZjgyYjEzZDYwOGU4">Arthur had begun by recruiting the young and able from within Ard, then he'd later moved on to recruiting from the idle refugees outside of the walls. An army of laborers was already clearing the land in the west. Often, groups of them would return to Ard to spend their earned coin or see their families. The distance between the scorched forest and the castle wasn't that large, after all.</p> <p class="cnM3Y2FjMzZkNjFjZDQyYTJhMGY5YjhhYjM3NDlhY2M1">There were a few knocks on the door.</p> <p class="cnM2NzJkYjVjZTYzNTQ0NDliODhiNWU3NGFhMGJmMDll">Gerald turned around to a large map spread on the table. It showed the basin and its neighboring territories. "You two can enter," he said, his eyes still fixed on the map.</p> <p class="cnNiMDhlMjYyZmQ4MDRlMmVhZWE2MTYwY2Q1YmFjZWY4">Arthur and Robard entered, saluting.</p> <p class="cnNkNTk5Mjk0YTFlMjQ4ZjJiNTA2NjgwNDA3YTZhMmM2">"Has everything been well?" he asked them.</p> <p class="cnMzYmUxOTJkN2I0YzQxZDliMWIxZWU3NmI5YTIwM2Q5">Robard spoke first. "Yes, my lord. We've done another sweep in the west, wiping out a few more brigands. Their numbers have dwindled to near nothing. We're preparing a sweep in the east next."</p> <p class="cnMyNTUxZDU3NDMwYjQ3ZDViMDUzY2E5MzFmYmE0MWYy">Gerald nodded. The bandit crews had been removed, but some escaped bandits had struck out on their own, forming small groups and robbing passersby. The wiser ones had either hidden themselves in the southwestern forest near the mountains or attempted to slip into the crowd of refugees around Ard.</p> <p class="cnNhMmY4OTEwN2NjODQxNDE4MmZkNTA1NjkxYjExOTdl">He glanced at Arthur who nodded and began, "clearing the scorched forest is going well, my lord. The land will be ready when it's time to plant the winter grain. The undertaking will cost us from 4 thousand to 5 thousand gold. I suggest that we build a village in the middle of these lands, my lord. If we allow the farmers who will grow crops there to build their houses around this village, it can grow on its own. We won't have to worry about their accommodation."</p> <p class="cnNmYmRiZWQ4ZDE5ZjQxZjc4ZTA2M2MwNzJkYTc3OGY5">"How much will it cost us?" Gerald moved his eyes to the western part of the basin on the map. A small forest was drawn there, one which would have to be removed from all maps soon.</p> <p class="cnM4NTU1NjNmNzBlODRhNTZhYTZiNWJmYmU0NmI3ODFi">"Two thousand gold at most," Arthur said.</p> <p class="cnM1MTY4OTVhMzY5MTQ1NjVhMTAxYzZkZDM3OWY2OWE5">Gerald nodded. "Do it then." Then he narrowed his eyes, remembering a problem. "How will refugees plant those lands? I doubt they will have the coin to do so. Even if we've prepared the land for them."</p> <p class="cnM1OTk5M2ZlNjRmNzQyMzBiZTJmZjBkNTY0ZmQxZGQ5">Arthur nodded with a troubled expression. "There are several ways for it to happen, my lord. The ones making gold through the current labor would be able to afford planting a small piece of land, considering that many have begun laboring as a family. If a family has a father and two sons, their labor can provide enough coin for planting a piece of land. The farmers could also borrow from money-lending merchants. The loans would be paid upon harvest. There is also the least likable choice . . . "</p> <p class="cnNmOTVlZTY5YWFhMzRhNTBhOTRhMzFiZTNhZmFiZmUw">Gerald moved his eyes from the map to his minister quizzically. "Speak."</p> <p class="cnNmYzA5NzE0ODRlYjRkZDFiZTFhMDQxODc2MWQxZDRl">"We could lend them the gold ourselves. But unlike the merchants, we won't be receiving any interest, lest it slights your honor. It would be a weight on our treasury without any benefits, and we're already expending a considerable amount of gold on this undertaking, my lord. There is also the problem of repayment. If something happens to the harvest like a storm or any other unfortunate event, we would have to shoulder the weight of the wasted gold, since the farmers won't have anything to pay us back with."</p> <p class="cnNkM2Q4NzhmNjc4YjQ0YTk5Zjk4ZWQzMmFhMWExMWQ2">Gerald tapped the table a few times. "What would happen if they can't pay back the merchants' loans?"</p> <p class="cnMzNmRjZDg2ZTZhMDRhODQ4NzU4MzQ0NjcwZWM5NjNk">Arthur appeared to be thinking then grimaced for a moment. "The most common result is slavery, my lord. The King hasn't outlawed it, so it will be allowed or disallowed by your command. The merchants would sell those who owe them gold as slaves. They will likely be shipped to the United Archipelago to be sold there. But, if you outlaw the slavery in the territory, then you might be accused of swindling the merchants out of their gold, my lord. There is always labor to pay back the loans, but with how many debtors there will be, it would be wasteful for the merchants."</p> <p class="cnM1MzZiYjQ3ZTVhNzQ2OWQ5Y2FiMzg2ZGI0YjI5OGMw">Gerald sneered. "The merchants know how to get their gold." He glanced at the map again. The farmers would have to pay him half their harvest as a tax, and then they would have to pay their debts. He didn't mind them being modestly poor, but he didn't want starving farmers in his lands because of merchants' greed. The interest some merchants demanded was nothing short of robbery. "Give land to those who can afford to cultivate it first. Then use gold from the treasury to lend those who can't."</p> <p class="cnM4OTg2MzkwNTVhZjQwYzY4N2M2YThkMmVhN2JlNGU4">"How much will we lend, my lord?"</p> <p class="cnM1YjFjNjhlMzc5MjRiZmY4YWE5YmI0ZTgwYmI0NzNl">"Enough so that by the end of the winter harvest we can feed everyone including the refugees without having to deplete our granaries. After ensuring that we won't starve, if there are even more people who want to farm, let them borrow from the merchants," Gerald said. He tapped on the map. "Now let's begin."</p> <p class="cnMwNmYzYmJmZjk4NjQwMDZiMjM5ZjYxZmUzYWNkM2Y2">"Yes, my lord," Arthur nodded and approached the map.</p> <p class="cnM2ZWNkMDIzNjdlMTRmOTc4YTdjNjVjNjNiZGUxOGI4">"Let's begin from the south."</p> <p class="cnM4MzY0Yzg4NDM0ODRjMjk5NjA5NjdiYzZhYTgwNGY0">"As you wish, my lord. The southern pass of the basin touches the borders of two Counties and an alliance of Baronies. To the southeast lies Count Eryale's territory, and we have no ties with him. Straight south are the Baronies. Small territories rules by allied Barons who have lately been getting wealthier and wealthier. They are not weak though. They have been strong enough to deter the two Counties bordering them from getting greedy."</p> <p class="cnM2N2Y1ZDU4MmIwNzRlZjBhZTY1YjI1MDJmNGI3Nzk3">"What makes them so wealthy?"</p> <p class="cnM4Yjc3ZGI3ZTQ2NTQwMzE4ZGFjYTk3MDNjNjM3ODk1">Arthur cleared his throat. "Two things, my lord. The first being Mountpie. It is the richest mining area in the northern half of the Kingdom. Even though it doesn't contain any gold mines, the sheer amount of silver and copper mined there every day would make even Kings look twice. The second source of their wealth is the bridge."</p> <p class="cnMzMTNjMTg3NzQ2YTQxZGFiNWQ3OGY5NzQyYWUzZWM0">"Bridge?" Gerald looked at the map, seeing the river cutting through the breadth of the Kingdom, originating from the Wild Plains in the east and ending at The Sleeping Sea in the west. The Baronies were north of the river, but they had a wider territory than the neighboring Counties. The two Counties southwest and southeast of the basin were each cut through by the river. He estimated that each County only had a third of its territory north of the river, while the rest was south of it.</p> <p class="cnM0MzU0ZDhmZGY1ZTQ3NDE5MDJiZmFjM2I5ODVmZThm">"The shallowest part of the Qasm River is here, my lord," Arthur tapped his finger on the river at the part south of the Baronies. "It's the only place where there is a bridge. Merchants have to pass over it, as well as almost anyone who wants to cross the river. The only other way to cross it is by boat or ferry. The two Counties would often use boats to move their subjects or goods across the river, but it's very slow. Merchants would never consider it. That is why the bridge is a gold mine of its own."</p> <p class="cnNiOGE4N2EwNTNjYTQxMmRhYmM1M2M2ZDY4ODA3ODkw">Gerald nodded in understanding. "Where exactly is Mountpie then?"</p> <p class="cnM0NGQxZWQxMzg4YzRmYjY5MjVhNTVhODM3MDExNTU0">Arthur pointed in the middle of the Baronies. "Most of the baronies have a part of Mountpie in their territory. The ones that don't are those that border the two Counties. They are considered the shields of the alliance, so they raise the most men and have built several forts on their borders. The alliance guarantees them a share of the coin from Mountpie and the bridge." The old minister took a breath then looked at Gerald. "I should mention that we have received a rider from the Baronies yesterday, my lord."</p> <p class="cnM1ZGQzY2Y3YzA1YjRkNjliNGM0NDk5ODg0MGVlODlm">"What did they want?" Gerald cocked his head.</p> <p class="cnM2MTg1ZmYzMWM4MjQxNDI5MDRkNmU1YzUwOTViNmEy">"Trade. Some of our craftsmen need copper. And the Baronies need grain. The land north of the Qasm River is mostly barren, except for the bank of the river itself. The Baronies always need grain, my lord."</p> <p class="cnM0OTBiY2MzYzMwOTQwNDQ4YjYyMTczYzFkYmQ0MmIy">Gerald nodded. "This means they don't have forests either. We will have to buy wood from the north in end." He sighed. One of the largest forests of the subcontinent was north of the basin, separating most of Duke Malfi's territory from the a neighboring Count's lands. He didn't want to buy his timber from the north though, because he would likely have to buy it from the Duke.</p> <p class="cnNkZjkwY2U0M2JlYjQwNGY5OGU5NTgyMGQyOWQxOTc5">Arthur smiled wryly. "They buy timber too, my lord. Just like we intend to. The Baronies' rider informed us that an envoy will be arriving in a few days. I can handle the negotiation if you don't want to meet the envoy, my lord."</p> <p class="cnM5MzNhNTg4MzUxYzQwN2JhM2RkNTMxNDRhNDhmM2I3">Gerald nodded. If the envoy had words of importance to deliver, then he would listen to them; otherwise, it wasn't worth wasting his time. "Let's continue then."</p> <p class="cnMyZjNhN2Y5NGJmYTQxNzFiMTQ1Y2NiOGUzMzU5NDhj">Arthur nodded. He pointed southwest of the basin. "This is the Westwell territory. Count Alaric Westwell rules after his late father. After his father passed, he abandoned the alliance that tied us."</p> <p class="cnM0N2I0ODA3YmQ5MjQ3YmE5MWMwZGIzZDU5ODY0YmQz">Gerald squinted, remembering something. "Ah, yes. You said that he bought a mine in the southern pass from my father." He rested his finger on the southern pass.</p> <p class="cnM5YzU4OTZiYWQ2MDQ0ZmZhNmM5MTM4NGQxNmZlMDQx">Arthur pointed at a spot of the southern pass that touches the border of the Westwell territory. "The mine is here, my lord."</p> <p class="cnM0N2VjMjViYjgyZjQzNDk4NThhMWFhMTlkNTk2Y2My">"Hmm," Gerald squinted. "That's barely in our territory. It isn't rare for conflicts to spark because of a mine like this." He knew that it was only an iron mine, but it was still a much needed resource for any Lord. It was always better to have your own iron for your armor and arms instead of buying it from another noble or from merchants. Conflict with your source of iron could put you at risk, after all.</p> <p class="cnM2NjQzMTBiNTM0NTRkN2Y5MGVkNDQ5ZDQ2OWY4ZTJh">Arthur fidgeted at his words, his face paling slightly.</p> <p class="cnNiZTg3YzFkZGZmYTRlOGE5N2Y5YjJhOGFlOTg2ZmU4">"Is something the matter?" Gerald gazed at his minister whose eyes avoided his a time or two.</p> <p class="cnNkM2JiNjJkODk1ZDRmZTI4Yjg2ZThjNDA1ODAyYjhj">"Nothing, my lord."</p> <p class="cnNiODM0MTNmYzA1MjRmMjdhOTQxMWQwNzIyMWQ4Y2Ez">He glanced at Robard who was obviously fuming, seemingly holding something in and on the verge of blowing it out. He questioned the knight with his stare, and the latter finally said the words.</p> <p class="cnMyMDI1ZjFiYWFiNTQ3Y2Y5YmZhYWI5NDg3MDk2NzFj">"The mine wasn't truly bought, my lord."</p> <p class="cnNkYzE0NGFiZTA5NjQyNzJiYTAwMzFmODEwN2U1MTIw"> </p> </div>

**Chapter 62** Gerald gazed at the distant streets through the study's window. Under the mild heat of day, the streets brimmed with life. The once lifeless paths were now crowded with tradesmen and craftsmen. Merchants had recently begun to pour into Ard in numbers. It was an opportunity for most of them. It was a place where craftsmen were devoid of work and would accept any price for their wares. With the arrival of the merchants, the idle had more work and more coin. And more coin meant more merchants coming to sell their wares. The reason Ard was even more crowded with merchants, however, was the preparations some of them were making to commence trade from Maric to Andross. Quite a few merchants had arrived to gain knowledge about the possible tolls and the condition of the roads between the Kingdom and the Empire. The liveliness in the streets wasn't just because of the merchants though. Work in the scorched land in the west had begun. Men worked on clearing the land where a forest once stood, preparing it for cultivation. Gerald had commanded for the idle men inside of Ard to be given the opportunity first. For simple reasons, he didn't like the thought of numerous young, idle men dawdling within his walls. Arthur had begun by recruiting the young and able from within Ard, then he'd later moved on to recruiting from the idle refugees outside of the walls. An army of laborers was already clearing the land in the west. Often, groups of them would return to Ard to spend their earned coin or see their families. The distance between the scorched forest and the castle wasn't that large, after all. There were a few knocks on the door. Gerald turned around to a large map spread on the table. It showed the basin and its neighboring territories. "You two can enter," he said, his eyes still fixed on the map. Arthur and Robard entered, saluting. "Has everything been well?" he asked them. Robard spoke first. "Yes, my lord. We've done another sweep in the west, wiping out a few more brigands. Their numbers have dwindled to near nothing. We're preparing a sweep in the east next." Gerald nodded. The bandit crews had been removed, but some escaped bandits had struck out on their own, forming small groups and robbing passersby. The wiser ones had either hidden themselves in the southwestern forest near the mountains or attempted to slip into the crowd of refugees around Ard. He glanced at Arthur who nodded and began, "clearing the scorched forest is going well, my lord. The land will be ready when it's time to plant the winter grain. The undertaking will cost us from 4 thousand to 5 thousand gold. I suggest that we build a village in the middle of these lands, my lord. If we allow the farmers who will grow crops there to build their houses around this village, it can grow on its own. We won't have to worry about their accommodation." "How much will it cost us?" Gerald moved his eyes to the western part of the basin on the map. A small forest was drawn there, one which would have to be removed from all maps soon. "Two thousand gold at most," Arthur said. Gerald nodded. "Do it then." Then he narrowed his eyes, remembering a problem. "How will refugees plant those lands? I doubt they will have the coin to do so. Even if we've prepared the land for them." Arthur nodded with a troubled expression. "There are several ways for it to happen, my lord. The ones making gold through the current labor would be able to afford planting a small piece of land, considering that many have begun laboring as a family. If a family has a father and two sons, their labor can provide enough coin for planting a piece of land. The farmers could also borrow from money-lending merchants. The loans would be paid upon harvest. There is also the least likable choice . . . " Gerald moved his eyes from the map to his minister quizzically. "Speak." "We could lend them the gold ourselves. But unlike the merchants, we won't be receiving any interest, lest it slights your honor. It would be a weight on our treasury without any benefits, and we're already expending a considerable amount of gold on this undertaking, my lord. There is also the problem of repayment. If something happens to the harvest like a storm or any other unfortunate event, we would have to shoulder the weight of the wasted gold, since the farmers won't have anything to pay us back with." Gerald tapped the table a few times. "What would happen if they can't pay back the merchants' loans?" Arthur appeared to be thinking then grimaced for a moment. "The most common result is slavery, my lord. The King hasn't outlawed it, so it will be allowed or disallowed by your command. The merchants would sell those who owe them gold as slaves. They will likely be shipped to the United Archipelago to be sold there. But, if you outlaw the slavery in the territory, then you might be accused of swindling the merchants out of their gold, my lord. There is always labor to pay back the loans, but with how many debtors there will be, it would be wasteful for the merchants." Gerald sneered. "The merchants know how to get their gold." He glanced at the map again. The farmers would have to pay him half their harvest as a tax, and then they would have to pay their debts. He didn't mind them being modestly poor, but he didn't want starving farmers in his lands because of merchants' greed. The interest some merchants demanded was nothing short of robbery. "Give land to those who can afford to cultivate it first. Then use gold from the treasury to lend those who can't." "How much will we lend, my lord?" "Enough so that by the end of the winter harvest we can feed everyone including the refugees without having to deplete our granaries. After ensuring that we won't starve, if there are even more people who want to farm, let them borrow from the merchants," Gerald said. He tapped on the map. "Now let's begin." "Yes, my lord," Arthur nodded and approached the map. "Let's begin from the south." "As you wish, my lord. The southern pass of the basin touches the borders of two Counties and an alliance of Baronies. To the southeast lies Count Eryale's territory, and we have no ties with him. Straight south are the Baronies. Small territories rules by allied Barons who have lately been getting wealthier and wealthier. They are not weak though. They have been strong enough to deter the two Counties bordering them from getting greedy." "What makes them so wealthy?" Arthur cleared his throat. "Two things, my lord. The first being Mountpie. It is the richest mining area in the northern half of the Kingdom. Even though it doesn't contain any gold mines, the sheer amount of silver and copper mined there every day would make even Kings look twice. The second source of their wealth is the bridge." "Bridge?" Gerald looked at the map, seeing the river cutting through the breadth of the Kingdom, originating from the Wild Plains in the east and ending at The Sleeping Sea in the west. The Baronies were north of the river, but they had a wider territory than the neighboring Counties. The two Counties southwest and southeast of the basin were each cut through by the river. He estimated that each County only had a third of its territory north of the river, while the rest was south of it. "The shallowest part of the Qasm River is here, my lord," Arthur tapped his finger on the river at the part south of the Baronies. "It's the only place where there is a bridge. Merchants have to pass over it, as well as almost anyone who wants to cross the river. The only other way to cross it is by boat or ferry. The two Counties would often use boats to move their subjects or goods across the river, but it's very slow. Merchants would never consider it. That is why the bridge is a gold mine of its own." Gerald nodded in understanding. "Where exactly is Mountpie then?" Arthur pointed in the middle of the Baronies. "Most of the baronies have a part of Mountpie in their territory. The ones that don't are those that border the two Counties. They are considered the shields of the alliance, so they raise the most men and have built several forts on their borders. The alliance guarantees them a share of the coin from Mountpie and the bridge." The old minister took a breath then looked at Gerald. "I should mention that we have received a rider from the Baronies yesterday, my lord." "What did they want?" Gerald cocked his head. "Trade. Some of our craftsmen need copper. And the Baronies need grain. The land north of the Qasm River is mostly barren, except for the bank of the river itself. The Baronies always need grain, my lord." Gerald nodded. "This means they don't have forests either. We will have to buy wood from the north in end." He sighed. One of the largest forests of the subcontinent was north of the basin, separating most of Duke Malfi's territory from the a neighboring Count's lands. He didn't want to buy his timber from the north though, because he would likely have to buy it from the Duke. Arthur smiled wryly. "They buy timber too, my lord. Just like we intend to. The Baronies' rider informed us that an envoy will be arriving in a few days. I can handle the negotiation if you don't want to meet the envoy, my lord." Gerald nodded. If the envoy had words of importance to deliver, then he would listen to them; otherwise, it wasn't worth wasting his time. "Let's continue then." Arthur nodded. He pointed southwest of the basin. "This is the Westwell territory. Count Alaric Westwell rules after his late father. After his father passed, he abandoned the alliance that tied us." Gerald squinted, remembering something. "Ah, yes. You said that he bought a mine in the southern pass from my father." He rested his finger on the southern pass. Arthur pointed at a spot of the southern pass that touches the border of the Westwell territory. "The mine is here, my lord." "Hmm," Gerald squinted. "That's barely in our territory. It isn't rare for conflicts to spark because of a mine like this." He knew that it was only an iron mine, but it was still a much needed resource for any Lord. It was always better to have your own iron for your armor and arms instead of buying it from another noble or from merchants. Conflict with your source of iron could put you at risk, after all. Arthur fidgeted at his words, his face paling slightly. "Is something the matter?" Gerald gazed at his minister whose eyes avoided his a time or two. "Nothing, my lord." He glanced at Robard who was obviously fuming, seemingly holding something in and on the verge of blowing it out. He questioned the knight with his stare, and the latter finally said the words. "The mine wasn't truly bought, my lord."

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM3N2NlYWVhNmY5MTRkMjc4YjllZTdkMmJhOGQ2OGJl">The cold sensation of her blade tickled his neck as blood started to trail down it. Luon felt as if the grim reaper had appeared behind his back ready to reap his soul and yet after it made its appearance it didn’t make a move.</p> <p class="cnM2NGVmOTZhNzZiNjQzMjNhYTc5MGNiNTJmMDZjNzk0">“That’s once,” a cold voice rang. Luon intuitively jumped away only to meet with Valerie’s cold, expressionless face, there was no trace of smile she had showed him just seconds ago.</p> <p class="cnM5Y2YyZWFlZTQ5MTQ0MDU5NWY0ZDViNzIzYjQ4NWU2">‘How can she move like that? I wasn’t even able to see her,’ thought Luon as he carefully studied his opponent. Lightly tracing his neck he could feel the scar she had done to him. The blood incited his senses as the nerves in his brain screamed of danger coming from his opponent. Fear for the unknown yet excited to battle Luon once again readied his stance and faced his opponent, he carefully studied her anticipating her next move.</p> <p class="cnNlZDVkMTEwZjc4OTQ3MTNiMzUzNTUyYTFmM2FjNWZl">The same maneuver was repeated once more as her silhouette vanished, only this time he swung his blade behind his back in an attempt to predict her future movement, it was in vain though. Rather than appearing behind him, her body materialized in front of him. Luon who had his neck turned around felt another cold sensation against his neck. He slowly faced Valerie who was in front of him as she said, “That’s twice. I’ll give you one more chance, the next one would be your last.”</p> <p class="cnNiODNhYzI1Y2RlODRmMmY5YzlkNmRmMGZiYjQ5MTVm">She removed her blade and began to walk away, leaving Luon completely dumbfounded. What kind of movement was it? Teleportation? Fast movement? Luon couldn’t fathom what it was. She was able to decide where she could appear and could react based on his actions.</p> <p class="cnM4MTJmZTNmNWUwYjQ3OGE4YjU5YmQ1NDU1YzllZTRl">“You still couldn’t see through it,” Thanatos muttered after sighing.</p> <p class="cnNlOGNiNjAyOTU3ZTRhMDdiYTg1ZmMwMmQyMDY4MzYw">‘No, I couldn’t see how she did it at all. Why are you only asking now? Did you figure out how she did it?’ asked Luon as he was still thinking about how she did it.</p> <p class="cnNhNDhmZjYyODdiZTQ2Y2JhMjYwYWQyMDZlYWQ1NTk4">“What she was doing was a combination of high-speed movement and illusion magic,” Thanatos explained. It appears that despite being slightly oversized, the blade tends to attract the view of her opponent’s and because their attention is focused on the range of her sword it allowed her to easily use her illusion magic to get up close to her opponent. Coupled with high-speed movement it gave the impression that she was moving at an extremely fast pace.</p> <p class="cnM0ZWQyMDViMDdkYzQyOWM5NWMwZGQ4YTBhZjYzMjYy">Luon didn’t think that she would be using illusion magic. She had never used it before and felt that the only reason she was doing it now was that she was having fun toying with him. Watching him desperately resist against illusions would be quite entertaining for her. Luon was quite angry, but he managed to calm himself down. After all, this wasn’t the first time he was made fun of, rather than rage it was better to just retaliate with strength.</p> <p class="cnNlMWI0YjY5MzlkNzQ3YzhiMGJlNmJiNjBiM2UwNWFk">‘Okay, so I know what it is now… how could I stop it?’ Luon said as he readied his stance once more. It appeared that Valerie wanted to end it sooner than later as she turned around and prepared her position once more.</p> <p class="cnM3ZGM1YmI0MmU0NDQxM2Q4OWNkMTM2MWZjYjljYTU1">“I didn’t want to say it earlier because I realized that she didn’t want to eliminate you, at least right away. It would have been more beneficial if you learned how to analyze the move yourself, and think of a counter. However, it appears that you won’t be able to understand the concept in this match. I’ll tell you a little trick for now. Take your mana and encase your eyes with it, your eye of insight may be able to provide you with some details about objects and people. However, it isn’t able to see everything, the ultimate truth of the world. The mana will help you dispel the illusion, just think of it as wearing a pair of glasses,” Thanatos pointed out. Luon found him quite talkative when he starts his lengthy lectures.</p> <p class="cnM3OTg4YTgwMzJlZjQ2NDZiYjY0YmYxYzQyYzQ1NDg4">Committing his words to memory, Luon coated his eyes with mana. Valerie who was in front of him vanished as if she wasn’t there in the first place. Sensing something was amiss he immediately jumped towards that direction and turned around only to find her just a few meters behind him.</p> <p class="cnNkNGU2M2M4YzEwZDRmM2Q5Y2U1ODNkNWYyY2MyMTll">She dashed towards him with her blade aiming towards his heart, quickly Luon parried the move thus dispelling the illusion. Valerie who was repelled laughed as she said, “Looks like your brain isn’t full of just muscle after all! Come! Show me your strength!”</p> <p class="cnNiMTQ4Y2JkYmY1YjRhOGE4OTY0OTBmOTJjZDJjM2Zi">An erratic melody of swords resonated with the surroundings. Luon struggled to repel the large blade with his two swords, it didn’t look like it before, but her strength was unprecedented. Unlike the Vice-captain he had dealt with earlier she was more aggressive, especially with the characteristics of having a long katana.</p> <p class="cnMwOWJlYWNlM2ZhMDQyZGE5YmM2YTJmMzkxYjIxNmUy">Every time he tries to repels the attack she would pull back slightly and attack again in a different angle. Her wrist acted like a motion controller that decided where the attack would come and go as her blade danced in front of him. With speed and strength Luon felt outmatched, the pace was entirely in her hands.</p> <p class="cnM2NWEzYzU1M2ZmNjQ1N2U5OWUxMWFjMGIzYTlmNTE0">Many found the challenge quite difficult, to begin with, a level 79 combatant sparring with a level 85? The gap was too huge, just like how the bets for the match was completely one-sided.</p> <p class="cnM4OTZlOWU4MGFkODQ1ODJiODc0NTIwN2IwYjI1Yzcy">Despite being in a disadvantageous situation, a few prayed for his victory. His teammates, his teachers, others from the Nexus solar system, and a few more who had no money at all after spending their savings to bet on Nexus for a slim chance of victory to make a giant killing.</p> <p class="cnNhZmEwOWE2MjcxZDQxMjZiMjU2MjcxMzBmYzA4OWRk">The fact he was able to resist was already praise-worthy.</p> <p class="cnNiMDM3YmU1MDkwNDRjMjRhYjc1ODQyODRhZTk3YzJm">All Valerie had in her mind was to merely satisfy her desires to fight, however, as time passes she found no signs of Luon powering up any further. Disappointed she began to increase her pace. The strength and speed of the long katana nearly doubled as he starts to struggle to keep up with the pace.</p> <p class="cnM0MGJhZWFkNTkxOTRlYjdiMDUxNzBjNTM5NGI2NmU4">‘I need to do something quick!’ Luon thought. He began to channel his mana to cast a spell to make himself a gap to work with. He intended to case an ice bolt at her to get her to back away. Just as he was about to cast a spell, Thanatos said, “It’s pointless to use magic against her, dragons are rather resistant to magic.”</p> <p class="cnNhZjg1YjliZmYwNTQyMjY5ZjgwNGI1MGUyYjMwZjQx">‘Then what am I supposed to do?!’ asked Luon as he frantically dealt with her attacks.</p> <p class="cnNmNWIyYjA4YzE0ZDQ3ZDRhN2U0NWIxOWEzYzVjMjA2">“Don’t know,” Thanatos bluntly said.</p> <p class="cnM2YjNjMzQzODBlODQyMDhiMTUzZWMyZTY4OTQ2ZTZm">‘...’ Luon was speechless.</p> <p class="cnMzZTNkNDNhZTYwYzQxMGU4ZDk1OTU0ZTZhMzVhMmNi">“...” Even Thanatos didn’t know what to say about the current situation.</p> <p class="cnNkY2U4ZGRmNDZiMTQ2ODNiZWQ2YmE0YjZhMTZkNjc5">The mana that Luon conjured up began to show signs of instability, initially, he was going to use it to cast a spell against Valerie, but after learning it was useless, he held on to it.</p> <p class="cnMxMWI0NDE2YTA1MjQ3YjY5NjdhOWEyNzI4ZjJhODMz">‘What should I do with this mana then?’ asked Luon.</p> <p class="cnNiMDJhYjM1MDhkMjQwY2ZiNzJiNjM0ZGIwYjliNjE4">“Toss it on the ground? It’s useless after all?” said Thanatos.</p> <p class="cnM3YjgxMTYxNDk1NjQ4MjlhMzIxNjg3ZGY4YjMxZGZi">Following his directive, since it seemed to make sense, Luon tossed the mana on the ground. The spell that he was going to cast was ice bolt, and the elemental type of the mana particles was ice, his actions quickly froze the ground surface he was aiming towards.</p> <p class="cnMxNmYwMzM0MjdmZjRmMGRhMTA2ZjdhZTUzZTFlMjEx">Valerie who was aware of the fluctuation of mana coming out of Luon’s body kept a safe distance while maintaining the momentum. Immediately after he shot it out, she jumped away, barely dodging the attack that had gone just passed her. As her feet stepped onto the ground, she noticed something peculiar. The coefficient of friction between her and the ground changed as she slipped right on top of the ice.</p> <p class="cnMzZGVlYmY3MDgzZTQ5NTFhZWY1YTRhYjlkNGQ2MGZl">Luon and Thanatos who was once speechless, once again fell speechless, and it wasn’t just them, the crowd also fell silent. Luon made the dragon princess fall down? Fortunately for her, she wasn’t wearing any loose clothing to make the scene any worse than it already was.</p> <p class="cnM2YzNjY2IxYWQxMjQzZjVhOTJhZWZiMjIyY2MxZThk">“What are you doing? You could have attacked her,” Thanatos pointed out.</p> <p class="cnMwODIwOTAxNDk5NzQ3ZDBhMjRjNDk2ZGRjYmY0ZTIw">Luon who suddenly realized this began to charge at her with anticipation, but before he could move, Valerie who on the ground rose up and raised her sword. Only this time her expressionless face and deceptive smile were replaced with rage and anger. Luon somehow got this feeling that the next few minutes may be the worse few moments of his life.</p> <p class="cnM4MzQ0MTlmMzBjZDRkMDJhNDM0ZDUyNTYyNTZkZmM5">There were no tricks, Valerie charged towards Luon launching a series of deadly blows as if she was a game character launching constant special attacks with an infinite amount of energy.</p> <p class="cnM3NWMxMDQwNGRiYTQ4MjM5YWFiMmM2OWM3MTRkYjNi">Rather than defending and staying his ground, Luon parried the attacks before continuing to run away, and at some point the running speed used, doubled if not tripled when Luon gave up repelling the attacks and focused on running and dodging.</p> <p class="cnM4YWU4NGYxZDFiMTQ0NzFiZGI5NGYxMGI5MmViMDZk">Bendan who was was released from the trap when it stopped producing monsters managed to arrive at where Luon is. As he raised his hand to greet him, all he could see was the figure of Luon running right by him. Confused he turned to see what he was running from, and all he saw was a flashing white light. In one shot he was instantly eliminated!</p> <p class="cnMzMzJhYzVlZTc4NDRiNTc4ZWE1ODExZWU2MDczMjFh">Scared from the vivid and gruesome display Luon continued to run as Valerie chased him down. Soon enough he arrived outside of the building. Although Valerie was mad, her attacks weren’t without reason. Her teammates were dead making it more difficult to win this match, and if she didn’t kill Luon now, she might bring shame to her people.</p> <p class="cnM2Mjc2YWYwODMyODQ1YmU4NzE2NGE3ZjBmM2JjZjc1">Luon who realized this fact quickly ran away, one needed to know when to attack and when to retreat, a war isn’t won by one person.</p> <p class="cnM5ODdlM2UxOTdmMzRjMWU5NjcwMGZlMGM3NDg2OTA3">Outside of the structure, the two met an intense light, and upon recognizing what it was the facial expression of the two differed significantly. Luon was glad to see the arrival of Thomas’s Robotic army accompanied by several mages, and in front of them, all was a hero. The same hero that he was introduced to by Belle, Ivar. On the other hand, Valerie found the situation quite troublesome, using all these units as a meat wall will be a challenge, but despite the disadvantage, she smiled thinking about the difficulty.</p> <p class="cnNjZTM2ZjgyYWRjODRiNmY5NGY5NTEzNGIzYjU4NmYx">Ivar without his weapon was equivalent to a level 80 warrior, many heroes had a similar amount of power, the only difference was that they all had some kind of quirk to help them overturn armies. Valerie could be considered a hero as well, strength wise. To qualify as a hero one had to create a legend, and then later have someone record their life when they have perished. She could overturn this situation in her dragon form… and the restriction binding her was just removed. The match had passed 40 minutes.</p> <p class="cnM4ODZiYjhmNTI0ZTQzNmY5MTI4ZTM3MTZkNDQ0NzE1">Immediately an alarm rang, several beams of light appeared out of nowhere and hit Valerie, seeing this Luon yelled, “Attack her! Don't let her transform!”</p> <p class="cnM1MTE4OTI2MTBkMjRmOTFiMTk2MWVlY2ZjZjljMDA2">But it was too late as a series of attacks approached her, while coated in the light she smiled as the glare shrouded everyone's vision. By the time they regained their senses a gravitational force had overwhelmed everyone on the scene.</p> <p class="cnMwNDJjNGFjMTBmYTRlNTA5MWM0NTEzNDE3MTgyOTM4">Their bodies didn't become heavier it was their spirit. With scales that glimmer with a golden hue, an imposing golden dragon stood before them. The dragonified Valerie roared, “The battle ends now!”</p> <p class="cnM5NmFmMGNjYjUxMDRhYzg5ZTdmMGExNWM4NjRlY2Zm"><br>Her body shines brightly as mana particles gathered around her mouth, her neck stood gallantly as she breathes out a devastating blaze. Wherever she faced, the golden flames coated the army leaving no trace of any survivors behind. With a single breath, she had shattered half of the robotic army and several mages who desperately deployed barrier magic.</p> <p class="cnNmYWNmMWJkZGRmMDQxNWJhZDllYjAwNzMyMGMzZDgw">Ivar roared greatly and hammered her with his fist, but the racial differences between a dragon and a barbarian were too vast. His attack which would have devastated many normal Inzektors was proven useless before her might.</p> <p class="cnMxNGRkZmRmYzZmMzRlNzdhMzNhYWY1NGE2MDAzNDFm">Luon desperately retreated from the battlefield, the moment he was eliminated the match was all over. Rather than a fair match, it was a slaughter, within seconds she had reduced the entire army which Luon held confidence in into dust. With a hard stomp, she had defeated the Ivar, the dragon stared down on him causing his soul to shiver. With a sword in his hand, he readied for the last battle, though it may only last a few seconds it was still time that he desperately needed.</p> <p class="cnMwYzcwODQ0M2I0ODQ3OGZhNzlhZTg1Y2IxYjQ1Njg0">And that time was well used, unlike Valerie who treated who comrades as trash, Luon treated them as companions, he believed in them when he needed them, and they did the same. Tyron who managed to break himself free of the trap reached the enemies unguarded Crypt of Heroes and destroyed it. A single person can’t change the tides of a war, a war is fought on multiple fronts. Which is why the Inzektors were still prominent today.</p> <p class="cnM0ZWVmMTY2ZjVjYzRhZGRiYzcxODBkYzIzOWMzMjUw">All of the competitors vanished, and the final match was over. Luon may have won the war, but he lost that battle.</p> </div>

The cold sensation of her blade tickled his neck as blood started to trail down it. Luon felt as if the grim reaper had appeared behind his back ready to reap his soul and yet after it made its appearance it didn’t make a move. “That’s once,” a cold voice rang. Luon intuitively jumped away only to meet with Valerie’s cold, expressionless face, there was no trace of smile she had showed him just seconds ago. ‘How can she move like that? I wasn’t even able to see her,’ thought Luon as he carefully studied his opponent. Lightly tracing his neck he could feel the scar she had done to him. The blood incited his senses as the nerves in his brain screamed of danger coming from his opponent. Fear for the unknown yet excited to battle Luon once again readied his stance and faced his opponent, he carefully studied her anticipating her next move. The same maneuver was repeated once more as her silhouette vanished, only this time he swung his blade behind his back in an attempt to predict her future movement, it was in vain though. Rather than appearing behind him, her body materialized in front of him. Luon who had his neck turned around felt another cold sensation against his neck. He slowly faced Valerie who was in front of him as she said, “That’s twice. I’ll give you one more chance, the next one would be your last.” She removed her blade and began to walk away, leaving Luon completely dumbfounded. What kind of movement was it? Teleportation? Fast movement? Luon couldn’t fathom what it was. She was able to decide where she could appear and could react based on his actions. “You still couldn’t see through it,” Thanatos muttered after sighing. ‘No, I couldn’t see how she did it at all. Why are you only asking now? Did you figure out how she did it?’ asked Luon as he was still thinking about how she did it. “What she was doing was a combination of high-speed movement and illusion magic,” Thanatos explained. It appears that despite being slightly oversized, the blade tends to attract the view of her opponent’s and because their attention is focused on the range of her sword it allowed her to easily use her illusion magic to get up close to her opponent. Coupled with high-speed movement it gave the impression that she was moving at an extremely fast pace. Luon didn’t think that she would be using illusion magic. She had never used it before and felt that the only reason she was doing it now was that she was having fun toying with him. Watching him desperately resist against illusions would be quite entertaining for her. Luon was quite angry, but he managed to calm himself down. After all, this wasn’t the first time he was made fun of, rather than rage it was better to just retaliate with strength. ‘Okay, so I know what it is now… how could I stop it?’ Luon said as he readied his stance once more. It appeared that Valerie wanted to end it sooner than later as she turned around and prepared her position once more. “I didn’t want to say it earlier because I realized that she didn’t want to eliminate you, at least right away. It would have been more beneficial if you learned how to analyze the move yourself, and think of a counter. However, it appears that you won’t be able to understand the concept in this match. I’ll tell you a little trick for now. Take your mana and encase your eyes with it, your eye of insight may be able to provide you with some details about objects and people. However, it isn’t able to see everything, the ultimate truth of the world. The mana will help you dispel the illusion, just think of it as wearing a pair of glasses,” Thanatos pointed out. Luon found him quite talkative when he starts his lengthy lectures. Committing his words to memory, Luon coated his eyes with mana. Valerie who was in front of him vanished as if she wasn’t there in the first place. Sensing something was amiss he immediately jumped towards that direction and turned around only to find her just a few meters behind him. She dashed towards him with her blade aiming towards his heart, quickly Luon parried the move thus dispelling the illusion. Valerie who was repelled laughed as she said, “Looks like your brain isn’t full of just muscle after all! Come! Show me your strength!” An erratic melody of swords resonated with the surroundings. Luon struggled to repel the large blade with his two swords, it didn’t look like it before, but her strength was unprecedented. Unlike the Vice-captain he had dealt with earlier she was more aggressive, especially with the characteristics of having a long katana. Every time he tries to repels the attack she would pull back slightly and attack again in a different angle. Her wrist acted like a motion controller that decided where the attack would come and go as her blade danced in front of him. With speed and strength Luon felt outmatched, the pace was entirely in her hands. Many found the challenge quite difficult, to begin with, a level 79 combatant sparring with a level 85? The gap was too huge, just like how the bets for the match was completely one-sided. Despite being in a disadvantageous situation, a few prayed for his victory. His teammates, his teachers, others from the Nexus solar system, and a few more who had no money at all after spending their savings to bet on Nexus for a slim chance of victory to make a giant killing. The fact he was able to resist was already praise-worthy. All Valerie had in her mind was to merely satisfy her desires to fight, however, as time passes she found no signs of Luon powering up any further. Disappointed she began to increase her pace. The strength and speed of the long katana nearly doubled as he starts to struggle to keep up with the pace. ‘I need to do something quick!’ Luon thought. He began to channel his mana to cast a spell to make himself a gap to work with. He intended to case an ice bolt at her to get her to back away. Just as he was about to cast a spell, Thanatos said, “It’s pointless to use magic against her, dragons are rather resistant to magic.” ‘Then what am I supposed to do?!’ asked Luon as he frantically dealt with her attacks. “Don’t know,” Thanatos bluntly said. ‘...’ Luon was speechless. “...” Even Thanatos didn’t know what to say about the current situation. The mana that Luon conjured up began to show signs of instability, initially, he was going to use it to cast a spell against Valerie, but after learning it was useless, he held on to it. ‘What should I do with this mana then?’ asked Luon. “Toss it on the ground? It’s useless after all?” said Thanatos. Following his directive, since it seemed to make sense, Luon tossed the mana on the ground. The spell that he was going to cast was ice bolt, and the elemental type of the mana particles was ice, his actions quickly froze the ground surface he was aiming towards. Valerie who was aware of the fluctuation of mana coming out of Luon’s body kept a safe distance while maintaining the momentum. Immediately after he shot it out, she jumped away, barely dodging the attack that had gone just passed her. As her feet stepped onto the ground, she noticed something peculiar. The coefficient of friction between her and the ground changed as she slipped right on top of the ice. Luon and Thanatos who was once speechless, once again fell speechless, and it wasn’t just them, the crowd also fell silent. Luon made the dragon princess fall down? Fortunately for her, she wasn’t wearing any loose clothing to make the scene any worse than it already was. “What are you doing? You could have attacked her,” Thanatos pointed out. Luon who suddenly realized this began to charge at her with anticipation, but before he could move, Valerie who on the ground rose up and raised her sword. Only this time her expressionless face and deceptive smile were replaced with rage and anger. Luon somehow got this feeling that the next few minutes may be the worse few moments of his life. There were no tricks, Valerie charged towards Luon launching a series of deadly blows as if she was a game character launching constant special attacks with an infinite amount of energy. Rather than defending and staying his ground, Luon parried the attacks before continuing to run away, and at some point the running speed used, doubled if not tripled when Luon gave up repelling the attacks and focused on running and dodging. Bendan who was was released from the trap when it stopped producing monsters managed to arrive at where Luon is. As he raised his hand to greet him, all he could see was the figure of Luon running right by him. Confused he turned to see what he was running from, and all he saw was a flashing white light. In one shot he was instantly eliminated! Scared from the vivid and gruesome display Luon continued to run as Valerie chased him down. Soon enough he arrived outside of the building. Although Valerie was mad, her attacks weren’t without reason. Her teammates were dead making it more difficult to win this match, and if she didn’t kill Luon now, she might bring shame to her people. Luon who realized this fact quickly ran away, one needed to know when to attack and when to retreat, a war isn’t won by one person. Outside of the structure, the two met an intense light, and upon recognizing what it was the facial expression of the two differed significantly. Luon was glad to see the arrival of Thomas’s Robotic army accompanied by several mages, and in front of them, all was a hero. The same hero that he was introduced to by Belle, Ivar. On the other hand, Valerie found the situation quite troublesome, using all these units as a meat wall will be a challenge, but despite the disadvantage, she smiled thinking about the difficulty. Ivar without his weapon was equivalent to a level 80 warrior, many heroes had a similar amount of power, the only difference was that they all had some kind of quirk to help them overturn armies. Valerie could be considered a hero as well, strength wise. To qualify as a hero one had to create a legend, and then later have someone record their life when they have perished. She could overturn this situation in her dragon form… and the restriction binding her was just removed. The match had passed 40 minutes. Immediately an alarm rang, several beams of light appeared out of nowhere and hit Valerie, seeing this Luon yelled, “Attack her! Don't let her transform!” But it was too late as a series of attacks approached her, while coated in the light she smiled as the glare shrouded everyone's vision. By the time they regained their senses a gravitational force had overwhelmed everyone on the scene. Their bodies didn't become heavier it was their spirit. With scales that glimmer with a golden hue, an imposing golden dragon stood before them. The dragonified Valerie roared, “The battle ends now!” Her body shines brightly as mana particles gathered around her mouth, her neck stood gallantly as she breathes out a devastating blaze. Wherever she faced, the golden flames coated the army leaving no trace of any survivors behind. With a single breath, she had shattered half of the robotic army and several mages who desperately deployed barrier magic. Ivar roared greatly and hammered her with his fist, but the racial differences between a dragon and a barbarian were too vast. His attack which would have devastated many normal Inzektors was proven useless before her might. Luon desperately retreated from the battlefield, the moment he was eliminated the match was all over. Rather than a fair match, it was a slaughter, within seconds she had reduced the entire army which Luon held confidence in into dust. With a hard stomp, she had defeated the Ivar, the dragon stared down on him causing his soul to shiver. With a sword in his hand, he readied for the last battle, though it may only last a few seconds it was still time that he desperately needed. And that time was well used, unlike Valerie who treated who comrades as trash, Luon treated them as companions, he believed in them when he needed them, and they did the same. Tyron who managed to break himself free of the trap reached the enemies unguarded Crypt of Heroes and destroyed it. A single person can’t change the tides of a war, a war is fought on multiple fronts. Which is why the Inzektors were still prominent today. All of the competitors vanished, and the final match was over. Luon may have won the war, but he lost that battle.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM2Njc0MmFjNTkxMTRkNzFhYjg4NzJmMzQ2ZWE2Yzhj"> </p> <p class="cnMzNDdkYTRiNTMxZjQ3MWNhODA2ZWZiNzE3YTY5MGM4"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Honk… Honk… Honk…</span></em></p> <p class="cnM3NmI4ZGNlOTYzNzRiNmNiMjEzYzc5NzUxZWY3NjUy"><span style="font-weight: 400">A yellow school bus rolled up the apartment, squealing its wheels as it drifted in. On its sides, the words, ‘Free Food and Shelter’ were crudely sprayed on. As the dust settled, the door opened, and Jones stepped out. Fumbling in his pockets, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and blazed away. </span></p> <p class="cnM2Yzk0MmIyNTFlMjRkZWJiYjE0ODM5MThmMmFkZGQw"><span style="font-weight: 400">What seemed like a pack of rodents rushed out of the bus. They were definitely not students. Dressed in filthy, sewn-together rags and dirty beanies, they reeked of booze and spit. Their hairs were unkempt and specs of dirt and dust dropped to the ground as they ran past. Their target was a rather innocuous table with a pot of soup laid atop. Fights began breaking out as the hobos ravaged each other for control of the ladle.</span></p> <p class="cnNlZjYwOTlmYjA1ZDRlZGRhNDIwZGE0OWNhMjIzMGM2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones took a bemused glance at the ensuing fights and threw a handful of change in. He walked inside and stepped into the office.</span></p> <p class="cnNmYTZkMzQ3NGQ1MjQ5NWY4OWE4M2ExNDE0ODMyN2Zk"><span style="font-weight: 400">Inside, Watson was watching television. He was dressed in a red apron and looked tired. Hearing the door creak open, he turned to see Jones enter the room.</span></p> <p class="cnMzNjdjZTE4Y2U4OTRhZDY5YzQyZDdjYzM2YzU4Njkx"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Jones!” He said, looking delighted. “Thank god you’re here. I can’t deal with all these people.”</span></p> <p class="cnNlNDkxZjU4NGFhYjRlYTNiNjIzODQyZGRkOThhYjM4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones spat his cigarette out. “Yeah, yeah. I’m back. I got the next batch.” He sniffed the air.</span></p> <p class="cnMzZGE2M2ZiNTYxMzQ5ZjQ5MzhiNzU5NmFlYmU4YzM5"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Smells a bit, doesn’t it?” Watson said. “I tried giving them Febreeze, but one of them drank it.”</span></p> <p class="cnM2YzkyZDI3MGRhOTRkZmI5Yzk5MDYxNmE2ZTNmMzk0"><span style="font-weight: 400">Chuckling, Jones sat down on the couch. “So, is the election on?”</span></p> <p class="cnNhYTg3NTE5OTViMzQ0NzNiNjdlNjEyYWRlNWM1ODli"><span style="font-weight: 400">Watson reached for a cooler and took out a beer. “Yes. Ben’s right up.” He said, offering the beverage to Jones.</span></p> <p class="cnMwZWRhMTMzNzM1ZjQxMmFhNDNmNzIwNGY4MTA5ZjY5"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Thanks.” Jones cracked the can open. “I hope Ben doesn’t fuck this up.”</span></p> <p class="cnNlZmExNzg5MmU3NDQ4MmViMWRkMGIwZGNiODRjNmYy"><span style="font-weight: 400">The television crackled. It was an old CRT they’d picked up at a nearby dump. On screen, the mayor’s office a couple blocks down was shown, the candidates for this election standing proudly, shoulder-to-shoulder. </span></p> <p class="cnNlNmVlNzk1Yzc5MzQ4MWNiMmI4NDRjMTc2YzIwYWVk"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben was looking the best he’d ever been. Normally, he was already the perfect neighbour. Now, he looked like an old woman’s wet dream. Dressed in a nifty suit, his smile swooned the hearts of many a nannies. He stepped carefully atop the stairs, standing in front of the podium.</span></p> <p class="cnMzOGE3MjBkYmRiZTRhNGZiZGEyZDM1MzEyNzM2MTc0"><span style="font-weight: 400">“We practiced a lot.” Watson poured himself a cup of water. </span></p> <p class="cnNlNjYxODg5NTU2NTRmZTQ4NGUyZDQ5MmM2N2IyNmQ0"><span style="font-weight: 400">“That we did.” Jones sighed.</span></p> <p class="cnM5OWQ3YWFkYzgyOTQzYjZiMTc4MjE0NmRhYTUxN2Ni"><span style="font-weight: 400">“You know, Jones…” Watson turned away from the telly. “I know I’ve said this a lot, but… I still don’t get this part of the plan.”</span></p> <p class="cnMyMjU5Nzg0YmFiMjQ4MjY5MDZmY2FmN2ZlZGZlNGY4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones laughed. “Understatement of the year. Do you at least get why we got those hobos and the apartment block?”</span></p> <p class="cnNkNzVkZDY0MWE3MjQ1YzFhYjA4MDNlZjllZWRlMjdh"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Yeah… We give them a place, and make them vote for us, right? I mean, that’s pretty simple.” Watson nodded. “But I don’t get this speech business.”</span></p> <p class="cnM0ZmEzZjc4ZWM0YzQ5Njk5NzBjYjZlMWU1MWNiNTcx"><span style="font-weight: 400">The crowd murmured. They didn’t know what to expect of Ben; most knew him as a member of their community, but as a politician? They talked amongst themselves while Ben cleared his throat.</span></p> <p class="cnMyMDE0ZTU0Mzc5ZjQ0NjY5MDk3MjkyMjk2MTYxMzFm"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">“I’d like to begin with a thanks. To the organizers, to my fellow constituents, and most importantly, the citizens of this wonderful community- Thank you.” </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">The crowd applauded.</span></p> <p class="cnMyY2VlZGU0MGE1ZjQ2ZTBiYzcyNmE3NDU1NmJhNzg4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I thought that was the easy part.” Jones said. He took a big swig. “But continue.”</span></p> <p class="cnMxNzljNjgyZjMxMTRkYjBhODQwNjA0ZDE1YWE0MThj"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">“We stand here, at a historical moment for our community.” </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben said, his voice clear and sonorous. </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">“The position of mayor isn’t something to be trifled with. Only the most worthy of candidates can bear this responsibility.”</span></em></p> <p class="cnM1YWU0ZDMyOWE3OTQzNGVhZjUyZjk0ZmVmOTRhNTUy"><span style="font-weight: 400">Watson raised the telly’s volume. “It’s just one part of it.”</span></p> <p class="cnM5YWU3NjU1N2NiZDRkZGM4YmE4ZWNhYWM1ODJlOTc2"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">“Most of you wonderful people know me well as a member of your community.” </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">He said. </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">“I’m certain you’re all wondering what makes me stand here, right in front of you. What do I offer, that the others- by admission, more experienced candidates than I am- can’t?”</span></em></p> <p class="cnM4YmMyZWZjYTJjZTRjMTI4MDE2N2M3NDk3MjlkNzdh"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones took another sip. “What part? This one?”</span></p> <p class="cnM2MmI1MjU2ZjA3ZTQ0Mjc5OGQ5MWE1NzViNDFlNTFk"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">“I know that they too want the best for our community, but I believe there is a lack of attention given to the people that supported us over the years.” </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben paused. </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">“The elderly, and the retired. They’ve worked hard, yet they’re the ones paying the most taxes. I think that’s a large dilemma we must tackle.”</span></em></p> <p class="cnNhNjEzMmIzMjJhNDRkZjI4NDY5YjZjYTIzYTc0MDBl"><span style="font-weight: 400">“We’re just appealing to old fucks for votes here. Demographics, remember?” Jones smirked.</span></p> <p class="cnM2MmQ3Yjg4M2RjYjQ1MmU4YTVkZDNhMTVmZjMyZmYx"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">“Beyond that, the current working class will be empowered. I think increased subsidies for new firms and establishments will give us an edge over neighbouring towns. I will also fight for an increase in our bottom-line; I will personally suggest an increase of the minimum wage to the state’s board.”</span></em></p> <p class="cnNlMjUyNjdkNDNhNjQwYTU5MGZmNjIzMDUxNzhjNDlk"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Well, I did read those. So I mean, I get that.” Watson nodded along. “But it’s the last part.”</span></p> <p class="cnMxYjljNjMzZjMzMjQ5ZjA5MmM3ZDRlZGU4NTg4OTE1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben started looking nervous. </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">“Beyond that… Well, I’ve yet to appeal for emotion, haven’t I? I know that most of you know me well as a friend. A person to rely on. And I return that respect in kind; I believe in all of you gorgeous people. I know this community to be what it is; the most… Accepting community to ever be.”</span></em></p> <p class="cnNkNGI1ZTQ3MGU4NDRlMDFhNjc0OWZmYzA4YzNjZGFl"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Oh, you mean…” Jones’s grin grew wider.</span></p> <p class="cnNhNTE3ZDRkYTAwODQzMTA4ZGMzMGExZWI4NDUwZGEz"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">“I… Also wish to take this opportunity to come out to you all.”</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> Ben gulped. </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">“I’m… A homosexual. I know that this information will not rust our relationships; I just wished to be honest. With myself, and to you all. You’ve earned it. Thank you, and goodbye.”</span></em></p> <p class="cnM2M2E1ODE5ZmRjNDQ3YWZiNjI1ZTliZDMyZGI2YzQ2"><span style="font-weight: 400">The reception to Ben’s exit was very different from his entrance. Instead of an unsure murmur, the crowd exploded into a cacophony of cheers and shouts, as well as a series of groans and cracked hips from his fan club. Ben jolted off the stage in a hurry.</span></p> <p class="cnMzYjY5YzI2OWViYjQ3MDZiYmI4YmIwYjNlM2ViOGU0"><span style="font-weight: 400">“That part.” Watson pointed at the monitor. “Was that really necessary?”</span></p> <p class="cnMxYTM3Yzk2NWJjZjRhZWY4NTczMjVjYTllYWMzYzc2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones stood up from his chair and stretched his arms. “That was a fantastic show.” He cackled. “And yeah. That was necessary. It’s called the blame game, Watson. They shit on Ben, now, and we can shit right back on them. Call them homophobes and their career is ruined for good.”</span></p> <p class="cnM0Y2YxOTQ4NTYxYjQ1NGY4ZGY1MzcyNDlmMjg5ZGMy"><span style="font-weight: 400">Watching Jones attempt to throw his empty can into the bin and fail, Watson sighed. “I just don’t get you, Jones. Where do you get these ideas?”</span></p> <p class="cnMyOWFkMmFlYzZjODRjYmI4YWUzMDQyNmM2ZjU2YTU4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“You learn from your enemies.” Jones answered. “Anyways, we gotta go clean up those hobos. You comin’ with?”</span></p> <p class="cnNlZjY3NDEyODhmODRhZTliMWI3MGZhZDY1MjMzNGI0"> </p> <hr> <p class="cnM2NGFiOTk3ZDg4YjQ3ZTc5YTIzYWQ4OTVhZjhjMGYy"> </p> <p class="cnM1YzIwYzhjODU4ZDQxODNhNjVlN2Q2ZjllZDU0ZDRl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben sat in a corner, sulking and drinking.</span></p> <p class="cnMxMmM5MmI0N2Q3NTQzMGY4MDdiODBhMGI3NTU4NjUy"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones walked up to him. “You been in here since the speech last week? Good job, by the way.” He patted his back.</span></p> <p class="cnNjMjQxNzY1Y2EyNzRhY2FiNzE5MWI0NjM4ZjUyMGZj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben shuddered, and took another swig. “I can’t go outside anymore.” He said. “I don’t know why I agreed to do this, Jones. My mom called me yesterday. Told me she’s so proud of me for coming out.”</span></p> <p class="cnMwNzY2YTFiMjAxZjQ1YzViMjJhMDMxMzM4MThiNjVj"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Well… You did do a good job on that…” </span></p> <p class="cnNmMGU2NWNmYzRmZTQ0MjA4MzNlMTQ4MGJiZGQxZjYw"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben smashed his now-empty bottle against a wall. “I’m not fucking gay, Jones!” He teared up. “I like that girl down the road, you know? She congratulated me after the speech. Told me she used to have a thing for me, but oh well. Do I want her gay friend’s number? No, I fucking don’t.”</span></p> <p class="cnM0MzlkZjIwZTE1ODRlMzVhMTYyMzhiOGEwNjE2MzQ1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones stepped back. “Woah, woah. Man, calm down. You’ve been drinking a bit too much.” He pointed at the bottle of booze lined up. “You know what? You shouldn’t take more. Here, let me help you.” He said, cracking one open, chugging it down.</span></p> <p class="cnNkODA3MTZjZDk2MjQxZGI4Yzg0OWEzNzFhMTMyODNj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben glared at him, eager to start a fight. But he sighed, and looked down. “Why’re you here?”</span></p> <p class="cnNjNjkzZDgyZTNhOTRlNjI4ZWQwNjQxMjNiODc2ZGNl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones sat down. “Here to pick you up.” He continued drinking. “I get you ain’t feeling too good, but we still have a job to do.”</span></p> <p class="cnMxNjllMGM2ZWUwNjRjOWJhOWYzOGVmNGMzNGZjYmRj"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I don’t mean that, specifically.” Ben said, eyeing Jones from top to bottom.</span></p> <p class="cnMyYTNlODc3NzY5ZjQzYjU5YTBmNGY3Y2VjZDA5NGQw"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones shirked. “Woah, I don’t swing that way.” He chuckled.</span></p> <p class="cnNlOGNjMjY1NmZkZTRkMGM5ZmU2ZjI3YmQ0ZmI0ZDZk"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben punched his shoulder. “Not that, asshole.” He said. “You know what? Nevermind.”</span></p> <p class="cnNmY2QwODJkZDQxNDQzM2FiZjA4NmI1NzQ3ZTI5NGVj"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Ow. That’s the shot shoulder. You ready to get back to work, then?” Jones burped.</span></p> <p class="cnNiN2NjZjk0NWZiMDRiNjNiZGU0ZmI5YmJmNmQ3ZDZl"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Yeah.” Ben stood up and dusted his pants. </span></p> <p class="cnM3MjdhMTM3MzkxNzQwYTQ4ZDkwM2JjYTBmMzQ4MDlk"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones followed. “Good to hear.” He said. “I’ve got the others assembled. Lisa’s gettin’ on the radio, and Watson’s waiting at the office.”</span></p> <p class="cnMyODdjNDY4MmEwZDQ2MDM5ZThjODU4OWIxYTFhOWMx"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones gestured Ben to follow, and headed for the car.</span></p> <p class="cnMxNjU3NTYxN2NkMDQxNTVhYjA5ZGZlOWNlZGRiNTJh"> </p> <hr> <p class="cnNjYzU1NjNlOWY2YTRkZGFiNjhkMWNiMmMzY2Y0YTA1"> </p> <p class="cnM3ZjY3NDcxZTdjYzRiMzQ5Zjg5MDIzYjdlNzgxMTdi"><span style="font-weight: 400">The office was cramped with papers and gadgets. Watson was eagerly awaiting Jones’s arrival, nervously stepping around. From the ceiling above came the sounds of angry homeless people shoving each other and throwing bottles. He perked up as he heard the front door open, and two people step in.</span></p> <p class="cnM3NTUzZjFmMTM3OTRhZWE4ODg4YjI4MTczYjliYWZi"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones kicked the door in. Ben shuffled behind him, looking very hungover.</span></p> <p class="cnMxYzY2MTVjYTQ4MTQ2MDZiYjBjMWNiNTM0MTVhNGJl"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I’m back!” Jones said. He was smiling very wide. “I’ve got our newly enlightened. Three bottles of Vodka- I gotta say, I’m proud of him.”</span></p> <p class="cnM3N2Q3MzM3NTM4ZDRlNzU5MDFlYjA5NzU1MDhmNjY4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Watson looked relieved. “You’re finally back, Jones. Did it take long to… Uh, pick him up?”</span></p> <p class="cnM4N2IwNjI3M2ZmYTRiMTFiYWRhMDJiOTJiMjc3NDZm"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Nah, it wasn’t that hard. I just had to buy some cigs on the way.” Jones waved him away.</span></p> <p class="cnNhNDNhMTdhMzJiZTQ0OThhMjRiZTE1OTk4ZDcyOTQ5"><span style="font-weight: 400">Watson breathed out. “I was worried he’d be a wreck.”</span></p> <p class="cnMxMGQzNTQwNjBmODQwODFhODFjNjNiMWUxZDczMzc3"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Kinda do feel like one.” Ben said. He used the wall to stabilize himself.</span></p> <p class="cnM3YjU3ODBiZTA5ZDQ0MTZiYTc4MWQ2NzkyYTJlNmZm"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Nevermind all that shit.” Jones said. He sat down on a couch and laid his feet on the coffee table. “Is Lisa coming on anytime soon?”</span></p> <p class="cnM3ZDg3YTQyNGVlNjQzN2U4ZDY4OGNhYjQ0YWYwYzUy"><span style="font-weight: 400">Watson pointed at the radio. “Well, she said she’d be back. She just went to grab a drink after I told her you’d be leading the conference.”</span></p> <p class="cnM3MWU0NmRhMWIxNTQwNThhMGMyZDgzNjdiM2YzNDBl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones chuckled. “That’s mighty nice of her.” He said. He yanked the microphone from its holder. “Hey, anyone there? We’re all ready here.”</span></p> <p class="cnMxMmE5OTEwN2NmNjQxZjZiNDQ3NjMwODlkMDE2NGQ0"><span style="font-weight: 400">The radio remained silent, but soon after, one could make out faint footsteps.</span></p> <p class="cnM1ZWY0NjVmNTYxMjRiNzliOGQ1MmI3ODdmZmU2Mzdj"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Quiet down, will you?” A female voice rang. “Half the base heard you. Commander Lisa reports for the… Conference.”</span></p> <p class="cnMwOTM1OTkzMWEyYTRiYWU5M2Y3MTc3MTE0MGQ5ZDlk"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Now that sounds official.” Jones grinned. ”Well, I got the point across. Whatchu having tonight, commander? A glass of whisky?”</span></p> <p class="cnNmY2I5Y2QzOTM5YzRhYTU4ODY3YmE2MDdkNTcxMWMw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Spirytus. Actually. 95%. Just for this enlightening occasion.” The radio fizzled. </span></p> <p class="cnNhNjdhMWNiOWNjMzRkMDA4OTI1MzRkMDFlZTQ1YWZk"><span style="font-weight: 400">“What an honor.” Jones said. “Anyways, you got everything?”</span></p> <p class="cnNkNGZlMWU1NTkxYTRhZjg5YzExMDhmNDUwYmY0NjI2"><span style="font-weight: 400">The radio replied a moment later. “I think so. Is Ben there?”</span></p> <p class="cnMwMGNkNDNlNTQwYTQ1Yzc5MjJkYmYwN2IxYmUzNzQ1"><span style="font-weight: 400">A tired Ben groaned. ”Yeah, I’m here.” He said. “Not feeling all there, but I’m here.”</span></p> <p class="cnMxODliN2Y3MDJiODQ3YzNiZjEzYmFjYzJlMTcxNGRi"><span style="font-weight: 400">“It’s been a while, Ben. Any updates?” Lisa asked.</span></p> <p class="cnNkZjg3YmU4YjIyYzRhZTg5MDU2ZDczYjI3MWI1ODI4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Well, I want to shoot myself a bit more now.” Ben replied. “But no, everything’s fine. Going well, actually, as much as I don’t want to admit.”</span></p> <p class="cnM3Yjg2YzhmZTVmNjQyMTNhNGE5ZWQ3MjZhODdkYjcw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Good, good.” Lisa said. “Then continue. We can chat later.”</span></p> <p class="cnNkZmE5NTk3YTA2NzQ4ZWQ4MDcxZjFlODE1OTU4YzM4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones stood up and walked towards a whiteboard hastily taped to a wall. Punching it, he said, “You guys done talkin’ about the weather now? Can I start?”</span></p> <p class="cnM2Mjc0ZGIyZTVjYjRmMTg4Y2VhOGRhMTljYzhkODVj"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Go ahead.” Lisa said.</span></p> <p class="cnM0MTBiMzg4MmJhMDQ4MzI5OGI5ZWIwMjcyOThkNWYz"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Well then, if I may…” Jones pulled out a black marker. “We have a problem.”</span></p> <p class="cnMxYjJhN2IxNTc5NjRjZDVhZDNjNWU1NjQ4ZmYzMDRj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Watson eyed him curiously. “What do you mean, Jones?”</span></p> <p class="cnMxMWI3NzQ0OGYzMTQxNmVhNWU3NTJjMGNlYTYwZDlh"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones started drawing a huge box, split into four quadrants. He started labelling them. “The votes. I hired some dude to do some math and shit.” He labelled them as ‘Boomers’, ‘Grannies’, ‘Kids’, and ‘Conservatives’. “Here are the four demographics of the town.”</span></p> <p class="cnNjNjUxYmI5NzJjOTRhNzI4ZjA2NWI0OWM3MTI5ZmQ2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben shook himself awake and took a glance at the board. “Pretty rough, but I guess so.”</span></p> <p class="cnM2NTU5NTc3MzVhMzRjNTNhZTAxMDE5MjNkYTEwNzcz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Lisa chimed in. “What’s the problem?”</span></p> <p class="cnNhNTUwNjk5MjFlODQxNjU5YTVlZTUwMTUyOTIzM2Yz"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Well, we’ve cornered there two markets.” Jones circled the ‘Liberals’ and the ‘Grannies’. “But the others? We ain’t got shit from them. There’s part of the problem.”</span></p> <p class="cnMzNTI2MWI5YzE5YzRmNjA4NjQwN2MzZDE4ZjQxNWNk"><span style="font-weight: 400">“The guy calculated that we have roughly 26% of the total votes. By the end, he calculated, these two quadrants will give us 60% of their total votes.” He paused. “But the leader right now had been climbing hard- really fucking hard. He’s at 35% now, and rising.”</span></p> <p class="cnM3MWMzNzcyYjY3MzQ1OTI4ZDk5NTUxOGY1ZjZjZDUw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“So… We aren’t guaranteed to win, you’re saying?” Watson asked.</span></p> <p class="cnMzY2IyNzQ1MTU4ODQ5Mjc4MjYwYTBiMDc5MTAyM2E1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones snapped his fingers. ”Exactly. And that’s a huge problem. We’re probably not gonna get a shot as good as this.” He said. “Even including the homeless dudes, we’re probably at 34%. I ain’t finished highschool, so take that as you will, but it should be right.”</span></p> <p class="cnM4YTcwNTUwYjFiYzQ5N2M5YmI0OTY1YmZhNDI2ZDM5"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben slumped onto a couch. ”So, what’s your point? Get onto it. I need a nap.” </span></p> <p class="cnNjZmIyMWU2MDA3ZTQzN2ViZWQ1NWI2MjAxMmZiYWZk"><span style="font-weight: 400">“These two quadrants barely vote for us.” He tapped at ‘Boomers’ and ‘Kids’. “The thing about this town is- most of these four quadrants live separate from each other. “ He began coloring the quadrants. “So they’re isolated mini-communities.”</span></p> <p class="cnNjZGZjOWNlM2NlNzRiM2E4ODFhMjQ2NWI0MmFhMjJl"><span style="font-weight: 400">“And your idea is…?” Lisa said.</span></p> <p class="cnNiMGZkZGU4MDQyNTRlZDZiMDk5OWZkMmIzZmM4YmRk"><span style="font-weight: 400">“My idea is… Operation Flusher, I call it.” He grinned. “We’re going to flush these two blocks away. They ain’t gonna vote for nobody once we’re done.”</span></p> <p class="cnNkZTkwY2NiYTMyMTQxM2JhMTI1NDEyMWQwNmJjMzc1"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Get on with it, then.” Ben said, reaching for a bottle of water on the table.</span></p> <p class="cnMxMzgwOTRhNDM3NjQxODE5YzE4YzU2Mzk2NmMyYWVm"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Sure, sure. Just savoring the glory.” He paused. “My idea is to… Poison these two quadrants. Just mildly, with food poisoning. They won’t be getting up to vote.”</span></p> <p class="cnNjODE1M2JhODlmNDRjOTJhZDRjM2Q1NTIyZGQ0NzQ1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Silence filled the room, broken by the sound of Ben throwing his bottle against the board.</span></p> <p class="cnM2NWFlNjQ3ZGMxNzRkMjE5OTQ1MzdlYTA0ZTgwZGE0"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Are you fucking crazy?” Ben said. “You gotta be fucking joking.” He looked a lot less tired.</span></p> <p class="cnNmOTA3YWFmZmMwNDQ0NDc4ZjY0NzgzYWUxY2RlNTFh"><span style="font-weight: 400">Watson stood there, gobsmacked. “Jones…”</span></p> <p class="cnNlNDc4MzE0NDk1YjRlYzNiMjY2MjllMGI3MTJjZDJm"><span style="font-weight: 400">“You’re not doing that.” Ben stood up, and walked towards Jones. “You fucking lunatic. You want to poison them?”</span></p> <p class="cnMyZTU4MDJkMzZmMTQ1YjlhNTAyNjQxZWI3NmM5MjFm"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I agree with Ben.” Watson gulped. “I… Aren’t we supposed to help the people? Poisoning them?”</span></p> <p class="cnNiYWY2NzA0ZjFmZjQ0ZjI4NGU4MzU1M2EwMjI4MGM1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones puffed his chest out. “Well, what then, genius? We need to fucking win.” He said.</span></p> <p class="cnNhM2I3ZDIwNWYyMTQ0ZjhiMjhlMGRhYzYyMDYzNzYw"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben shoved him. “Yeah, but we aren’t poisoning innocent people, you cunt.” He breathed in. “Lisa, you hearing this horseshit?”</span></p> <p class="cnM5MTYxYzkyMDEyNzRhMGVhOWZhMmEzZTZlMGQ2MDRj"><span style="font-weight: 400">The room went silent again.</span></p> <p class="cnM4N2QzZDgwZTBkYjQwYTJiNGUyNjM3NDllZjM4NmRk"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I… Don’t think it’s such a bad idea.” Lisa said. She muttered something under her breath.</span></p> <p class="cnNkYmEwYTRhMjY3YzRkZGVhNzMxNmUzNWM4ODU4Nzhj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben punched the board, not turning to watch as it cracked and fell. “You’re joking, Lisa. Do we have two crazy fucks in this room?”</span></p> <p class="cnM1NDk2YzVlYjA0MjRkYzQ5NGIwODM0MmM2YWQyZDhm"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones stepped closer, looking annoyed. ”Well then, genius, tell me your genius plan.”</span></p> <p class="cnNhZGVhNWRjMTAzNzQ0YmI4ODdkZDMwZWQ5NTM2NDYw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Don’t you start, you cunt.” Ben said. He rose up to the challenge. “What the fuck are you doing here, anyways? What’re you getting from helping people? You should be working with those bastards.” He spat on the table.</span></p> <p class="cnNjOTJjZTQ2N2ZkMzQ1OGJhNjZiMDE4YzcyYjZmZDk2"><span style="font-weight: 400">“None of your business.”</span></p> <p class="cnNiYjA0MzA1Mjg3ZDRkMTFiMzk5MWVhYjJlODcyNTI4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“It is.” Ben bumped against Jones. ”Poisoning people? You’re crazy, Jones.”</span></p> <p class="cnM4ODZjODFkNjFjNzRlYmRhMjQ0MTY3YjNhOTYzMTIz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones looked ready to fight. ”I don’t fucking care. I’m here to get shit done.”</span></p> <p class="cnNhMzhiMWYyYzk5NDQ5Zjc5NGNhYTYyYjFlMmVjZmI4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Get what done? Possibly getting people killed?” Ben’s face twisted in fury. “Do you even care about the people, Jones? Do you fucking care about anyone here?” He pointed at Watson. “Because it sure don’t look that way to me.”</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZmQ4MmI0OTkzMDQ4N2U4MTcyNDNmZDBhZmZlZDg5"><span style="font-weight: 400">Watson suddenly stood between them. He looked very scared. “Don’t fight.” He said. He blubbered his words in fear. “It’s… It’s getting us nowhere.”</span></p> <p class="cnM0MWI4MjhlZDNkMDRkZGI4Y2M5NDViMTVlNGM4MWUw"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben looked at Watson’s face. “Why’re you sticking with this asshole?”</span></p> <p class="cnM1ZmUyYTc5MjA2MzRjNTRiOTJhOGM1NWMyMWRkODU5"><span style="font-weight: 400">Watson looked back. “I… Nevermind that for now.” He breathed in. “I have a proposition.”</span></p> <p class="cnNlNjNjNjQ0YTdkMTRlYTk4NjM3OTg0NDk3NzhjMzEz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Both of them stared at his face, surprised. “What do you mean?” They both said.</span></p> <p class="cnM1MzI1OWFiYjFlYzRhMTRhZTIyYzgxZTgyZTVjZjNi"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I… I…” Watson fidgeted around. “I have an idea.” He looked determined, but frightened. “I mean… If, if we have to do this…”</span></p> <p class="cnMxN2NiN2E0N2RmZjQ0ODFiZDgyZTg4Y2RiNmI2ZTU2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones smacked him on the shoulder. “Get on with it.”</span></p> <p class="cnMzZWUxMzdmZmY3NTRhMGJhNTFkMjExYzIxMGFmZDgw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I… Well, the problem is that…” He fumbled with his fingers. “We need to stop them from getting votes, right?”</span></p> <p class="cnNmNTkzZGQzODA3MzQ2MmM5Y2M3MDhlNTc5MzljMjc1"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Yeah.” The three chorused.</span></p> <p class="cnNiMzg2OTYzM2RlMTQ4MzY4YjNkNzM0NzM5NjFmZTBk"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I have an idea to do that. Um, I’m not sure if it’ll work…” Watson gulped. “But I think I can do it, without the poisoning and all that.”</span></p> <p class="cnM3ZjYwODdjMDhhZTRjMjM4ZWY3MDlmZWNlNGM4Njhl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben looked eager to listen. “What’s your idea, Watson?”</span></p> <p class="cnMzNDcwN2MxZTQ1NjQ4ZWM4NGJhYjc2YmY3YTBiN2Ri"><span style="font-weight: 400">Watson stood silent for a moment. “I… Well, they think I’m a terrorist, right?” He replied. “What if… I went with that? What if I announced a terrorist attack, on that day?”</span></p> <p class="cnNhMzNjNDY1MmJjZjRhNjNiYTljNDlmZWQyNjk2MjAz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones frowned. ”That… Could work.” He said, but he looked unsure. “The poisoning would be more secure, though.”</span></p> <p class="cnNkMDk3YzE4ZTFmYTQ5NTA5NTJjYzI3ZGM1MzI2ZWY1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ben gave Jones the stink-eye, then turned away. “Watson, that’s a great idea.” He clasped his shoulders. “That’s fantastic. We won’t have to resort to harming innocent people.”</span></p> <p class="cnM0MWNiMjQ0NjllMDRmOTFhMGJmNGNhMTM1ZjRhNjdj"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Interesting proposition, Watson.” Lisa said. She was probably rather relieved. “We could support you by hacking into the PSA system. Would make it look more legitimate.”</span></p> <p class="cnNlN2Y2ZTZkMDE5ODQ3MjI4ZWJiYzEzZWZiZmZkMDg3"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jones still looked unsure. “I’m still not comfortable. You guys already made up your mind?”</span></p> <p class="cnNjZWU1MzM2ZDNlMDQzODA5ZGM3ZDdhMWFmOWEyMTBl"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Of course, Jones.” Ben replied. “I’m not fucking poisoning people.”</span></p> <p class="cnM1MjEwM2JkOTEzYTRlNmI5Y2IxNGNlMTVmNGJiZGNk"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Fine, fine.” Jones groaned. “Have it your way. You better make this good, Watson.”</span></p> <p class="cnNjYWY0NzM4ZTUxYjRjOTdiMWNjYzRhNzQzYzEzY2E1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Watson didn’t look to happy, however.</span></p> </div>

*Honk… Honk… Honk…* A yellow school bus rolled up the apartment, squealing its wheels as it drifted in. On its sides, the words, ‘Free Food and Shelter’ were crudely sprayed on. As the dust settled, the door opened, and Jones stepped out. Fumbling in his pockets, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and blazed away. What seemed like a pack of rodents rushed out of the bus. They were definitely not students. Dressed in filthy, sewn-together rags and dirty beanies, they reeked of booze and spit. Their hairs were unkempt and specs of dirt and dust dropped to the ground as they ran past. Their target was a rather innocuous table with a pot of soup laid atop. Fights began breaking out as the hobos ravaged each other for control of the ladle. Jones took a bemused glance at the ensuing fights and threw a handful of change in. He walked inside and stepped into the office. Inside, Watson was watching television. He was dressed in a red apron and looked tired. Hearing the door creak open, he turned to see Jones enter the room. “Jones!” He said, looking delighted. “Thank god you’re here. I can’t deal with all these people.” Jones spat his cigarette out. “Yeah, yeah. I’m back. I got the next batch.” He sniffed the air. “Smells a bit, doesn’t it?” Watson said. “I tried giving them Febreeze, but one of them drank it.” Chuckling, Jones sat down on the couch. “So, is the election on?” Watson reached for a cooler and took out a beer. “Yes. Ben’s right up.” He said, offering the beverage to Jones. “Thanks.” Jones cracked the can open. “I hope Ben doesn’t fuck this up.” The television crackled. It was an old CRT they’d picked up at a nearby dump. On screen, the mayor’s office a couple blocks down was shown, the candidates for this election standing proudly, shoulder-to-shoulder. Ben was looking the best he’d ever been. Normally, he was already the perfect neighbour. Now, he looked like an old woman’s wet dream. Dressed in a nifty suit, his smile swooned the hearts of many a nannies. He stepped carefully atop the stairs, standing in front of the podium. “We practiced a lot.” Watson poured himself a cup of water. “That we did.” Jones sighed. “You know, Jones…” Watson turned away from the telly. “I know I’ve said this a lot, but… I still don’t get this part of the plan.” Jones laughed. “Understatement of the year. Do you at least get why we got those hobos and the apartment block?” “Yeah… We give them a place, and make them vote for us, right? I mean, that’s pretty simple.” Watson nodded. “But I don’t get this speech business.” The crowd murmured. They didn’t know what to expect of Ben; most knew him as a member of their community, but as a politician? They talked amongst themselves while Ben cleared his throat. *“I’d like to begin with a thanks. To the organizers, to my fellow constituents, and most importantly, the citizens of this wonderful community- Thank you.”* The crowd applauded. “I thought that was the easy part.” Jones said. He took a big swig. “But continue.” *“We stand here, at a historical moment for our community.”* Ben said, his voice clear and sonorous. *“The position of mayor isn’t something to be trifled with. Only the most worthy of candidates can bear this responsibility.”* Watson raised the telly’s volume. “It’s just one part of it.” *“Most of you wonderful people know me well as a member of your community.”* He said. *“I’m certain you’re all wondering what makes me stand here, right in front of you. What do I offer, that the others- by admission, more experienced candidates than I am- can’t?”* Jones took another sip. “What part? This one?” *“I know that they too want the best for our community, but I believe there is a lack of attention given to the people that supported us over the years.”* Ben paused. *“The elderly, and the retired. They’ve worked hard, yet they’re the ones paying the most taxes. I think that’s a large dilemma we must tackle.”* “We’re just appealing to old fucks for votes here. Demographics, remember?” Jones smirked. *“Beyond that, the current working class will be empowered. I think increased subsidies for new firms and establishments will give us an edge over neighbouring towns. I will also fight for an increase in our bottom-line; I will personally suggest an increase of the minimum wage to the state’s board.”* “Well, I did read those. So I mean, I get that.” Watson nodded along. “But it’s the last part.” Ben started looking nervous. *“Beyond that… Well, I’ve yet to appeal for emotion, haven’t I? I know that most of you know me well as a friend. A person to rely on. And I return that respect in kind; I believe in all of you gorgeous people. I know this community to be what it is; the most… Accepting community to ever be.”* “Oh, you mean…” Jones’s grin grew wider. *“I… Also wish to take this opportunity to come out to you all.”* Ben gulped. *“I’m… A homosexual. I know that this information will not rust our relationships; I just wished to be honest. With myself, and to you all. You’ve earned it. Thank you, and goodbye.”* The reception to Ben’s exit was very different from his entrance. Instead of an unsure murmur, the crowd exploded into a cacophony of cheers and shouts, as well as a series of groans and cracked hips from his fan club. Ben jolted off the stage in a hurry. “That part.” Watson pointed at the monitor. “Was that really necessary?” Jones stood up from his chair and stretched his arms. “That was a fantastic show.” He cackled. “And yeah. That was necessary. It’s called the blame game, Watson. They shit on Ben, now, and we can shit right back on them. Call them homophobes and their career is ruined for good.” Watching Jones attempt to throw his empty can into the bin and fail, Watson sighed. “I just don’t get you, Jones. Where do you get these ideas?” “You learn from your enemies.” Jones answered. “Anyways, we gotta go clean up those hobos. You comin’ with?” --- Ben sat in a corner, sulking and drinking. Jones walked up to him. “You been in here since the speech last week? Good job, by the way.” He patted his back. Ben shuddered, and took another swig. “I can’t go outside anymore.” He said. “I don’t know why I agreed to do this, Jones. My mom called me yesterday. Told me she’s so proud of me for coming out.” “Well… You did do a good job on that…” Ben smashed his now-empty bottle against a wall. “I’m not fucking gay, Jones!” He teared up. “I like that girl down the road, you know? She congratulated me after the speech. Told me she used to have a thing for me, but oh well. Do I want her gay friend’s number? No, I fucking don’t.” Jones stepped back. “Woah, woah. Man, calm down. You’ve been drinking a bit too much.” He pointed at the bottle of booze lined up. “You know what? You shouldn’t take more. Here, let me help you.” He said, cracking one open, chugging it down. Ben glared at him, eager to start a fight. But he sighed, and looked down. “Why’re you here?” Jones sat down. “Here to pick you up.” He continued drinking. “I get you ain’t feeling too good, but we still have a job to do.” “I don’t mean that, specifically.” Ben said, eyeing Jones from top to bottom. Jones shirked. “Woah, I don’t swing that way.” He chuckled. Ben punched his shoulder. “Not that, asshole.” He said. “You know what? Nevermind.” “Ow. That’s the shot shoulder. You ready to get back to work, then?” Jones burped. “Yeah.” Ben stood up and dusted his pants. Jones followed. “Good to hear.” He said. “I’ve got the others assembled. Lisa’s gettin’ on the radio, and Watson’s waiting at the office.” Jones gestured Ben to follow, and headed for the car. --- The office was cramped with papers and gadgets. Watson was eagerly awaiting Jones’s arrival, nervously stepping around. From the ceiling above came the sounds of angry homeless people shoving each other and throwing bottles. He perked up as he heard the front door open, and two people step in. Jones kicked the door in. Ben shuffled behind him, looking very hungover. “I’m back!” Jones said. He was smiling very wide. “I’ve got our newly enlightened. Three bottles of Vodka- I gotta say, I’m proud of him.” Watson looked relieved. “You’re finally back, Jones. Did it take long to… Uh, pick him up?” “Nah, it wasn’t that hard. I just had to buy some cigs on the way.” Jones waved him away. Watson breathed out. “I was worried he’d be a wreck.” “Kinda do feel like one.” Ben said. He used the wall to stabilize himself. “Nevermind all that shit.” Jones said. He sat down on a couch and laid his feet on the coffee table. “Is Lisa coming on anytime soon?” Watson pointed at the radio. “Well, she said she’d be back. She just went to grab a drink after I told her you’d be leading the conference.” Jones chuckled. “That’s mighty nice of her.” He said. He yanked the microphone from its holder. “Hey, anyone there? We’re all ready here.” The radio remained silent, but soon after, one could make out faint footsteps. “Quiet down, will you?” A female voice rang. “Half the base heard you. Commander Lisa reports for the… Conference.” “Now that sounds official.” Jones grinned. ”Well, I got the point across. Whatchu having tonight, commander? A glass of whisky?” “Spirytus. Actually. 95%. Just for this enlightening occasion.” The radio fizzled. “What an honor.” Jones said. “Anyways, you got everything?” The radio replied a moment later. “I think so. Is Ben there?” A tired Ben groaned. ”Yeah, I’m here.” He said. “Not feeling all there, but I’m here.” “It’s been a while, Ben. Any updates?” Lisa asked. “Well, I want to shoot myself a bit more now.” Ben replied. “But no, everything’s fine. Going well, actually, as much as I don’t want to admit.” “Good, good.” Lisa said. “Then continue. We can chat later.” Jones stood up and walked towards a whiteboard hastily taped to a wall. Punching it, he said, “You guys done talkin’ about the weather now? Can I start?” “Go ahead.” Lisa said. “Well then, if I may…” Jones pulled out a black marker. “We have a problem.” Watson eyed him curiously. “What do you mean, Jones?” Jones started drawing a huge box, split into four quadrants. He started labelling them. “The votes. I hired some dude to do some math and shit.” He labelled them as ‘Boomers’, ‘Grannies’, ‘Kids’, and ‘Conservatives’. “Here are the four demographics of the town.” Ben shook himself awake and took a glance at the board. “Pretty rough, but I guess so.” Lisa chimed in. “What’s the problem?” “Well, we’ve cornered there two markets.” Jones circled the ‘Liberals’ and the ‘Grannies’. “But the others? We ain’t got shit from them. There’s part of the problem.” “The guy calculated that we have roughly 26% of the total votes. By the end, he calculated, these two quadrants will give us 60% of their total votes.” He paused. “But the leader right now had been climbing hard- really fucking hard. He’s at 35% now, and rising.” “So… We aren’t guaranteed to win, you’re saying?” Watson asked. Jones snapped his fingers. ”Exactly. And that’s a huge problem. We’re probably not gonna get a shot as good as this.” He said. “Even including the homeless dudes, we’re probably at 34%. I ain’t finished highschool, so take that as you will, but it should be right.” Ben slumped onto a couch. ”So, what’s your point? Get onto it. I need a nap.” “These two quadrants barely vote for us.” He tapped at ‘Boomers’ and ‘Kids’. “The thing about this town is- most of these four quadrants live separate from each other. “ He began coloring the quadrants. “So they’re isolated mini-communities.” “And your idea is…?” Lisa said. “My idea is… Operation Flusher, I call it.” He grinned. “We’re going to flush these two blocks away. They ain’t gonna vote for nobody once we’re done.” “Get on with it, then.” Ben said, reaching for a bottle of water on the table. “Sure, sure. Just savoring the glory.” He paused. “My idea is to… Poison these two quadrants. Just mildly, with food poisoning. They won’t be getting up to vote.” Silence filled the room, broken by the sound of Ben throwing his bottle against the board. “Are you fucking crazy?” Ben said. “You gotta be fucking joking.” He looked a lot less tired. Watson stood there, gobsmacked. “Jones…” “You’re not doing that.” Ben stood up, and walked towards Jones. “You fucking lunatic. You want to poison them?” “I agree with Ben.” Watson gulped. “I… Aren’t we supposed to help the people? Poisoning them?” Jones puffed his chest out. “Well, what then, genius? We need to fucking win.” He said. Ben shoved him. “Yeah, but we aren’t poisoning innocent people, you cunt.” He breathed in. “Lisa, you hearing this horseshit?” The room went silent again. “I… Don’t think it’s such a bad idea.” Lisa said. She muttered something under her breath. Ben punched the board, not turning to watch as it cracked and fell. “You’re joking, Lisa. Do we have two crazy fucks in this room?” Jones stepped closer, looking annoyed. ”Well then, genius, tell me your genius plan.” “Don’t you start, you cunt.” Ben said. He rose up to the challenge. “What the fuck are you doing here, anyways? What’re you getting from helping people? You should be working with those bastards.” He spat on the table. “None of your business.” “It is.” Ben bumped against Jones. ”Poisoning people? You’re crazy, Jones.” Jones looked ready to fight. ”I don’t fucking care. I’m here to get shit done.” “Get what done? Possibly getting people killed?” Ben’s face twisted in fury. “Do you even care about the people, Jones? Do you fucking care about anyone here?” He pointed at Watson. “Because it sure don’t look that way to me.” Watson suddenly stood between them. He looked very scared. “Don’t fight.” He said. He blubbered his words in fear. “It’s… It’s getting us nowhere.” Ben looked at Watson’s face. “Why’re you sticking with this asshole?” Watson looked back. “I… Nevermind that for now.” He breathed in. “I have a proposition.” Both of them stared at his face, surprised. “What do you mean?” They both said. “I… I…” Watson fidgeted around. “I have an idea.” He looked determined, but frightened. “I mean… If, if we have to do this…” Jones smacked him on the shoulder. “Get on with it.” “I… Well, the problem is that…” He fumbled with his fingers. “We need to stop them from getting votes, right?” “Yeah.” The three chorused. “I have an idea to do that. Um, I’m not sure if it’ll work…” Watson gulped. “But I think I can do it, without the poisoning and all that.” Ben looked eager to listen. “What’s your idea, Watson?” Watson stood silent for a moment. “I… Well, they think I’m a terrorist, right?” He replied. “What if… I went with that? What if I announced a terrorist attack, on that day?” Jones frowned. ”That… Could work.” He said, but he looked unsure. “The poisoning would be more secure, though.” Ben gave Jones the stink-eye, then turned away. “Watson, that’s a great idea.” He clasped his shoulders. “That’s fantastic. We won’t have to resort to harming innocent people.” “Interesting proposition, Watson.” Lisa said. She was probably rather relieved. “We could support you by hacking into the PSA system. Would make it look more legitimate.” Jones still looked unsure. “I’m still not comfortable. You guys already made up your mind?” “Of course, Jones.” Ben replied. “I’m not fucking poisoning people.” “Fine, fine.” Jones groaned. “Have it your way. You better make this good, Watson.” Watson didn’t look to happy, however.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM3MzM1MzFiZDAyNjQ5M2M5YTI3Yzc2MjFjYzMwYmNh">The temple ritual came to an end, but I felt like everything moved slower because I wanted to run after the skeleton key immediately.</p> <p class="cnMzOTJiMjU0ZWFlYjQwMzI5N2U1NWJmNWUxMGRjZDEw">After the cultists started flowing out of the temple, Ostero Nynaling descended from the indoor balcony and headed to the inner yard of the temple, following the men and women who had lost large flaps of skin during the show. Was Ostero staying in the temple or did he have business with the temple staff like us?</p> <p class="cnMxZTFhMzdlYTc2MzQyNTdiZWMyZGZjMjI2OGM5ZWYw">It was also quite possible that he just came to watch the gory skinning show for entertainment. Maybe he followed the stars of the show backstage because he wanted their autographs?</p> <p class="cnNjYmUxZjNiMWJmMDRkMGQ5YjJjNjA1YTVjNTJhMDYx">Speaking of backstage passes, one of the white-robed priestesses that stood stageside during the ritual approached our group.</p> <p class="cnMxOTJlMzNkZjI0YTRiZjdhNWY3ZTMzNWQ2Zjc5ZWNh">“Welcome to our temple, young merchant.” (priestess)</p> <p class="cnM5NDlkMDgwMGM0MTRjZmJiZGI1NDNjYmQ4Y2VkNGYw">“We have come as agreed.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnMxYWEyOGQyNWIwZDQyNGY5MTY0NzljNDkwYWQ4MzUw">The priestess nodded at Kimono courteously, but did a double take of contempt when she saw my face. Maybe I wasn't her type?</p> <p class="cnNlNDczZmY0YzQ0NTRmNDU4MjVmOWZlZmUyMjkyMjdm">“There was no mention of a third person.” (priestess)</p> <p class="cnNlYWZiYjUwYTdlMTRlYmRiODAwMjMxZDlkYmRiMTA2">“There were no requirements about the number of people.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnM4MTg3YmI4ZjI4YjQxZGM5MjUzMzE0ZmEwYTc2NGJm">“We expected only two, as it was known.” (priestess)</p> <p class="cnM5YTViZTM5YTMwYTRjMGJhNjE0ZWQ2Y2FhZWFlOWEz">“Kingboy works for me. The roads are hard and the weapons are heavy.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnNkOTIwZmM4M2MwYjRiMDI4ZjFiZTQxMWM3NjI5NjJl">“I see. A servant may wait outside.” (priestess)</p> <p class="cnM2MTczNGI3MWE1MjQwZTZhMTQzMmFhZTNhOWE2YWU0">“No, Kingboy will oversee the trade.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnNkZGUyOTkxNWVlNzQzODdiMGE4ZGFlNDQzMzc0ZDhi">“...It is not mine to decide. I will take you to the arch priest. Follow me.” (priestess)</p> <p class="cnM5ZDliYjIzZjQ3ZDQ5ZGFiNTA1ZDVhM2M1OGY0ZjUw">We followed the young priestess to the stage filled with blood spatters and through a side door into a corridor. The smell of death and decomposition subsided as we walked further away from the main dome, but my anxiousness grew because I had no idea what to expect.</p> <p class="cnM3YjkzMGNkZWFkOTQ0YzQ4MTYwYzQ5MDBlZjhmMDQ5">To quote an old master: I had a bad feeling about this.</p> <p class="cnMwN2Q3MzlhMDdlYzRkN2NhZDM4OGU5YjU2NDEzNzA0">In a lavishly decorated office chamber, the archpriest stood behind a large white stone table and washed his hands in a bowl of water. Two more priestesses and two male sycophants stood around the table as servants and guards.</p> <p class="cnM1OGU3NzcyYjQxZDQxNjA5OTA4ZmJhOTAxNWJmMzQ2">When we stepped in, our guide took her place standing next to the archpriest. The room smelled of incense and the walls were decorated with reliefs of suffering people in different poses.</p> <p class="cnNjY2I4ZDMyODQzZTQzMTJiZDUxYTNhZmNiYWVlNDg2">“Your excellency Mantimer; Crystal Pencil, Dragon Kimono and...” (priestess)</p> <p class="cnNiY2MwYzUzYjJjYTRlODRhNjE2ZTc3YWI1ZGE1YTA4">“Kingboy.”</p> <p class="cnMzOTM1MGEyZDAwNDQ0ZDk5MzJlNzJkM2NkNDk4ZjFh">“...Kingboy have arrived, as anticipated.” (priestess)</p> <p class="cnM1YWQ2YTliY2U1YTQ5NWU5MDRmMTcxMGE5NWEyNjNk">“Kingboy?” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnM3ZmUyZTY3NDE0NzQzNTE5OWFkMGJlMTVhMTZhZDI3">“I suggest we skip the formalities and move to the merchandise.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnMxODY0NjYyNDI4ZTQ1MzI4Zjc0YmVhMTI0OWVlOTFm">The sycophants and priestesses were shocked about the disrespectful tone, but the archpriest didn't seem disturbed.</p> <p class="cnM1Y2RlMTQ2ZTJmZTQxZGY4ZDQ2NTRjMWFkMGE5OGQ3">“The young merchant is not a believer, my children. I allow it, as we a short on time.” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnMyMTJjNWQwMGRiYTQ4ZGJiODBmZGE4YzNkZmQ4ZjQy">I didn't know this archpriest from the series, but I agreed with his attitude. Doing things quickly and leaving quickly was good.</p> <p class="cnMyNjc4MmU2ZWQ5MzQ3MTdhZTkwZDc0YTQzNTZjMzRi">The archpriest dried his hands on a blood-red towel, grabbed a pouch full of coins from a cabinet behind him and dropped it on the stone table.</p> <p class="cnMxYjliZjE3MTI0MjQ3OTg4MDgyMmNmOTQwNmM4ZGZl">“Skin for skin, flesh for flesh.” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnNlM2EzNzU5Yzk5ODQyZmRhNjY5OTk5NGExMTM3ODMy">Kimono picked up the pouch and quickly counted the coins, gave an approving nod to Crys and handed the pouch to me. I held to the money because they had to stay ready for, ahem, ballistic discount.</p> <p class="cnNhYWExNzhlNTM3NjRhMTM5ZjFjOWQzMTczMTRhMDI1">“The weapons are in a wooden box in our coach on the side yard. Order your men to carry it.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnNiMDdjNjQzODU2MzRmM2VhOTE5NTc0NmU3MDZkYzc1">The archpriest waved his hand to the sycophants standing behind him and they left the room. I wasn't sure why the trade was done like this, with archpriest throwing money on the table and we leaving the weapons unguarded outside, but I trusted that Crys knew what he was doing.</p> <p class="cnM4N2E5MGEzMjIyYjQwNmI5NGUwOTA4ZGEyMDJlZGJl">“Your servant Kingboy is from the north.” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnMwZDZhNjY1ZDNjYjRiMTM4ZjkwODllMTYzZTdiNTg2">“He is.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnM5ZjBlOTViMDE4NTQwMWI4OTQ1ZTBiNTg0OWYwMDdl">“You deliver your wares to the pagans of No-Lands?” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnM2NzQyNDkzZmZhODRlNGViZDg3NDlkMjYxODg0NmEx">“It is not for your ears.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnMwOWNhYWMxZDcyMzRhMjQ4NjE0YzM4YzNjOWQ0MTFl">“Your skin is still smooth, young one. You could be more respectful of your elders.” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnNmY2I4MDQ4OTZiMTQ4OWFiNjAxN2U5NDc3OTI3MGMw">“Paper of a contract is smoother than skin of a man.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnNmMGY4NWYxNDVkNTQzYjliNjg3OTgwMTA2OWU5M2I5">“Lamentation Houses of this city have been demolished.” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnM3OTQ3MTg5MTY3NTRhY2FhMDJkZTA0YTM2OTlhMDVl">“Who would wear a black cape and ride a black horse?” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnNjNzM4M2VkNDBiMTQxYTJhZGI4NzhlNzQxYTY3NzVi">“The shadow of a wall is a free zone for those who eat.” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnNkNGVlMWVmOTE2NDRiZjdhZGM5ZWI5Y2FlMzM3OTdl">They seemed to be haggling about something else entirely now, using ornate gangslang of the southern territories instead of northern territories. The archpriest probably switched to southern code because he thought I wouldn't be able to understand, but I understood perfectly.</p> <p class="cnMzMmE5YTUyNmFlYzQzMDFiYmM4ODM5NjU5Y2QwZjdk">“Young merchant, I will give you a warning out of goodness of my heart: if you are not on our side, you will eventually become his source of skin.” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnMxYzkzODQ1OWJjYTQxM2E5ODg1Y2MwZWQ3NWNmNzkx">“Death comes equally to all.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnM0NjYzNTM4YTI5NTQ2NjJiYWZmMmQwNDU3MGZkMjI3">“Hmph, marching hand in hand towards guillotine, a three-bladed scythe will cut the grain when blood chains are linked. So be it.” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnNhYzIxYmRkOGFmMzQyMTVhYzM3NmFiMzkwMTM0Mjc4">After the wooden weapon box was brought in the chamber by the sycophants and placed on the stone table, the sycophants pried the box lid open with a crowbar. The priestesses quickly checked the weapons and counted the ammunition stored in neat rows.</p> <p class="cnMwY2ExZTdkMmQxYzQ1OTRiOGQ1OGExNzIwY2EzYzc3">“It is as agreed.” (priestess)</p> <p class="cnNhYmQyY2FjYzY4MzRlOTZhM2YyYjYwM2U3Njk1MGQ2">“Close it and take it upstairs.” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnM1Y2Q2N2IwYzE1ZDQwZjhhNjk3YmFlZDBhNDVjMDFl">The sycophants again left the chamber carrying the weapon box.</p> <p class="cnNjNmNhOTMzOGUxMjRhMmNhMDZmNzRkMDUyNTA2Mzhk">Crys took out a contract scroll from his shoulder bag and held it in his extended hand.</p> <p class="cnNhZWUwNjUyNjVlMTRjMjc5ZTU5NWUwNzY1MTA3OTc4">“With this, our contract has been fulfilled.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnM5NWI4ZDNkNDM3MTRhNTU5OTE2MDYzNDdhMjZlOWYw">The contract written in shining blood immediately burst in flames, leaving only ash on the floor. It was a flashy magic trick pre-prepared by Crys; a simple chemical reaction that awed the priestesses in the room. The archpriest seemed pleased with this sleigh of hand as well.</p> <p class="cnNkZGJhNTZmY2I2NTRlODBiNWQxNzQ2OWY5OGMwMWEz">“My associate in Crumbling Shores will contact you again for the next shipment.” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnM2NmEzYjRlMmZjNDQxZTQ4ZjA0OWEwNDdkYTJiYWI4">“I suggest not. I will be leaving these territories, so I advice you to find another source.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnNlN2E5MTI1MzA1ZDRlNWU4MTkyNjlkNzM2ZWQyMjU3">“That is unfortunate...” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnM3NTlkMjQ5OGYwZjRmZWZiZTdlOTAyMjg5MzIwYTA4">He looked at me, probably wondering if my presence had something to do with the news.</p> <p class="cnM1NzFiZGUxODBlNTQ3MjY5MmRkZTI2Y2QwZGNiZDQ5">“Are you heading north, young merchant?” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnM2OGE1YjdiNjUyZTQwMGRiM2E1NWZlMjNlMDUwOWE0">“That is still to be determined.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnM3MGU2NjQyZDlhZTQxMDFiNjYyZDg5MGRmZWEyODVl">“You should have informed me about this before burning the contract. Such a showy act makes me think you have no intention of continuing our trade relationship. You wouldn't think something foolish like that?” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnM1ZTFhMGY2MTFiNTQ4NjhiNWVlZmMxODFjN2Y4Mjky">Guys, please don't escalate this, let's just go...</p> <p class="cnM5NjQwNWYxMTQ5ZjQ1NWI5NTE4OTBiMzUxNjc1OGM1">“Archpriest Mantimer, you think I do not know the true reason you buy these particular weapons.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnM4NTJhNjFjNWM1ZjRhMDU4YmZlZjdkZDJmOTU1YmY3">“Do you think such attitude before me is tolerable?” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnMyMTlmMmQ4OGFiNDRlNTg4MGRiMjliMDg2YzM4ZWYy">“I suggest dropping this matter. There are several merchants who would gladly sell weapons to the lords directly.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnM4MzUyOTQxMDkwZTQ2MjVhOTFkODUyNTVlOGQ1MGYz">I wasn't the sharpest in reading human body language, but I could see the archpriest's aggression rising for a moment, but then it waned. Can you call it microaggression when it's so blatant?</p> <p class="cnNmZDI2ZmRhNWJiNjQ5ZGU5ODNmY2M2NWQyOWVlYjkw">For a moment, there was a silent staring battle between the archpriest and Crys, but soon the archpriest succumbed.</p> <p class="cnNlMWU2OTY3YzIyNjQ5ZTU5ZTFhZWQ1NmY3MTY4NGM1">“It seems my warnings keep falling on the wayside. Such a shame, such a shame...” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnM2ZGJhOWZiYjE3NTRkOTE5ZjI4NTNiNzRhMTk3OTcy">“We will bid you farewell and good night, then.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnM1MjAzMTNmYjM5NjRlZTE4MGU2OTI5ZjczM2FhM2Jj">“May the light of Lucranah descend upon you, reckless ones.” (archpriest)</p> <p class="cnNlMzk5NjA3MmNlNzQwMzU5NGVjNDUyZjUwYjZjODNk">One of the priestesses opened the door to us and we left.</p> <p class="cnMxMzc2M2NiZjI3NjRkYmFhMjA5ZDg1MzM2MGNhZmYy">I advised Crys and Kimono to be wary of an ambush at the temple yard, but nothing happened. It felt like it went too well. Was that really all?</p> <p class="cnNmYzAyN2IyMmRjNzRkMTY4YTRmOTI2ZjU1MDdmMzQw">I could understand southern gangslang and read between lines that this archpriest was selling the weapons forward to the city lords instead of using them for the good of the Lucranah Cult or forwarding them to the West Side Boys Gang. The archpriest had a weird and dangerous side hustle: use cult money to buy cheap weapons and pocket the money by selling them for the enemies of the cult.</p> <p class="cnNhZmIxYzRjZDBlNjRiZmRhODM1YTUwNDE5M2E5ZDI5">Well, it was a common theme for political swindlers and religious hypocrites: blame others openly for things you do in secret yourself.</p> <p class="cnM5ZTBlZjdhNDc1MzQ3M2ZiMmJiMTAwODgxMjkzZWYw">“Crys, was it alright to tell him that you know about his scheme? He might send West Side Boys after us.”</p> <p class="cnM5MzY2ZWI1NzNlYjQ1YzJhODlmZDI3MzA0YjgwMDhh">“Doesn't matter. He's a coward hiding only suicide poison under his robes. It it had been only me and Kimono, he might have thought taking rash actions, but still only on the level of hiring assassins at Crumbling Shores to silence us. Your presence in the room, however, binds his hands until he knows more: which northern gang you represent, how many of you there are, what are your goals here, why do you move with us.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnMxYmE0YWQ0ZThhOTRkMDdhOWNhN2M2OWQzYjZmMGEz">“I see. His plan to sell weapons to city lords seems a bit cumbersome, though. Why take such risks under Lucranah's eyes? Is he just stupidly greedy?”</p> <p class="cnM1MWE1ZjU4NjQyZDQ2Yzk5MGM3MzI3YWQ5N2ZjZjkx">“The schemes of a crazy person can seem deep and complicated to the ignorant, yet in reality are merely labyrinthine gibberish.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnM3YjIxYTM4MTA5MzRiMDhhM2YyNTBjYmM1OTQzNWYz">“I hope you're talking about him and not me, haha...”</p> <p class="cnM3NGYwNzIwYzg0NzRkOTViYWQwY2E0YzBlMjFhYjYz">“Your self-awareness is more rigorous.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnNhOTljYjlhYWM0MTRkNjk4NmE2MjNmOWFiZTMwZDVk">“Oh, thanks. We have a kind of a similar saying in the future: the words of a smart person can look like the words of a crazy person for a dumb person.”</p> <p class="cnMyM2M5ZWUyYTdiNjQxOThiMjI2NTlhN2RmMGI4NGJh">“Is that so...” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnNiMjZiZTZiYTUwOTQ4M2RhZGM1MGUyN2I3ZWE1NmUx">Crys looked at his sister, climbing on the rider's seat.</p> <p class="cnNkY2I5YmYwMzAwMjQ1MjhiYTM5OWVjMWVlNGE5MmJh">“Oh no, no, I didn't mean to call her– Sorry, Kimono!”</p> <p class="cnMwNzFlMTE2NGVmYjQ5NmZhZWU4OTdiOTcxMWRmMzNi">“What?” (Kimono)</p> <p class="cnMwMWFmOGVjNzdhYjQyZTg5YWNjNGJkNzYwNjQ5YmQ2">“It seems Speedrun thinks you are mentally challenged.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnMyMTg5NzAxM2IyZjQwZTNiMTg2NTA0YjNmNzg5N2Uz">“I didn't mean it like that, I think you are a smart and lovely person!”</p> <p class="cnM3MGI4YjljZDZkODQ1ZDc5MTg0NTVkYzYzNmMwYzZj">“...I don't care what you think.” (Kimono)</p> <p class="cnM4MjM2MDQ3MmJlYTQ1ZWU5MDcwMDQ2NDQwODgxMjFm">Please don't bully time travelers, sensei. Our feelings are fragile.</p> <p class="cnNhZjBhOGU0NGRlZjRkNmJhMmZmMzk3NDMwYTFkMzRl">In the end, this was a normal buy/sell quest. Exactly like you would play the game as Crystal Pencil. Not all disputes lead to dramatic fight scenes and enemies don't always spawn to known ambush points.</p> <p class="cnNjMDYxNzM3ZTFmNTQzODU4MTM5YjcyNzhmZTU4OTFj">“Now then, Kingboy, the man with the skeleton key.” (Crys)</p> <hr> <p class="cnM2NzczMWY5NmNlODQwODk5N2UwOGVhZWZiMWIxMzJi">When the night turned on the side of morning, Ostero Nynaling left the temple grounds and headed to a forest slum – an area players had nicknamed Trailer Park.</p> <p class="cnM1OTQ5Nzc5NzBiMDQzNGY5NmYwZTJkYTU2ZTBlYzBl">There were several forested areas inside the fortress walls and this particular strip of forest was full of old carriages and wagons that homeless gangsters had turned into their dwellings.</p> <p class="cnNkODE3MDJjM2Q1YTQxMjFhZGQ1MmY0YWZjMDAzNWM3">Ostero didn't go towards main temple or shanty town, so that was good RNG.</p> <p class="cnM2M2FhZDQzNTY5NzQ1OThhOGVkODYzZTUzZDhiZTM5">We left our coach at nearby inn and booked a room for the sake of appearances, but our plan was to leave the city before dawn. We just waited for Ostero to appear so that we could check if he had the key.</p> <p class="cnM5NWQyNjYxZDIyYjQ5YzJiOTA1MTQwNDJmYTFjMmYy">On the streets, Kimono followed Ostero closely from the shadows and we followed Kimono from afar. I wasn't good at sneaking, so we had to do it like this.</p> <p class="cnMzYWM0ZTYzNDBhYjRlYmE5OGM0NTZjY2RkZWUzN2Q1">Trash burned in the Strangers ruins, black water flowed in the alleys and the sick and the poor ate mushroom soup from wooden pots. A pickpocket planned to bump into me with a knife, but Crys broke his jaw with his knee first and took his knife as a souvenir. A passing group of young men proudly presented their wounds and bruises to us, homeless children played with shinbones, and a toothless old man carrying firewood sang “Holy Master Of My Skin” with a croaking voice.</p> <p class="cnNlMWU0ZDEyNDYxYTQ2Y2Y4ZGUzNjg3MjJhNGZiNmZm">Seitheargnagh's night life was something I would not praise in a travel guide video.</p> <p class="cnNjNWM0MzJlNTMzODQ2YzQ5MjQ3ODI0MGNmZDA1ZTYw">However, the Trailer Park area was a lot quieter than I expected. I expected partying, drinking and red paper lanterns in trees because it was the middle of the night, but some gangsters in this world actually slept at night. Maybe their Bloody Sunday church service had exhausted them?</p> <p class="cnMwMDIyOTViMTUyNTQxYzNhMjY0MTVmMjYzZDUwY2E2">Under a grove of dark trees, Ostero slipped inside a cabin that looked like a large Reading wagon without wheels. A strangely lonely and humble abode for a leader of a Dungeon Gang, but maybe he wasn't as rich yet as he was in the anime timeline. Maybe he was just starting his career at this point, or wanted to save money on a long business trip.</p> <p class="cnM0MTg0ZWUxOThkMjRkYWViZjZhMDc5OGZmZmQ1Mzlm">Kimono waited us at the edge of the Trailer Park and pointed us to Ostero's shelter when we arrived.</p> <p class="cnM2YjBmMzU2MzMyZDQ4OWJhNDczMTkwODVkODgxMWRk">“He went inside there. No guards.” (Kimono)</p> <p class="cnMxZGUwNjBjMjgyODRhMDc4NWZjNGZkMzM5MjgyYTJj">“Is he strong?” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnNhMGJhNTI3ZjU5YTQ4Yzc4MTdmNGQzMzA1MmZlN2Rh">“No.” (Kimono)</p> <p class="cnMxNmQ4ZWZiZWE4ZjQzNjk5MGVlYWIyYjhiNjU1M2Nj">“Yes.”</p> <p class="cnNjMWZmOTljNTgxZTRiNDVhZTMxNDg0MjBmZDdkZjI2">“No. You're just weak.” (Kimono)</p> <p class="cnMwZWE4NWVmNGMyMDQ3YzY5MWQ5ZDhmOTc2ZDZkMmM5">“...I don't oppose that characterization, but Ostero is still an area mini-boss at Ouidah. He's more skilled than normal opponents. He may not be at his best stats at this point in timeline, but we should still take a safe strat here and kill him in his sleep. Right, Crys?”</p> <p class="cnMwNDk0ZTE1N2I0NjRjZjNhODM1MDEyNzRhMTBmNWQw">“Dagger in the heart.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnMyNzJiMTM2YjE4MDRkYzVhYWYwZjM3ZjI5MDZmMzJm">Yeah, dagger in the heart... hm? Wait a moment.</p> <p class="cnM3MzBjMzE2MjVjNTQyMjNhNTEyNzI1OGI4NjRiN2Rl">It's low-level boss character instakill and we have a main character whose ranged attack stats I remember. Isn't this a perfect opportunity to test the consistency of this world?</p> <p class="cnMxNzliYmNkYTkwZTRmNzJiMmVlZjI2YWNhYzVkYmFj">“Wait, I have an idea. Kimono, you should actually kill him when he's awake, but use your mini-crossbow.”</p> <p class="cnM3MmMzMTM5Zjc4NjQ2Y2M5ZTY5NDU4ZTk5ZDYyZmRi">“What?” (Kimono)</p> <p class="cnNkYzFmMzRhODlhYjQ0NTY5ZDY3YTgzMGE0OGI4OTA0">“Knock on the door to spawn the enemy, but headshot him with a dart arrow through the window hatch.”</p> <p class="cnNjN2I1OTE4ODRkZjRlNWU4NDA2ZjNlYThmOTc3ODRi">Kimono looked at me like I had just asked her out – in other words, like I was a crazy person.</p> <p class="cnNmNTg0MGFlMjYwMzRjMDBiNGYyNGI1MDIzNDlmMWY5">“You are weird.” (Kimono)</p> <p class="cnNmZjZlNTQ1MWIwZTQ4ZDViZWJlY2VjZmI4NWMyZjg5">“I presume this experiment has something to do with the future.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnMyMjJlZDc1NzRjNzQwZmY5Yjg3MDRkODY5MjExNjU4">“You're not wrong.”</p> <p class="cnNhOGMwNDdlMmQ1MjQwMWM4MDM2NDExNjY5ZTEyYzY3">“You were quite concerned about standing out and summoning Lucranah before. Why make a riskier attempt now?” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnM3MjI5OTVhMmM3YTQyNzNhZWZiYTNkMDAwMTQyM2Zk">“Uh, well, it's not like he's a cult member, or even a local gangster... and we're going to leave the city immediately after, so... Anyway, Kimono, try to headshot him with the mini-crossbow.”</p> <p class="cnNiYWU3ZjkyN2ZiODRjOWQ5YTE4M2ZkOTY0MTgxNGU0">“I'd rather use a dagger.” (Kimono)</p> <p class="cnM4ZmI3MTU4NjczZjQ2OTE5MGQ1NzlkOTlkMzQyMTdl">“I know, that's exactly the idea. Crys, if he doesn't die immediately after Kimono shoots, could you, you know...”</p> <p class="cnM1OTVhNTU2OWI2ZjQxZDM5YThlMmRkNjY3OTQ2NWM3">“Sure.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnMyNGYxMGU5NDgxMDQ0OWU4ZmYxZWEyNjRhMDUxZTQ1">“After that's done, I'll check his pockets for the key and then we run.”</p> <p class="cnM3ZWNiMTc1MmYwNTQ3M2E4Yjc5MTMxMTVhZTBlMDhi">I was pretty sure that consistents didn't exist here already, but I wanted to be sure. In the game, Kimono had high damage bonus when using melee blade weapons, but also a damage penalty when using ranged weapons. She shouldn't be able to one-shot Ostero with her poison dart crossbow even if she gets an easy headshot with her accuracy and precision stats, if the game stats are in effect here.</p> <p class="cnMzMDk2NzAzZGI5MTQyMDBiN2UzZjdmNDY5ODk4NmQx">But if Ostero dies easily from one headshot, the game stats are not in effect and there's no consistency.</p> <p class="cnM1YjEzNGI3NWExMDQwNTk4OWEwODJkNWY5ZGQxNWZi">...And as I expected, Ostero fell on the floor with a dart in his skull.</p> <p class="cnM5ZjVkNTcxZmMzMjQ1NGY4ZGM1NDk4ZTM3NTUzNDJh">One shot, one kill.</p> <p class="cnNkMzAzNzkyMDk3YzRhNDNhYTMyNGVlYzAyMmE5OTFm">We dashed inside the cabin immediately. Of course, the local neighborhood wouldn't probaly have cared much even if someone had been shot to death with a revolver and robbed, but there was still the possibility that Ostero had hired some neighbor to look after his stuff, so Kimono and Crys kept wary while I searched Ostero's body.</p> <p class="cnM1MzA1YzE3NmVjNTQ0ZGY4NWMzZDhlOGM3MTBkYzdh">I quickly found a black metal key with a jagged human skull motif. It was sewn into a secret pocket inside his purple buff coat.</p> <p class="cnM1ZTVmMDg4Njk5MzRjYTdiOWNjYTQ1YjM5NDc2OGQw">“Let's go. It was instakill after all.”</p> <p class="cnNlMjBjZjRiN2MzZjRlNmNhMGQ1MzkzZDQ0MmFlNWNl">“You wished to see him survive a poison dart in the head?” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnMyMzhkMTY3NDY0OTRmZWNhZTU5OGM2YjcxMjcxYmIx">“I basically wanted to see if Kimono's damage-dealing with a ranged weapon is the same as I remember from history. Or to put it another way, I wanted to see if this guy has the propensity to survive a headshot. You remember what I told you about consistents? I wanted to see if there's consistency in this type of skill-versus-skill setting.”</p> <p class="cnMwOTNmNzBiYjFhYjQ5ZDZiODA3ODA5OGM3NTVhNzk5">“And the answer was no.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnNjMDc0ZDNlNWY3MzQ0ZmY5OWE0MmYxNjllMmFhNTg1">“Yep. Chaos reigns.”</p> <p class="cnMxMDE5MWE5Y2NmZTRhNTBhNTQ2M2FhOWVmYWU2MDYz">“I could have told you that.” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnNkNzc3ZmUzZDJkZjQ0MmVhOTdjMTVjZWJhNTM4YjFj">“No need to get philosophical. Well, you lose something, you win something, I guess.”</p> <p class="cnM3MmM0NTUwNDE3ODQ0NTg5NGY2YWE5NmU0NTJlZjY0">No consistents also means that Kimono in this world is strong against enemies he was weak against in the game. Surely that also means Caliph Tze is more vulnerable than in the game. Runkill on consistency level is a runsave on incidental level.</p> <p class="cnMwYmYwMDBjNmVhZDQzZWFhYzUyNmUwM2FiNWE5ZmE1"><em>There's a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.</em></p> <p class="cnNjOWMxNGZkY2U5NTQzYTNhNTk2YjAzNWFlYjZhZTI1">“That is the skeleton key?” (Crys)</p> <p class="cnNiZWMwMzFmNTJlNTQ2YzU5ZDVjNjg1MWNkNmMzZWI4">“This, ladies and gentlemen, is definitely the legendary fast-travel item known as Autorail Skeleton Key. The one skip to rule them all.”</p> <p class="cnNlNjk0ZjFlZmRmMzQxNGRiMjllNDk4ZDAyMzEzMzMy"> </p> </div>

The temple ritual came to an end, but I felt like everything moved slower because I wanted to run after the skeleton key immediately. After the cultists started flowing out of the temple, Ostero Nynaling descended from the indoor balcony and headed to the inner yard of the temple, following the men and women who had lost large flaps of skin during the show. Was Ostero staying in the temple or did he have business with the temple staff like us? It was also quite possible that he just came to watch the gory skinning show for entertainment. Maybe he followed the stars of the show backstage because he wanted their autographs? Speaking of backstage passes, one of the white-robed priestesses that stood stageside during the ritual approached our group. “Welcome to our temple, young merchant.” (priestess) “We have come as agreed.” (Crys) The priestess nodded at Kimono courteously, but did a double take of contempt when she saw my face. Maybe I wasn't her type? “There was no mention of a third person.” (priestess) “There were no requirements about the number of people.” (Crys) “We expected only two, as it was known.” (priestess) “Kingboy works for me. The roads are hard and the weapons are heavy.” (Crys) “I see. A servant may wait outside.” (priestess) “No, Kingboy will oversee the trade.” (Crys) “...It is not mine to decide. I will take you to the arch priest. Follow me.” (priestess) We followed the young priestess to the stage filled with blood spatters and through a side door into a corridor. The smell of death and decomposition subsided as we walked further away from the main dome, but my anxiousness grew because I had no idea what to expect. To quote an old master: I had a bad feeling about this. In a lavishly decorated office chamber, the archpriest stood behind a large white stone table and washed his hands in a bowl of water. Two more priestesses and two male sycophants stood around the table as servants and guards. When we stepped in, our guide took her place standing next to the archpriest. The room smelled of incense and the walls were decorated with reliefs of suffering people in different poses. “Your excellency Mantimer; Crystal Pencil, Dragon Kimono and...” (priestess) “Kingboy.” “...Kingboy have arrived, as anticipated.” (priestess) “Kingboy?” (archpriest) “I suggest we skip the formalities and move to the merchandise.” (Crys) The sycophants and priestesses were shocked about the disrespectful tone, but the archpriest didn't seem disturbed. “The young merchant is not a believer, my children. I allow it, as we a short on time.” (archpriest) I didn't know this archpriest from the series, but I agreed with his attitude. Doing things quickly and leaving quickly was good. The archpriest dried his hands on a blood-red towel, grabbed a pouch full of coins from a cabinet behind him and dropped it on the stone table. “Skin for skin, flesh for flesh.” (archpriest) Kimono picked up the pouch and quickly counted the coins, gave an approving nod to Crys and handed the pouch to me. I held to the money because they had to stay ready for, ahem, ballistic discount. “The weapons are in a wooden box in our coach on the side yard. Order your men to carry it.” (Crys) The archpriest waved his hand to the sycophants standing behind him and they left the room. I wasn't sure why the trade was done like this, with archpriest throwing money on the table and we leaving the weapons unguarded outside, but I trusted that Crys knew what he was doing. “Your servant Kingboy is from the north.” (archpriest) “He is.” (Crys) “You deliver your wares to the pagans of No-Lands?” (archpriest) “It is not for your ears.” (Crys) “Your skin is still smooth, young one. You could be more respectful of your elders.” (archpriest) “Paper of a contract is smoother than skin of a man.” (Crys) “Lamentation Houses of this city have been demolished.” (archpriest) “Who would wear a black cape and ride a black horse?” (Crys) “The shadow of a wall is a free zone for those who eat.” (archpriest) They seemed to be haggling about something else entirely now, using ornate gangslang of the southern territories instead of northern territories. The archpriest probably switched to southern code because he thought I wouldn't be able to understand, but I understood perfectly. “Young merchant, I will give you a warning out of goodness of my heart: if you are not on our side, you will eventually become his source of skin.” (archpriest) “Death comes equally to all.” (Crys) “Hmph, marching hand in hand towards guillotine, a three-bladed scythe will cut the grain when blood chains are linked. So be it.” (archpriest) After the wooden weapon box was brought in the chamber by the sycophants and placed on the stone table, the sycophants pried the box lid open with a crowbar. The priestesses quickly checked the weapons and counted the ammunition stored in neat rows. “It is as agreed.” (priestess) “Close it and take it upstairs.” (archpriest) The sycophants again left the chamber carrying the weapon box. Crys took out a contract scroll from his shoulder bag and held it in his extended hand. “With this, our contract has been fulfilled.” (Crys) The contract written in shining blood immediately burst in flames, leaving only ash on the floor. It was a flashy magic trick pre-prepared by Crys; a simple chemical reaction that awed the priestesses in the room. The archpriest seemed pleased with this sleigh of hand as well. “My associate in Crumbling Shores will contact you again for the next shipment.” (archpriest) “I suggest not. I will be leaving these territories, so I advice you to find another source.” (Crys) “That is unfortunate...” (archpriest) He looked at me, probably wondering if my presence had something to do with the news. “Are you heading north, young merchant?” (archpriest) “That is still to be determined.” (Crys) “You should have informed me about this before burning the contract. Such a showy act makes me think you have no intention of continuing our trade relationship. You wouldn't think something foolish like that?” (archpriest) Guys, please don't escalate this, let's just go... “Archpriest Mantimer, you think I do not know the true reason you buy these particular weapons.” (Crys) “Do you think such attitude before me is tolerable?” (archpriest) “I suggest dropping this matter. There are several merchants who would gladly sell weapons to the lords directly.” (Crys) I wasn't the sharpest in reading human body language, but I could see the archpriest's aggression rising for a moment, but then it waned. Can you call it microaggression when it's so blatant? For a moment, there was a silent staring battle between the archpriest and Crys, but soon the archpriest succumbed. “It seems my warnings keep falling on the wayside. Such a shame, such a shame...” (archpriest) “We will bid you farewell and good night, then.” (Crys) “May the light of Lucranah descend upon you, reckless ones.” (archpriest) One of the priestesses opened the door to us and we left. I advised Crys and Kimono to be wary of an ambush at the temple yard, but nothing happened. It felt like it went too well. Was that really all? I could understand southern gangslang and read between lines that this archpriest was selling the weapons forward to the city lords instead of using them for the good of the Lucranah Cult or forwarding them to the West Side Boys Gang. The archpriest had a weird and dangerous side hustle: use cult money to buy cheap weapons and pocket the money by selling them for the enemies of the cult. Well, it was a common theme for political swindlers and religious hypocrites: blame others openly for things you do in secret yourself. “Crys, was it alright to tell him that you know about his scheme? He might send West Side Boys after us.” “Doesn't matter. He's a coward hiding only suicide poison under his robes. It it had been only me and Kimono, he might have thought taking rash actions, but still only on the level of hiring assassins at Crumbling Shores to silence us. Your presence in the room, however, binds his hands until he knows more: which northern gang you represent, how many of you there are, what are your goals here, why do you move with us.” (Crys) “I see. His plan to sell weapons to city lords seems a bit cumbersome, though. Why take such risks under Lucranah's eyes? Is he just stupidly greedy?” “The schemes of a crazy person can seem deep and complicated to the ignorant, yet in reality are merely labyrinthine gibberish.” (Crys) “I hope you're talking about him and not me, haha...” “Your self-awareness is more rigorous.” (Crys) “Oh, thanks. We have a kind of a similar saying in the future: the words of a smart person can look like the words of a crazy person for a dumb person.” “Is that so...” (Crys) Crys looked at his sister, climbing on the rider's seat. “Oh no, no, I didn't mean to call her– Sorry, Kimono!” “What?” (Kimono) “It seems Speedrun thinks you are mentally challenged.” (Crys) “I didn't mean it like that, I think you are a smart and lovely person!” “...I don't care what you think.” (Kimono) Please don't bully time travelers, sensei. Our feelings are fragile. In the end, this was a normal buy/sell quest. Exactly like you would play the game as Crystal Pencil. Not all disputes lead to dramatic fight scenes and enemies don't always spawn to known ambush points. “Now then, Kingboy, the man with the skeleton key.” (Crys) --- When the night turned on the side of morning, Ostero Nynaling left the temple grounds and headed to a forest slum – an area players had nicknamed Trailer Park. There were several forested areas inside the fortress walls and this particular strip of forest was full of old carriages and wagons that homeless gangsters had turned into their dwellings. Ostero didn't go towards main temple or shanty town, so that was good RNG. We left our coach at nearby inn and booked a room for the sake of appearances, but our plan was to leave the city before dawn. We just waited for Ostero to appear so that we could check if he had the key. On the streets, Kimono followed Ostero closely from the shadows and we followed Kimono from afar. I wasn't good at sneaking, so we had to do it like this. Trash burned in the Strangers ruins, black water flowed in the alleys and the sick and the poor ate mushroom soup from wooden pots. A pickpocket planned to bump into me with a knife, but Crys broke his jaw with his knee first and took his knife as a souvenir. A passing group of young men proudly presented their wounds and bruises to us, homeless children played with shinbones, and a toothless old man carrying firewood sang “Holy Master Of My Skin” with a croaking voice. Seitheargnagh's night life was something I would not praise in a travel guide video. However, the Trailer Park area was a lot quieter than I expected. I expected partying, drinking and red paper lanterns in trees because it was the middle of the night, but some gangsters in this world actually slept at night. Maybe their Bloody Sunday church service had exhausted them? Under a grove of dark trees, Ostero slipped inside a cabin that looked like a large Reading wagon without wheels. A strangely lonely and humble abode for a leader of a Dungeon Gang, but maybe he wasn't as rich yet as he was in the anime timeline. Maybe he was just starting his career at this point, or wanted to save money on a long business trip. Kimono waited us at the edge of the Trailer Park and pointed us to Ostero's shelter when we arrived. “He went inside there. No guards.” (Kimono) “Is he strong?” (Crys) “No.” (Kimono) “Yes.” “No. You're just weak.” (Kimono) “...I don't oppose that characterization, but Ostero is still an area mini-boss at Ouidah. He's more skilled than normal opponents. He may not be at his best stats at this point in timeline, but we should still take a safe strat here and kill him in his sleep. Right, Crys?” “Dagger in the heart.” (Crys) Yeah, dagger in the heart... hm? Wait a moment. It's low-level boss character instakill and we have a main character whose ranged attack stats I remember. Isn't this a perfect opportunity to test the consistency of this world? “Wait, I have an idea. Kimono, you should actually kill him when he's awake, but use your mini-crossbow.” “What?” (Kimono) “Knock on the door to spawn the enemy, but headshot him with a dart arrow through the window hatch.” Kimono looked at me like I had just asked her out – in other words, like I was a crazy person. “You are weird.” (Kimono) “I presume this experiment has something to do with the future.” (Crys) “You're not wrong.” “You were quite concerned about standing out and summoning Lucranah before. Why make a riskier attempt now?” (Crys) “Uh, well, it's not like he's a cult member, or even a local gangster... and we're going to leave the city immediately after, so... Anyway, Kimono, try to headshot him with the mini-crossbow.” “I'd rather use a dagger.” (Kimono) “I know, that's exactly the idea. Crys, if he doesn't die immediately after Kimono shoots, could you, you know...” “Sure.” (Crys) “After that's done, I'll check his pockets for the key and then we run.” I was pretty sure that consistents didn't exist here already, but I wanted to be sure. In the game, Kimono had high damage bonus when using melee blade weapons, but also a damage penalty when using ranged weapons. She shouldn't be able to one-shot Ostero with her poison dart crossbow even if she gets an easy headshot with her accuracy and precision stats, if the game stats are in effect here. But if Ostero dies easily from one headshot, the game stats are not in effect and there's no consistency. ...And as I expected, Ostero fell on the floor with a dart in his skull. One shot, one kill. We dashed inside the cabin immediately. Of course, the local neighborhood wouldn't probaly have cared much even if someone had been shot to death with a revolver and robbed, but there was still the possibility that Ostero had hired some neighbor to look after his stuff, so Kimono and Crys kept wary while I searched Ostero's body. I quickly found a black metal key with a jagged human skull motif. It was sewn into a secret pocket inside his purple buff coat. “Let's go. It was instakill after all.” “You wished to see him survive a poison dart in the head?” (Crys) “I basically wanted to see if Kimono's damage-dealing with a ranged weapon is the same as I remember from history. Or to put it another way, I wanted to see if this guy has the propensity to survive a headshot. You remember what I told you about consistents? I wanted to see if there's consistency in this type of skill-versus-skill setting.” “And the answer was no.” (Crys) “Yep. Chaos reigns.” “I could have told you that.” (Crys) “No need to get philosophical. Well, you lose something, you win something, I guess.” No consistents also means that Kimono in this world is strong against enemies he was weak against in the game. Surely that also means Caliph Tze is more vulnerable than in the game. Runkill on consistency level is a runsave on incidental level. *There's a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.* “That is the skeleton key?” (Crys) “This, ladies and gentlemen, is definitely the legendary fast-travel item known as Autorail Skeleton Key. The one skip to rule them all.”

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNmNjYwZjMwZmRmOTQwOTQ5YTZhNzM0MzEzOTNkOGM5"><strong>Sokar and Declan sit in Sokars apartment quietly, both of them sitting at his dining table in awkward silence.</strong></p> <p class="cnMzMzg3YzhjYjczYjQ1YjE5OTUwOGJhM2Q5OThiMDU1">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM2MjMyOTA2NDZjNDRiYjU5MGEzZmMyMmI2NTM0NWNh"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Sokar. so I know it must have been pretty uh, shocking to hear that there’s a dragon resting on your head but I mean, aren’t you kind of overreacting?”</span></p> <p class="cnMwOTM1MmVlOTU5YzQ0NGQ4NDliNTU1MzYzNWEyZTll">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzZDU2NzliY2M0YTQxOGM5NjVhMGZlZjhmODg4NTAw"><strong>Sokar sits opposite of Declan with his head face down on the table.</strong></p> <p class="cnMzMDRmYWQ3M2NjNjRjZDliYjRhNDNlYjkwZDRjNTY5">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMyNTkwYjcyOWIzMDQzYjY5ZDRjYmM0MGU0NDA3ZTNi"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I’m not doing this because I’m upset. It’s because this thing on my head is so damn heavy that it hurts to raise my head.”</span></p> <p class="cnNiNDRhMTE0OGQ5YTQ2MjdiZDk2MGM3ZjA1MjY2ODY2">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4OGIzODU2NzdhZjQ3YTdiZDM4NmQ4ODBkYmE1ZjJm"><strong>Declan looks at the little dragon which only he can see, that is now resting on the back of Sokar’s head. Its eyes remain closed and small breaths can be heard from it. Declan thinks for a moment and then reaches his hand towards it, and places his hand on the dragon.</strong></p> <p class="cnNlODc1MGY2ZDA0ZTRjYjdiNWYxMTE5ZGNlODY2NTNh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNkZDk5YTU4YTEyMzQwMjc5MzlhNmYxN2Y4ZGQ4ZmFi"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Just wait a sec Sokar. I might be able to help you with your little problem.”</span></p> <p class="cnMxMTFkMDM0ZmE3ZjRmYmRiNWM0NzM5MjVhNDBhOGVh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4YTMwMDhhMjYwNTRlNzZhODA4MjY0NWFlZDU5ZGI0"><strong>Declan then places his other hand on the dragon resting on Sokar, and then slowly begins to lift it. However as he begins, the dragon shakes awake with its eyes finally opening. It’s pupils glow a dark red and it begins to bat its wings and shakes off Declans head.</strong></p> <p class="cnMzYWJkYjg4MDFlYzRhZTJhNzg5MzYwZmE2ZWFkMWQ5">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzOTMwNjBlMGZlYjQ1ZDZhYWQxYTY1MDZhNGViZDk5"><span style="font-weight: 400">Hey, the weights gone!</span></p> <p class="cnMzMzc5ZTkzODY0MjRkN2NhZDYwNGZhMGNjZjhhNjhk">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwZDgyZDUyNjFjZjRhNWQ5NjhmYzBkNDNlY2M0Nzli"><strong>Sokar lifts his head and looks at Declan, about to thank him for his help. But as he does Declan has a scared look on his face as he slowly stands up and begins to back away from the table. </strong></p> <p class="cnM0YmQwZTczZDExNjQyMGQ5YTQ3ZTYzZWQwODkxNTRh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM2NjI4NmMwMTkxMDQxNzdhYTI3NjdjZTYxM2FiZjhi"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Declan, what are you doing?”</span></p> <p class="cnM2MDMyMDNkODZiNzQzZjBiN2I5Mzc3ZTczZjcxMWY2">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjYjE2NjJjMmJjYTQwNGI4ZGU0YzQ3Y2QwYmI0M2Vm"><span style="font-weight: 400">“This thing does not look happy that it was touched by me Sokar, it looks like it might fly at me any moment.”</span></p> <p class="cnNmMjVkZDg4YjY5ODQ5YTViNGNiNTc5OTMwYTgzYmFh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNiOTNkZTliM2FlNTRkZTBhMDQ3YzU3ZDI5MmE3ZjU3"><span style="font-weight: 400">That doesn’t sound good.</span></p> <p class="cnMzNjU4ZGJkYjA2MjQ0NGU4NmQ4MTI0N2E0YWFkODM0">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhYjkzODViYzAxZTQzZTg5NzM2NTFlYzNhYmQ5MDg5"><strong>The little dragon stares intensely at Declan, waiting for its moment to strike. Declan begins to reach for the blessing in his pocket, but the moment he does the dragon shoots towards his hand and bites down onto it.</strong></p> <p class="cnNhOGViOGNjNWU5ZjQwOTVhOTQ3NmQwYzAwM2JlODBl">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM1NTc1OWIxYTBmNjQ1ZDQ4NGY5NzcwMjYxNTNmOWFh"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Shit! Sokar help get this damn thing off me!”</span></p> <p class="cnMwMjc1MTFmNWM5ZTQzZGFiNTgyZGE4ZTg1MWVkMGY5"><span style="font-weight: 400">How am I supposed to help him, I can’t even see the thing. Wait… but it can see Declan!</span></p> <p class="cnNkMjM1YTk3NzM5MjQxMzRhZTc4OTFjNTRkYzNiNDdh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM1ZWJhYTJiNWQ4ZDQ3YzY5NTI4ODY3NGQ0YzY1NWY3"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Declan close your eyes!”</span></p> <p class="cnMwMzdiNDgxMDFjYTQ4M2I4ODQ3M2ExZWVkMjI5NTMx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMxODI0NDRmNDI0YjRiN2E5ZDU2MThkN2E0ZjZhMWVm"><strong>Declan does as he’s told and as he does a ball of light grows over Sokar’s right hand quickly and then explodes in a flash. The dragon gets stunned by the explosion of light and releases it’s clamp on Declan’s hand. Sokar also closed his eyes before the blast of light, of which he’s had one too many experiences of.</strong></p> <p class="cnMyNzA5NzkwZWU3ODQzYTRiMzE0NzhkZWFiNTZkNmI5">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMyYTAxYmM3YTU3YTQ1MzliMzQ4OGNmNjcwZjA5OGIx"><span style="font-weight: 400">Well I guess the First Day isn’t completely useless, I can at least use it as dragon rep...ellent.</span></p> <p class="cnNmYTBkZGE0NmMzMzRjZTE5MTk0YzVmZDI3Zjc1NDg3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM2MGU3MjgxM2ExOTQ5MmQ4MjQ1ZDRjZjdkZmUxZWRi"><strong>Sokar is greeted by a shocking sight as he opens his eyes, in front of him he see’s Declan except his body seems to be wrapped in a small white glow. More shockingly however, he sees a small black dragon floating in the air, repeatedly blinking its eyes.</strong></p> <p class="cnM5ZGE4MWFjMjUyNDQ2MjRiMWU1YTQ5MWFhZGFjYWUz">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3ZDdhYjAyN2NmODQ1Y2M4OTRiZTBhMTJkYjU5ZjBm"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Declan i-is that the dragon you were talking about? And why are you surrounded by that weird light?”</span></p> <p class="cnMyZmZjNGU0M2YxNDQ1YmI4MzRiMzYyZWY1NmFkNDUy">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmY2NmYTFkNWE3NzRlZWFhMjc1OTM4MjhkOGRiMTQz"><strong>Declan opens his eyes and looks at the dragon in the air, and is incredibly shocked that Sokar can see it, but is more shocked at what Sokar had just said.</strong></p> <p class="cnMyYjYzNjk3NTFjYTRhYmI4ZmU0NmU1OTAwNWUyYTVi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjNGFkNjRiNmMxMjQ5ZTNhYzVmNmJiODI2ZTMwZmUy"><span style="font-weight: 400">“A weird light? Wait, if you can see that does that mean you can see essence now? That weird light is a result of my essences purity! But how did you awaken the ability to see essence?”</span></p> <p class="cnNiOGY3MjViYWQyZTRhODFhM2I1MmIwY2UxMmY2OGI1">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNjYzY1MDI5MzdkYjQ2ZThhMjc4ZmM1NThhYmVkNjdi"><span style="font-weight: 400">The ability to see essence, is it possible that this is the true ability of the First Day? That thread from before, is it possible it was made of essence too? But it disappeared after the First Day exploded and this dragon didn’t. What’s the difference between the two? I’ll have to ask Declan at a later time, but for now I should worry about this thing.</span></p> <p class="cnMxZjQ3NGQ1NTA2YjQ0YWQ5ZDQxN2YyM2E2ZmVhNWY3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmNzQ2YzEwYjlmOTQ3YWNiNjc4YTg4Njk0ODFhY2Q1"><strong>Sokar looks at the still disoriented little dragon and then at Declan who has his blessing in his hand, clearly on guard in case the dragon lunges at him again.</strong></p> <p class="cnNmOTM1OWEyMDhjYTQxYjVhMzdhNzE2NTBlMWNhNGVm">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNhMmIwZmY1MzBkZjRhODhhMTE5ZjIzZDk3ZjcyM2M4"><span style="font-weight: 400">This thing came from me so, maybe it’ll respond to me better than it did to Declan. Here goes nothing.</span></p> <p class="cnMyZDEwNmFhOWY2NTQ3N2Y4ZDUwYjkxYzRmYmM2ODFi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM2NTk5ZWYwZmJlYTQ3NzY5YWY2YWEzZTk2M2Q3MDFj"><strong>Sokar reaches his hand towards the little dragon and places his hand on its head, the dragon looks confused for a moment and almost bites at his hand, but then it looks at Sokar and strangely calms down. The dragon then floats over to Sokars head again, and tries to lie down on it. Sokar quickly backs up and the dragon slightly falters as it tries to set itself on nothing but air.</strong></p> <p class="cnNjMzhhNjkwOTIzNTQ1OGM4ZjM1YTg5NTVlZTJmNTkx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMxOWM4Y2VhNDA4ZDRjZTJhN2VjNTIzZjY4NWY5MWE3"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Sorry little guy, my heads off limits.”</span></p> <p class="cnNhOWNjMGE5YTVkMDQ1YWE5NGJjNzAzMmVhNzBlMDM2">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3MjMxODlmMGIwYTRlZTI5MzIyYjNlMWQxMTRmN2Qw"><strong>The dragon looks confused for a moment and then pauses for a moment, before flying over to Sokar and coils around his neck.</strong></p> <p class="cnM2NjVmYTIxMDRkODQ0YWJhNGNjZTdkMDUzMzNkYmM1">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM4M2Y3MzlmMDI2MzQ2N2RiNzE4ZGNiYTE0ZDM5NTBl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Well, this is better than my head I suppose.</span></p> <p class="cnNmMjc0ZWU2YTdjZjRlYjM5MTM1OTJjMGE5MzEyNjY5">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmOTI0ZmUyYzQ0ODQ3YTViZmNiMTFiM2ZkNGFiZGIw"><strong>Declan cautiously puts his blessing away and stares at the dragon now coiled around Sokars neck before approaching him.</strong></p> <p class="cnNiY2E5ZGI5MjM2ODQ2MDRiNDk1NmVkZGJiNmIzYzYw">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzN2NlMGM2ZmI0MzRmN2Q5MDEwNjhkODgzYjhjYjE2"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Well now that you can see my essence but more importantly that thing, we should probably figure out where it came from. I mean, most people don’t just normally have dragons born from their essence.”</span></p> <p class="cnNhODAzZDRlZGRiMjQzNGVhMmJjNWVhYjU2YmY1MWE5">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzYjM5OTgyMTMyMjRiZmU4Y2FjODMwOTE2MGEyMjM0"><span style="font-weight: 400">This dragon was born from my essence and the pollution that it put off, so that means it has something to do with Greed. But Declan wouldn’t know that, he doesn’t know the intricacies of my ability. Though neither do I really.</span></p> <p class="cnMwZmRkZTY2NjgyNjQ3YzU5ZWE3ZTBmMDA4MzIxMmI2">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM2YWJlMGNkNjY5ODRiNTE4MzJiZTU0ZjUxZTZjM2Vh"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Declan, I have no idea why this thing exists. Although I don’t think any brainstorming we do will help us find out the answer, I don’t truly know what my essence is, so could you explain it a bit more to me? It probably won’t help but it’d be good to know.”</span></p> <p class="cnNlYmRjZjJlNzMyYTQ2ZTBiMTUyYzAxZDE4ODhkM2U0">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNmNjU3YzFmOTdhNjQyZjNhODEyNmJjNjcwYjhhNmE2"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Sure! You already know the basic behind essence so I won’t go into that, I’ll just focus on what makes yours so unique. As you can see on me now, the special essence of my essence is purity which is represented by this white glow around my body. The essence of your body though is, well it’s like a miasma that leaks out of you. And when you come into contact with other people, that essence of yours drills into everyone you come into contact with, and as far as I can tell there are no exceptions. Alice, me and almost everyone in the cafe today had all been affected. But it’s weird, I don’t think it had any negative impact. Most pollution can cause sickness or spread disease, but yours was just there silently growing. And then today happened. That pollution and your essence all pooled together to make that dragon. And now it’s like you almost have none of that original essence, just a small bit of it around your heart.”</span></p> <p class="cnNjNTBiNzQ4M2Q4YjRjNzQ4YmIyY2YzODUyNTg4Yjhh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwOTgyZGViZTE0OTRhMWY4ZGE0ZTY1NDk0OGVhZWM2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Around my heart? That’s where my brand is, the Ouroboros. Could this just be a natural progression for Greed, or was it spun into action by my visit into that place. I don’t know, but the fact remains that this dragon was born from Greed.”</span><span style="font-weight: 400"><br><br></span></p> <p class="cnM0OTQxOTViYTUzNTRhMjU5M2I4NTM1NDkxYWQxZTk2"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Thank you Declan, that doesn’t give me any idea about why this thing came to be but it did give me one idea. If my essence continues to infect people and grow, then this little guy might grow into an actual full fledged dragon.</span></p> <p class="cnNlOGRjN2I0ZjA0NDRhZjU4NWE0ZWZlZWRjYWZhMWU2">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNiMzFjNmYwOTljNjRkNjNiYjEzNmI3MjBkNzFkOGQz"><strong>Declan looks shocked, but his shock is replaced by glee as a small grin covers his face.</strong></p> <p class="cnM2MDBmZTc5MjNlYTQ2YWFiZGMxMGIwZjViZWUwOWUy">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM2YWE0ZjAxZDViMzRlY2Q4OTg0NTk0MWM3YzBlZTgy"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Yeah! Let’s just hope you can keep control of it. I mean, could you imagine what you could do with an actual dragon? You could fly through the skies unmatched, in fact you’d be unmatched in this whole damn city! If that reality can really become true then…”</span></p> <p class="cnM3NmQ3YjliNjFlZTRhM2ZiNzMzZTVjZGVlZjBkYjNi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnNiZTUyMTE1NWM1MDQxMTBiNmUzNjMxOWE3MDhmNDY5"><strong>Declan is interrupted by a knock at Sokars door. Sokar looks confused and Declan heads over to the door to open it and see who the visitor is.</strong></p> <p class="cnM2OWY3Zjg3NmVmZTRhMmQ5NDE3ZjgyODEwNzc2Njk3">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM5ZWViN2Q1MWM1NjRiODY5NGExODY5OGM2YzdkNTI3"><span style="font-weight: 400">This is weird, I wasn’t expecting anyone today. Is it Alice?</span></p> <p class="cnM3NWE0ODA0Njk3NTQ5NjI4MjZmOTRjM2ZmZTU2MzYx">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzYmIwMzIwNTNlZjQ2OGJhZGQ5N2M0ZjgzMGMyN2Iy"><strong>Declan opens the door and his face goes pale as he looks towards the man towering in front of him. His form dwarfs that of Declans. Sokar looks at the man from behind Declan and is equally as shocked though for different reasons.</strong></p> <p class="cnNjZThmMzY1NDk4MjQ5NjRiNGIxNDhkMDE5OTk1NzRi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM2Y2NkMzJlZGYzMTQwNzg5MzE1ZWJmMGRmZjE0MWNh"><span style="font-weight: 400">This guy is huge… 8… No! He has to be 9 feet tall! Wait, that matches the description of one of the Seraphims Declan was talking about. Could that be-</span></p> <p class="cnNkYTZkN2Q4MTZkOTQyZmVhMDA0MTFjNDVkZWM5ODQ4">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM3MzJlZDJjM2EwMjQwZTc5NzJhY2JmMjkyZjZmYTA4"><strong>Sokars thoughts are interrupted as Declan is sent flying back crashing through the table in front of him. The man at the door begins to walk into the apartment, breaking off the top of the door frame with his hands making room for himself.</strong></p> <p class="cnNiMmYxOTJjYmJhODQwODY4NTY5ZGI1M2IyMjFkMmVj">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM5M2IwZWE0MGI1NTQzZGM4ZWQwMDAwODBjNzRiODE3"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Declan, you disappoint me. You should have been more on guard after what you did this morning but you were so vulnerable I was almost able to end you with one hit!”</span></p> <p class="cnNjNmU5YjYzODY4MzQxM2JiNmY2MDkxOTE5MjdmMTZh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM1YjI5NTk5NmNjZTRjNmRhY2U4OGM3MjhlNmE5YzUz"><strong>Declan struggles to get up from his position on the ground surrounded by the broken table. As he does he looks over at Sokar and barely mutters out a single phrase.</strong></p> <p class="cnMzY2Y5ZTc2MDUzNDQzNzU4M2ZmMmQ2YmVjNzgyZGFh">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMxZTc0NDU0ODliOTRmMTVhNjE2MTg2ZjVkZWM0MTk1"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Sokar… Run!”</span></p> <p class="cnMxNmQ0YjNmZjRlNTQ3N2VhOGRkM2Y0NDJhYmI0NWNl"><br><br><br><br><br><br></p> </div>

**Sokar and Declan sit in Sokars apartment quietly, both of them sitting at his dining table in awkward silence.**   “Sokar. so I know it must have been pretty uh, shocking to hear that there’s a dragon resting on your head but I mean, aren’t you kind of overreacting?”   **Sokar sits opposite of Declan with his head face down on the table.**   “I’m not doing this because I’m upset. It’s because this thing on my head is so damn heavy that it hurts to raise my head.”   **Declan looks at the little dragon which only he can see, that is now resting on the back of Sokar’s head. Its eyes remain closed and small breaths can be heard from it. Declan thinks for a moment and then reaches his hand towards it, and places his hand on the dragon.**   “Just wait a sec Sokar. I might be able to help you with your little problem.”   **Declan then places his other hand on the dragon resting on Sokar, and then slowly begins to lift it. However as he begins, the dragon shakes awake with its eyes finally opening. It’s pupils glow a dark red and it begins to bat its wings and shakes off Declans head.**   Hey, the weights gone!   **Sokar lifts his head and looks at Declan, about to thank him for his help. But as he does Declan has a scared look on his face as he slowly stands up and begins to back away from the table.**   “Declan, what are you doing?”   “This thing does not look happy that it was touched by me Sokar, it looks like it might fly at me any moment.”   That doesn’t sound good.   **The little dragon stares intensely at Declan, waiting for its moment to strike. Declan begins to reach for the blessing in his pocket, but the moment he does the dragon shoots towards his hand and bites down onto it.**   “Shit! Sokar help get this damn thing off me!” How am I supposed to help him, I can’t even see the thing. Wait… but it can see Declan!   “Declan close your eyes!”   **Declan does as he’s told and as he does a ball of light grows over Sokar’s right hand quickly and then explodes in a flash. The dragon gets stunned by the explosion of light and releases it’s clamp on Declan’s hand. Sokar also closed his eyes before the blast of light, of which he’s had one too many experiences of.**   Well I guess the First Day isn’t completely useless, I can at least use it as dragon rep...ellent.   **Sokar is greeted by a shocking sight as he opens his eyes, in front of him he see’s Declan except his body seems to be wrapped in a small white glow. More shockingly however, he sees a small black dragon floating in the air, repeatedly blinking its eyes.**   “Declan i-is that the dragon you were talking about? And why are you surrounded by that weird light?”   **Declan opens his eyes and looks at the dragon in the air, and is incredibly shocked that Sokar can see it, but is more shocked at what Sokar had just said.**   “A weird light? Wait, if you can see that does that mean you can see essence now? That weird light is a result of my essences purity! But how did you awaken the ability to see essence?”   The ability to see essence, is it possible that this is the true ability of the First Day? That thread from before, is it possible it was made of essence too? But it disappeared after the First Day exploded and this dragon didn’t. What’s the difference between the two? I’ll have to ask Declan at a later time, but for now I should worry about this thing.   **Sokar looks at the still disoriented little dragon and then at Declan who has his blessing in his hand, clearly on guard in case the dragon lunges at him again.**   This thing came from me so, maybe it’ll respond to me better than it did to Declan. Here goes nothing.   **Sokar reaches his hand towards the little dragon and places his hand on its head, the dragon looks confused for a moment and almost bites at his hand, but then it looks at Sokar and strangely calms down. The dragon then floats over to Sokars head again, and tries to lie down on it. Sokar quickly backs up and the dragon slightly falters as it tries to set itself on nothing but air.**   “Sorry little guy, my heads off limits.”   **The dragon looks confused for a moment and then pauses for a moment, before flying over to Sokar and coils around his neck.**   Well, this is better than my head I suppose.   **Declan cautiously puts his blessing away and stares at the dragon now coiled around Sokars neck before approaching him.**   “Well now that you can see my essence but more importantly that thing, we should probably figure out where it came from. I mean, most people don’t just normally have dragons born from their essence.”   This dragon was born from my essence and the pollution that it put off, so that means it has something to do with Greed. But Declan wouldn’t know that, he doesn’t know the intricacies of my ability. Though neither do I really.   “Declan, I have no idea why this thing exists. Although I don’t think any brainstorming we do will help us find out the answer, I don’t truly know what my essence is, so could you explain it a bit more to me? It probably won’t help but it’d be good to know.”   “Sure! You already know the basic behind essence so I won’t go into that, I’ll just focus on what makes yours so unique. As you can see on me now, the special essence of my essence is purity which is represented by this white glow around my body. The essence of your body though is, well it’s like a miasma that leaks out of you. And when you come into contact with other people, that essence of yours drills into everyone you come into contact with, and as far as I can tell there are no exceptions. Alice, me and almost everyone in the cafe today had all been affected. But it’s weird, I don’t think it had any negative impact. Most pollution can cause sickness or spread disease, but yours was just there silently growing. And then today happened. That pollution and your essence all pooled together to make that dragon. And now it’s like you almost have none of that original essence, just a small bit of it around your heart.”   Around my heart? That’s where my brand is, the Ouroboros. Could this just be a natural progression for Greed, or was it spun into action by my visit into that place. I don’t know, but the fact remains that this dragon was born from Greed.” “Thank you Declan, that doesn’t give me any idea about why this thing came to be but it did give me one idea. If my essence continues to infect people and grow, then this little guy might grow into an actual full fledged dragon.   **Declan looks shocked, but his shock is replaced by glee as a small grin covers his face.**   “Yeah! Let’s just hope you can keep control of it. I mean, could you imagine what you could do with an actual dragon? You could fly through the skies unmatched, in fact you’d be unmatched in this whole damn city! If that reality can really become true then…”   **Declan is interrupted by a knock at Sokars door. Sokar looks confused and Declan heads over to the door to open it and see who the visitor is.**   This is weird, I wasn’t expecting anyone today. Is it Alice?   **Declan opens the door and his face goes pale as he looks towards the man towering in front of him. His form dwarfs that of Declans. Sokar looks at the man from behind Declan and is equally as shocked though for different reasons.**   This guy is huge… 8… No! He has to be 9 feet tall! Wait, that matches the description of one of the Seraphims Declan was talking about. Could that be-   **Sokars thoughts are interrupted as Declan is sent flying back crashing through the table in front of him. The man at the door begins to walk into the apartment, breaking off the top of the door frame with his hands making room for himself.**   “Declan, you disappoint me. You should have been more on guard after what you did this morning but you were so vulnerable I was almost able to end you with one hit!”   **Declan struggles to get up from his position on the ground surrounded by the broken table. As he does he looks over at Sokar and barely mutters out a single phrase.**   “Sokar… Run!”

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNlOTJmNjA5YzMyYTQ3ZGU4M2UxZjdmNjk0NWE2OTFj" style="text-align: center">Earth – the world of The Misplaced Dungeon.</p> <p class="cnNlMjk5NTk4ODg4MjQxZTE5NmFlZDU2NDYwNDgwODY2" style="text-align: center">{Timeline: September / October 2018 – MD from Ch. 26 through to 41}</p> <p class="cnMwZDgyMTMwMmQzNTRjZGI5MDMxOTczY2EwMmIzZGVi">Dr Jones was feeling harassed, it had been hell getting into work the offices of the CDC had been surrounded by protestors including several in black with hoods and masks. Then he had been summoned to see his superior and been informed about Task Force Blue and how he would now have to report to that incompetent political hack Ms Garr-Sampson.</p> <p class="cnNjZDI2MmU4MTFkZTQ1NDJiMDVmZGEyNGYzMmQwYzI5">That had led to him and Josh wasting the morning trying to brief the old dinosaur.</p> <p class="cnNlMTNjMTBjODYxODRjYmZhZTNmMDY5ZGRiZDhlYWVk">A grossly distorted and frighteningly inaccurate version of their briefing was on the two o clock news and then on all social media. The only sites with accurate information were the hobby and gamer sites.</p> <p class="cnM0NTcxMzQ2MGQzZTRhMDliY2JjMzQ4N2JhYzk4ZWQ0">Taskforce Blue limped on badly hampered by the political apparatchiks at the top who only wanted suitable sound bites to enhance their careers and increase their profiles with the public they despised.</p> <p class="cnNkYWJkODcwMWVkYjRlMTZhMzA3YjkxMDM1ZTJlZjk3" style="text-align: center">* * *</p> <p class="cnNjYWY0NzA4MjFmMjQ5MWZiYmU5YzM3MWYxOTQ4ZGJl">Certain middle-eastern countries denounced the whole affair as a plot by the Great Satan.</p> <p class="cnNlYjYzMGJhMjBhOTRmNzRhYzRiNDQ4ZmJiZDAzYjI3">A suicide bomber in Tel Aviv failed to kill anyone but himself when a glowing blue shield formed around him as he committed suicide.</p> <p class="cnNjYmEyNDdiOWZjMDQxZjdhYzFkOWEzMzRmNjUzMTAw">A television evangelist denounced it all as the work of Satan and ordered his followers to shun the sinners.</p> <p class="cnM3MjY2NmViNjg5ZjRlMmQ5NzBiNDE2NmI5MWFkNmM0" style="text-align: center">* * *</p> <p class="cnM4NTBiZGJmYTJiYzRkYmM5MTJlYWM3MjExNDMwNGRi">Meanwhile at the North Hawaii Community Hospital Ginny was speaking with Jonathan Silverberg under her tree in the front garden of the hospital, Jonathan had changed into a rather striking looking Dryad with the tendency to shed heaves when nervous and she was often nervous around men as her mythic sex appeal made the former man very uneasy and unhappy.</p> <p class="cnM3M2MzMDNlODJlMTRjYzU5ODI0NDllZmQ0NTEwMjU0">They were the first to hear and see the mob, it was headed by hooded men wielding baseball bats, crowbars and at least one had a pistol.</p> <p class="cnNkNDg2YjliZjUxNzQ5OGZhYzAyODYxNjkzYWEwOWM2">Ginny fled into the Hospital to raise the alarm and was surprised when Charlie van Dorn, the other former man they were treating sashayed out of the front door to confront the mob. She was accompanied by most of the blue screen sufferers and a few doctors and nurses. She rang emergency services and after reporting the incident to a harassed sounding operator went out to support her friends.</p> <p class="cnMwOGFlNjUzYzljOTQzMjY5N2E1M2IzY2FmYzgxZGYx">When she rejoined her friends and colleagues the mob was screaming with a mix of fear and rage, two were firing pistols without aiming properly and at over fifty meters were thankfully not hitting anything. The vegetation was very active grabbing and holding any of the mob that came into reach while Charlie and Kaycee were throwing fireballs, Charlie, or lightning, Kaycee, at the shooters and then at anyone who tried to pick up the guns, or came charging at the defenders.</p> <p class="cnM0MTBkNjVjY2QxNTRkMTBiNjMxNjljMGQ4NWQ5OWRh">The majority fled when they realised that they were actually being hurt or horrors, Killed!</p> <p class="cnMzYTJlNDM3Yjk5MjRkMTI4ZmJmNjk5NTM0ZmZmNWJj">The small hardcore members of the mob who managed to get close regretted it as it seemed that people who were infected by the blue screens and claimed to be warriors or martial artists were dangerous at close quarters. Especially when they were healed of their injuries while their opponents weren’t.</p> <p class="cnNlZWU5NDI2MjdlYzRlOWE5YjUzZGM4YTFjNjc3MDAx">The riot squad arrived in time to call for crime scene specialists and leave to confront other conflagrations.</p> <p class="cnNmZjU1ZjE0YzI4MjRlNTBhMDkyMjEwMGYxZDViZWRl" style="text-align: center">* * *</p> <p class="cnM4OGZmYTZiNDA4MjRlZDBiNWNlYTA5OGUyZTk1ZjMx">In Pakistan Hassan who had been resolutely ignoring the blue screens he had been seeing since his flight back from the States decided out of desperation to at long last acknowledge them. He was in his house with his terrified young sister as his brother and cousins tried to break down his door.</p> <p class="cnM1NzkxMDNjZjhlYTRlNjU4NzE0N2JkNzlhNjI4YmE4"><em>‘What’s the most powerful thing I can become to save our lives? Race, select, change to most powerful, pah! no, no, no, Rakshasa. Yes, yes, yes. Now can you do the same for my sister! Please I beg you, she needs strength to escape if I fall!”</em></p> <p class="cnM5MTRlNWM1MTJkOTQwYTRhYTZhZTEyNjM5ZTdkZmNj">“Please sister try to see blue screens! And don’t be frightened when I change, I will always be your true brother."</p> <p class="cnMzNzhiNjVkNmY2NTRkYWVhMDRkMzA1ZmM3ZjViYjVl">First Hassan grew and gained bulk, seconds later so did his sister and they changed gaining the appearance of humanoid tigers. Then the door broke and their indignant relatives entered intent on committing an honour killing for their sister’s heinous crime of rejecting her cousin’s hand in marriage. Seeing the two Rakshasa they screamed and turned to flee.</p> <p class="cnM2NjFiNTkyYTBmODQxZjg5MWY5MzRjMzZjODA2OGUz">They were unlucky, in the throes of change the Rakshasa’s instincts were in control and slaughter ensued, only Jamil the first to flee survived though bleeding profusely from slashes to his back.</p> <p class="cnM5MDY5N2RhNjE1MDQ3MmNhOGYxMmQ4MzhkYjNmZTBk" style="text-align: center">* * *</p> <p class="cnNhNDg1Y2ZjNGViNTQ4ZGFhOTFkMjFiZjg1NjBlNzM5">Despite everything Dr Jones and his team soldiered on gathering data that was often contradictory and impossible. People throwing lightning from their hands, please!</p> <p class="cnMyNmQyY2ViOGVkYjRjMzc4Yzg3MzJiOTg1NjIxMjdh">Then from Germany came the story of a dying planet, a blue haired goddess and other gods, sentient gems that were the brains and souls of dungeons that fed on the death of others.</p> <p class="cnMwYmFjN2Q4ODdjZjRkY2E4MzlmMDU4NWRiNWFlZmJh">Within a week of their having received Markus Wrangel's story, similar stories came from Spain, South Korea and New Zealand. There even was a similar case in Honolulu where a researcher from the Smithsonian was investigating something that sounded remarkably like the dungeons described by Mr Wrangel.</p> <p class="cnNjOGNmYjdhNTczYzQ5NWViNzY2ZjEzYmUzYmViZGRl">Unfortunately there seemed to be no rhyme nor reason as to how the blue screen syndrome was spreading. The Japanese had their cases completely isolated allowing contact only by video and still one of their victim’s cousins had succumbed. Mr Hutchinson had isolated himself and he had contracted a particularly nasty version of the syndrome. Then many people came in touch with victims and absolutely nothing happened.</p> <p class="cnNmNDdmNTgwNTY0NzQ2MjI5Y2NiYzNiM2U1MWRmYTJh">All Jones and his team could say is that it wasn’t transmitted by contact, germs or viruses. However, their superiors didn’t want to know what wasn’t causing it, they wanted to know what was and how to stop it.</p> <p class="cnNlMTA2NmU4MDIzOTRmNzlhMjY4YTFhZmViYmY2NzU0">Meanwhile sertain agencies and militaries around the world had noted the Israelis’ success in Tel Aviv and were eying the victims hungrily.</p> </div>

Earth – the world of The Misplaced Dungeon. {Timeline: September / October 2018 – MD from Ch. 26 through to 41} Dr Jones was feeling harassed, it had been hell getting into work the offices of the CDC had been surrounded by protestors including several in black with hoods and masks. Then he had been summoned to see his superior and been informed about Task Force Blue and how he would now have to report to that incompetent political hack Ms Garr-Sampson. That had led to him and Josh wasting the morning trying to brief the old dinosaur. A grossly distorted and frighteningly inaccurate version of their briefing was on the two o clock news and then on all social media. The only sites with accurate information were the hobby and gamer sites. Taskforce Blue limped on badly hampered by the political apparatchiks at the top who only wanted suitable sound bites to enhance their careers and increase their profiles with the public they despised. * * * Certain middle-eastern countries denounced the whole affair as a plot by the Great Satan. A suicide bomber in Tel Aviv failed to kill anyone but himself when a glowing blue shield formed around him as he committed suicide. A television evangelist denounced it all as the work of Satan and ordered his followers to shun the sinners. * * * Meanwhile at the North Hawaii Community Hospital Ginny was speaking with Jonathan Silverberg under her tree in the front garden of the hospital, Jonathan had changed into a rather striking looking Dryad with the tendency to shed heaves when nervous and she was often nervous around men as her mythic sex appeal made the former man very uneasy and unhappy. They were the first to hear and see the mob, it was headed by hooded men wielding baseball bats, crowbars and at least one had a pistol. Ginny fled into the Hospital to raise the alarm and was surprised when Charlie van Dorn, the other former man they were treating sashayed out of the front door to confront the mob. She was accompanied by most of the blue screen sufferers and a few doctors and nurses. She rang emergency services and after reporting the incident to a harassed sounding operator went out to support her friends. When she rejoined her friends and colleagues the mob was screaming with a mix of fear and rage, two were firing pistols without aiming properly and at over fifty meters were thankfully not hitting anything. The vegetation was very active grabbing and holding any of the mob that came into reach while Charlie and Kaycee were throwing fireballs, Charlie, or lightning, Kaycee, at the shooters and then at anyone who tried to pick up the guns, or came charging at the defenders. The majority fled when they realised that they were actually being hurt or horrors, Killed! The small hardcore members of the mob who managed to get close regretted it as it seemed that people who were infected by the blue screens and claimed to be warriors or martial artists were dangerous at close quarters. Especially when they were healed of their injuries while their opponents weren’t. The riot squad arrived in time to call for crime scene specialists and leave to confront other conflagrations. * * * In Pakistan Hassan who had been resolutely ignoring the blue screens he had been seeing since his flight back from the States decided out of desperation to at long last acknowledge them. He was in his house with his terrified young sister as his brother and cousins tried to break down his door. *‘What’s the most powerful thing I can become to save our lives? Race, select, change to most powerful, pah! no, no, no, Rakshasa. Yes, yes, yes. Now can you do the same for my sister! Please I beg you, she needs strength to escape if I fall!”* “Please sister try to see blue screens! And don’t be frightened when I change, I will always be your true brother." First Hassan grew and gained bulk, seconds later so did his sister and they changed gaining the appearance of humanoid tigers. Then the door broke and their indignant relatives entered intent on committing an honour killing for their sister’s heinous crime of rejecting her cousin’s hand in marriage. Seeing the two Rakshasa they screamed and turned to flee. They were unlucky, in the throes of change the Rakshasa’s instincts were in control and slaughter ensued, only Jamil the first to flee survived though bleeding profusely from slashes to his back. * * * Despite everything Dr Jones and his team soldiered on gathering data that was often contradictory and impossible. People throwing lightning from their hands, please! Then from Germany came the story of a dying planet, a blue haired goddess and other gods, sentient gems that were the brains and souls of dungeons that fed on the death of others. Within a week of their having received Markus Wrangel's story, similar stories came from Spain, South Korea and New Zealand. There even was a similar case in Honolulu where a researcher from the Smithsonian was investigating something that sounded remarkably like the dungeons described by Mr Wrangel. Unfortunately there seemed to be no rhyme nor reason as to how the blue screen syndrome was spreading. The Japanese had their cases completely isolated allowing contact only by video and still one of their victim’s cousins had succumbed. Mr Hutchinson had isolated himself and he had contracted a particularly nasty version of the syndrome. Then many people came in touch with victims and absolutely nothing happened. All Jones and his team could say is that it wasn’t transmitted by contact, germs or viruses. However, their superiors didn’t want to know what wasn’t causing it, they wanted to know what was and how to stop it. Meanwhile sertain agencies and militaries around the world had noted the Israelis’ success in Tel Aviv and were eying the victims hungrily.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNkMWIwOTU2M2VhODQwYWZhNjJiOTU0OGJiMDJlNTFm" style="text-align: center"><strong>Chapter 020<br></strong><strong>A Matter of Faith</strong></p> <p class="cnNkODAyNTZkNzQ2NzQ4Y2ZhNjg2NGQwNTYyMzY1YWMz">Zorian didn’t like temples. Partially it was due to his bad experiences with them as a child, but mostly due to his inability to understand the reverence with which the priesthood spoke of the vanished gods they were supposed to be venerating. Virtually every story he had read or heard about the age of gods made the divinities sound like gigantic jerks, so why would anyone want them <em>back</em>? Nobody could ever give him a satisfactory answer to that question, least of all his parents, who were religious only so long as the neighbors were watching.</p> <p class="cnM3NzA0ZThmM2RmZjQ5N2Q5OGIzYjQyYTQyYjJjZTcz">The temple in front of which he was standing at the moment did nothing to dispel that unease. The large, dome-like building on the outskirts of Cyoria was larger and far more imposing than any other temple Zorian had previously been in, despite being described as one of the smaller ones in Cyoria. Still, the aranea matriarch had claimed this temple housed the best (human) future forecaster in the city, so his unease would have to be set aside for the sake of accomplishing the mission.</p> <p class="cnMwYWFhOWRiNTdmOTQzYmY4YTRiZDhkODhhNDUzOWU3">He hesitantly stepped towards the heavy wooden doors that served as an entrance to the temple, warily glancing at the huge stone angels that flanked the doorway. Lifelike and grim-faced, the angels appeared to gaze down on him as he approached, judging him and finding him lacking. Try as he might, Zorian couldn’t completely dismiss his unease with the statues, since there was a very real possibility they were guardian golems or some other sort of security. He was just about to open the door and walk inside when he noticed a series of images carved into the door and paused to study them.</p> <p class="cnNjOTZmNzA1OGZkOTRlMWY5NTJhZTUyMjhkMTMxYWFm">Although the carvings on the door were fairly stylized and disjointed, he recognized instantly what they were about. They formed a crude sort of comic, depicting a familiar story of how the world was created according to Ikosians (and by extension, most religions drawing their traditions from them). According to Ikosians, the world was originally a swirling, shapeless chaos, inhabited only by the 7 primordial dragons. One day, the gods descended from the higher planes of existence and killed all of them save one. This last one they refashioned into the material world that humans now inhabit, turning her body into dirt and stone, her blood into water, her breath into air and her fire into magic. The vast networks of tunnels stretching beneath the surface of the world are dragon veins, now empty of blood that had been turned into the seas but still flooded with magic emanating from the Heart of the World – the fiery, still-beating heart of the primordial dragon that rests somewhere deep underground. Far from being content with her fate, the World Dragon still rages against her bounds, giving birth to natural disasters like volcanoes and earthquakes. Unable to strike back against the gods themselves, the dragon takes her anger out on their favored creations – humans – by utilizing her heart, the one thing the gods have not seen fit to take away from her. Pieces of it continually flake off from the main mass, giving birth to horrifying monsters whenever they hit the ground, at which point said monsters begin their ascent to the surface to terrorize mankind…</p> <p class="cnNjMzE3YmFhMDgxMzQ1YzRiN2MyZDE1YTE5NWM1MGNl">And so on. Zorian didn’t believe there was much truth in the old story, but the whole thing was pretty horrifying if one took it at face value. With gods like that, it was no wonder the Old Faiths were steadily losing converts to new religions that popped up after the gods disappeared.</p> <p class="cnNmOGM0YWUwNWM5YjQ4MWE4OTBkZTJlYmUzN2I1NTRh">“Can I help you with something, young man?”</p> <p class="cnM1OGUyZDNhN2U5OTQzNzM4OTllYjY0NzAzM2M5YzM4">Zorian wrenched himself from his musings to look at the man who spoke to him. He found himself facing a young, green-haired man in priestly robes. The man’s relaxed posture and friendly smile set Zorian at ease, but he couldn’t help but wonder about that green hair. As far as Zorian knew, the only people who naturally had green hair were members of House Reid, and it seemed rather out of character for one of them to go into clergy. That particular house was infamous for their links to crime syndicates.</p> <p class="cnM4YzAwMjFhMGQwZjRkNjc5ZWRlNmJmMjJiMmY3YzAx">“Maybe,” allowed Zorian. “I am Zorian Kazinski, mage in training. I was wondering whether Priestess Kylae was around and willing to talk to me? Oh, and sorry about worrying you. I suppose I had been staring at the entrance a little too long.”</p> <p class="cnNmM2FhM2YzZmIwNDRmOTliY2I5OGZmYzkyZjAwOGYw">“Junior Priest Batak,” the man introduced himself. “And don’t worry, a lot of people are intimidated by the gates. It’s why I like to greet newcomers personally like this. As for Kylae… well, she is currently in the middle of a ritual, but if you’re willing to wait an hour or so I’m sure she’ll be happy to hear you out.”</p> <p class="cnMwYjdjMTU3MGM1YzQzMzY5YzlkOTI1MzEwNTMzMjNi">“Sure,” Zorian agreed. This was far better than he expected, to be honest – he half-expected the man to put him through some kind of religious test before allowing him to see the head priestess. Waiting an hour or two was a minor price to pay really. “Err, so should I come back later or…?”</p> <p class="cnM1MTIxNWE0N2ViNzRhMDFhODRkMWQ2ZTBiNGViMmFi">“Nonsense,” the man scoffed. “Come inside and I’ll make us something to drink while we wait. It’ll be nice to have someone new to chat with for a change. We get so few visitors these days…”</p> <p class="cnNmYjEzMmQ5MTNiNjQ3YmRhMGFlNGM5YzFmMTUxZDU1">Uh oh, it seemed that he might still end up being subjected to a test, only this one in the form of ‘casual’ conversation instead of something overt.</p> <p class="cnNmYzg4OGFmMmE2YzQ5YmRhMDBkNDA0ZTM4ZWFjYTA5">“Slow week?” Zorian asked as they entered the temple. The interior was pleasantly cool and fairly dark, with rays of multicolored light streaming down from several high-placed stained glass windows, as well as totally empty. He was grateful for the lack of crowds, but it was unusual to see a temple completely deserted like this.</p> <p class="cnMxNmVlYzk2ODdjNjQ0MDJiOGE4NTg2ZGJlNmY5YjU3">“I wish,” Batak sighed. He led Zorian through rows and rows of wooden benches that filled the temple’s main hall, his steps echoing hauntingly behind him. “More like a slow decade. The aftermath of the Weeping has not been kind to this place.”</p> <p class="cnMxYzdmMjBmNDY2NjRmMzY4NGM2MjIzYjIyMGFiYzRh">“What do you mean?” Zorian asked. “What does the Weeping have to do with this place?”</p> <p class="cnM3MGZjNWEzYjFmNjQyNjJhOWVjZjMxNmU3M2RiOGZl">Batak gave him a judging glance before sighing heavily. “Though the gods have gone silent, the priesthood has never been completely powerless. Most priests have some skill with magic, and higher ranks can usually call upon the aid of angels and other lesser spiritual entities, but our real claim to authority came from various hidden mysteries that were entrusted to us before the gods departed to the unknown. Over time a lot of those were stolen or otherwise lost, but the one thing where we were always unmatched was the healing arts. As such, when the Weeping Plague started spreading across the lands like wildfire, we were expected to do something about it. Sadly, not only were we as powerless against it as anyone else, our close contact with the infected quickly resulted in massive casualties within our ranks. With the subsequent shortage of qualified priests, peripheral temples like this one were all but abandoned, both by believers and by the Holy Triumvirate.”</p> <p class="cnM5OGZlOTBkM2RkZjRkNzE5NjNlNGFlMzgzZWY3NDMz">Zorian looked around him, but failed to see any evidence of decay in the interior of the temple. The temple was clean and intact, and the altar – made out of white marble and framed with silk or some other expensive cloth – looked practically brand new. Plenty of stone statues were scattered throughout the building, seamlessly melding into the walls or support beams, and most of the remaining unadorned space was taken up by wooden panels that had various religious imagery carved into their surface, much like the main doors. In short, it was an absurdly luxurious building by the standards of rural temples such as the one in Cirin, and better maintained to boot. Zorian was almost afraid to ask what Cyoria’s main temple looked like if this one was not considered important enough to keep running.</p> <p class="cnM4NWNmNjA3OTUxNDRjZDM5ZGYzMGQ3YzNmODVkMzU4">Batak led him to a small, unassuming door next to the altar and ushered him to what was apparently a more informal setting. Rather than being a classical office, it was instead a combination of a kitchen and a living room, far messier than and not nearly as lifeless as the main temple had been. Batak immediately started preparing some tea and started peppering him with questions. The questions were fairly standard – who he was, what he did, where he was from, who his family was, that sort of stuff – so Zorian felt comfortable answering them honestly. Strangely enough, Batak didn’t ask him a single question about his religiosity, something Zorian was glad for. Zorian, in turn, asked a couple of questions about Batak and Kylae, trying to understand what they were even doing here if the temple was abandoned.</p> <p class="cnNiMDZhZjQ3YTZhNzRjMTY4MmY0MzhjOGU4MTU3NGFh">Batak was all too happy to enlighten him. Apparently the church leadership didn’t feel comfortable with simply demolishing the temple… or worse, leaving it to the mercy of the elements and looters. A perfectly understandable sentiment, in Zorian’s opinion – not only would it be a shame to consign such a majestic building to oblivion, it would also be a blatant admission of weakness from the church. In the end, Batak and Kylae were assigned to the temple, ostensibly to keep the temple running but in reality more to keep it presentable and ward off thieves and squatters.</p> <p class="cnNiN2Q4NDEyMjRmMzRlMDA4NmU5M2ViNGVkNWVjYzYw">Finally, after he finished his cup of tea, Batak finally decided he had danced around the issue long enough.</p> <p class="cnMyOTBkNzcxNTk1ZDQ2YjQ5NGJmMmNlOGJjOGIzMmE3">“So,” said Batak. “You never did tell me why you’re here, mister Kazinski. Do you think you could perhaps tell me what you need to speak with Kylae about or is this too sensitive for the ears of a mere junior priest?”</p> <p class="cnNlNTc3NGFiYWE4YjQ2MTI5OWQwZDIwYjY0OGVmMWY0">Zorian thought about it for a second before deciding it probably wouldn’t hurt to tell the man why he came. Future forecasting wasn’t illegal or anything, after all.</p> <p class="cnMxNWVlN2QyMTViZjQ3MzI5NWM1OWZmMDE2ZWYzYjk5">“Well…” began Zorian. “For a start, I heard that Priestess Kylae is skilled at forecasting the future through divinations.”</p> <p class="cnNlNjFhNDM2MGUxNzQxNmE5MGQxMmQ5MWI4YWRiMzgy">Batak stiffened slightly, but quickly forced himself to relax. His smile did slip off his face, however.</p> <p class="cnMxYmM3ZTA2NTk1ZjRjYjliZTI0MTZhMGM5Y2ZlNzNj">“She is,” he said. “It is a difficult field to practice and I doubt anyone could claim mastery of it in any real sense, but she is as close to an expert as you’re likely ever going to get.”</p> <p class="cnNlZDEwMGY1ZTdlYTQ1MDQ4ZDFkYzE4ODNjMjE1ZWZk">“But there are other people who dabble in it regardless, one of which has sent me to speak with Kylae about her findings,” said Zorian, privately enjoying the mental image of the aranea matriarch hissing at him for calling her a ‘dabbler’ in the field. “Some of the results she had gotten out of her predictions have been very… irregular.”</p> <p class="cnMwZTdiMTMyMWE1MzRmNmZhYmU1ODkxNTI1M2VjOTAy">All pretenses of good cheer had left Batak’s face by the time he finished talking. Silence stretched into uncomfortable seconds. Zorian was starting to wonder if talking about the topic was somehow taboo or if he had otherwise insulted the man somehow when the junior priest spoke again.</p> <p class="cnMxMTI2MDczNWU3MTQxZTc4YTI3M2Q0NWZlNGNhODJj">“And these… irregularities… when exactly do they appear? How far did your mysterious backer project her predictions before they went haywire?”</p> <p class="cnNlZTIxOWJmM2Y4ZjQ3MWZiMzc5YmE5NjE0YzI2NWI0">It was at this point that Zorian realized: Batak already knew. He was no more a mere junior priest than Zorian was just an innocent messenger.</p> <p class="cnM0MGI4ODU0NjRlNTRjNmU4MjNjN2VmNzQ2YjMxM2Uy">“There is only one real irregularity, and it appears on the day of the summer festival. Specifically, the prediction returns a blank beyond that date… almost as if the whole world disappears after that point. But you already knew that, didn’t you?” asked Zorian rhetorically.</p> <p class="cnMyZGRiNDlkZmI2MDQxNDVhZTNiYjgyMzAzNTFiZjc4">Instead of answering him, Batak spat out a very unpriestly curse and started pacing around the cramped room in agitation.</p> <p class="cnM1MGY0YmI3YWRjZDQyNzFhODVhNzhkMDM2MTgyNWYw">“I’ll take that as a yes,” Zorian sighed.</p> <p class="cnNhODY5NWJhNTI1NjRlNzg5MDYxOTBmNzI1MDdlNGM5">Batak stopped pacing to give him a wary look. After a few moments, the priest visibly forced himself to relax.</p> <p class="cnNhNTg3Njg3Nzc5ZTRhY2ZhNzA0MTBhZWFlNGQzYzkx">“I’m sorry,” said Batak, “I didn’t mean to be rude, it’s just… well, it’s probably best if I go and fetch Kylae now so we can discuss this together.”</p> <p class="cnM4N2ExZDJmNGY0YTRkZjdhZDNlNzMxNjQ0NTFjMTA2">“Isn’t she doing a ritual at the moment?” Zorian pointed out curiously. He knew it was a very bad idea to stop magical rituals halfway through, but maybe the ritual Kylae was performing was purely religious in nature?</p> <p class="cnNjNDc1NGE1ODc4ODQxZTE5YmU4MjEzNDkyMDUxNzIy">“Well, sort of,” Batak said sheepishly. “I don’t think she’ll be terribly bothered if I interrupt her. Not for this, in any case. Please wait here while I go get her.”</p> <p class="cnM2YThlZjVkZjFjMjQ5NWJhYTE2MDY2MzU0ZTFkZDQ5">As Zorian watched Batak hurriedly leave, he couldn’t help but wonder why Batak was so spooked out by the termination date they uncovered. Zorian was certainly spooked, but that was because he knew exactly what was causing it, but to Batak and Kylae it shouldn’t look terribly unusual. Much like soul-related magics, the field of future prediction was very poorly understood, and strange never-encountered events probably weren’t unheard of. Zorian sincerely hoped that Batak’s agitation meant they knew something important about the anomaly that he and aranea matriarch had missed.</p> <p class="cnM5OTZjMTBmMzAzZDQ3YTg4NjExMmEzZmM0ZjMwN2Yw">It wasn’t long before Batak came back with a middle aged woman back in tow. Zorian’s first thought was that she was surprisingly young for a high priestess, but he supposed with the manpower shortage among the priesthood they couldn’t afford to be too picky about such things. For her part, the priestess gave him a long, searching look upon entering the room before giving him a strained smile and sitting down next to Batak, so that both of them were facing him.</p> <p class="cnNmZWM4MDYxMzJkMDRkMmJiZmU3Nzg2MmViOWZjZjQz">“Hello, mister Kazinski,” she said. “I am Kylae Kuosi, the high priestess of this temple. I hear you’ve wanted to speak to me. Specifically, that you wanted to speak to me about future prediction?”</p> <p class="cnM1NzEyNjg2MzBjYzQyMDNiYTU0NjZmYzBjYTdiMmRl">“About the termination date on the day of the summer festival, yes,” Zorian confirmed.</p> <p class="cnNhNjM1MGQzODIxYjQ5MGI5YjMwNjU5MzcxYWU1MmJj">A short exchange followed where they both confirmed they were indeed talking about the same thing and then the priestess leaned back on her chair and gave Batak a mild glare.</p> <p class="cnMwZDE1Y2EyZWM3ZDQwYThiOWQwMTQ1OTJkYjM5MzA2">“I told you it was not a mistake,” she said.</p> <p class="cnNiNWVkNWZlMjVhOTRlNDNiY2FlY2FiMzNjNjAzZGY1">“And I told you it wasn’t you who was the problem,” Batak shot back. “I guess we were both right.”</p> <p class="cnNhYjg0ODk2OTMwODQ3YWY4NzBiYTFiYTUxYjUzYmIw">Kylae sighed before refocusing on Zorian. “I don’t suppose you could introduce me to your master so I can discuss this directly with her? Not that I have anything against you but you just don’t have the necessary expertise and all your information is by necessity second-hand…”</p> <p class="cnM2NzI4NDJlNGE0NzQzNTRhMTE5M2I1Y2Q5Mzg3ODUz">“Sorry,” Zorian said. “I’m afraid my ‘master’ definitely wishes to stay hidden. I agree she could help you better in person, but this is how things are at the moment.”</p> <p class="cnNmMGQ0MTI4MjY2YjQxZDI4ZDk0Mjc1ZmVlN2M0Njc0">And it was vanishingly unlikely that would change any time soon. According to current church dogma, aranea were classified as monsters – servants of the World Dragon, to be precise – and therefore not to be dealt with. Kylae and Batak seemed fairly liberal as priests go, but probably not that liberal. Admitting he was speaking on behalf of a giant sentient spider would have led to him being forcibly expelled from the temple at best.</p> <p class="cnNkOWVjMTU0YTAyODQxZDViZDk1Mjc1M2U4NTgyNzZm">“If I may ask, though, why has this gotten you so spooked?” Zorian asked curiously. “I mean, I know why me and my, ah, master are concerned, but why do you have a problem with it?”</p> <p class="cnMwOTE5MmI5OGYzNDRhOTBiYzFhNjgyNWQ0YWU2MWIy">The priestess looked at him curiously. “And why <em>are</em> you concerned, if I may ask?”</p> <p class="cnNjYmUyMTkwN2E0MjQxNmQ5NGIxNjc4NzUzMTQyZTIy">“Trade?” offered Zorian, suppressing a smile in favor of a most innocent expression he could manage. Hook, line and sinker.</p> <p class="cnNiNzFlOGUxYTgxMDQ4YjViMTQxNTk1MDgwNDdkMmE1">The priestess shared a silent look with Batak, somehow communicating without words with her fellow priest. Apparently they knew each other quite well if they could manage that. Maybe they were lovers? If Zorian remembered correctly, priests were forbidden to have relationships with each other, and thus had to look for romantic options outside the church hierarchy, but it wouldn’t be the first time such rules were ignored. In any case, after a few seconds they seemed to reach a decision and turned again towards him.</p> <p class="cnM1N2Q3MDhkZmNlYjQyZTc5YmJmMjVjOGI3YTYzYzc1">“We will share our concerns with you, but only if you go first,” the priestess said. “And be warned – I can tell when people lie to me. It is a supernatural ability and has never failed me before, so please don’t waste my time with lies and half-truths.”</p> <p class="cnNkZjAzMzFjNmU5NjRlMDFiMDM2YjU3NWU4MjgxOTg4">Well. That was kind of inconvenient. Zorian didn’t detect any attempt at barging into his mind, so whatever ability she had probably wasn’t mind-based in nature. Was she instinctively divining the truth of his statements? Peering into his soul? He supposed she <em>could</em> be bluffing, but he somehow doubted it.</p> <p class="cnNkZGY1MjI4NTc2MDRhMGM4ZmFmYWIxYTlkNmI5Y2U2">In the end he decided to take a risk. He fired off a couple of divinations to make sure they weren’t scried and that there were no cephalic rats around and then started to speak when they returned negative.</p> <p class="cnM4MmFmOTFlNzM3NTQ0MTlhY2I0OTI0MTljNjA4NWNj">“Let’s see if this will be a sufficient price for your help, then,” Zorian sighed. “The reason we’re concerned is that there is a well-funded, well-organized group of terrorists planning to take advantage of the summer festival to cause trouble. Some parts of their plan – like their usage of artillery spells and war trolls smuggled through the Dungeon – was fairly pedestrian. But there is a more exotic component to their plans – one that wreaks havoc with future prediction by its very nature.”</p> <p class="cnMzYmU4MmIzZWI0ZjQ1ZTY5NGJkOWQ3ZjAyZWI0ZWUz">There was a brief moment of silence as the two priests stared at him incredulously.</p> <p class="cnNmYTliNzU0OGE3ZDQ1ZDJhZmZlOWQ2ZjNjZWUzNGFh">“That… is not what I expected to hear,” the priestess said. “Gods and Goddesses, this is way above my pay grade. I… don’t think I want to know more, to be honest. I don’t want to get involved into such things.”</p> <p class="cnNmMTYzOTBiZDEzZjRiNzhiMDI4MTEwMTZiYTYwZWFk">“Probably for the best,” Zorian agreed.</p> <p class="cnNlYjRkMjk0OWFkMTRkNDliNDJlNzM0MjAyMjUzMzMx">“If that is indeed the true cause of the irregularity, though, then my own reasons to panic about it are largely misplaced,” the priestess mused.</p> <p class="cnMyZDEyNmE2ZjZjYTQ5ZmI4Y2E4MTgwZmUwNTU3OTUy">“I’d still like to hear about it, if it’s not a problem,” Zorian said.</p> <p class="cnM3MWQyNzVjZmQ2NDQ4N2Q4ZmQzNzQzYzU0MzlmOWJh">“It’s about the angels,” Batak interjected. “Ever since the gods have gone silent, angels have sort of taken their place. They can’t grant magical powers to the priesthood or work miracles the way gods could, but they can be summoned in order to provide advice or give aid with their considerable personal abilities.”</p> <p class="cnM2ZGIwNzgwMmVhMTQwODI5MDc5YzhmODY5YTgzMThj">“And what did they say about the anomaly that got you so spooked?” Zorian asked curiously.</p> <p class="cnM1NGFjYWEyMGVlOTQyZjFiZDEzNjY2M2UyYzNiOTdj">“That’s the thing,” the priestess sighed. “We can’t ask them because no one has been able to summon then since about a week ago. We’ve been in contact with churches as far as Koth, and they report the same thing – even the most approachable of celestials are ignoring us. Hell, I’ve even heard rumors that demon worshippers cannot contact their vile masters any more. It is as if something has cut the entire material plane off from the spiritual realms.”</p> <p class="cnNmNTAzMjVlMGJmNzQ4ZTk4YjdiN2Q5NjEyZWFhMTg0">Zorian swallowed heavily. A week ago… the start of the time loop obviously.</p> <p class="cnNhZjM0MWVjNGMzYzRkZGRhOGUyOGE3OTg1NGQwYjEy">“Quite disturbing, isn’t it?” said Kylae. “Coupled with the timeline simply cutting off a few weeks from now, well, I must admit it had really gotten me spooked. Finding out the two are basically unrelated certainly makes me rest easier.”</p> <p class="cnMxYWQyNDVkMjllNTQzMjBhNWVmMTk2ZmI3ZjY5NTQ2">There was further conversation after this, but none of it was terribly productive. He promised Batak and Kylae to be discreet about their troubles with contacting the spirit world and left.</p> <p class="cnMxOTYxNDM3YTdkMTRhZmE4ODFjODNiZjVjZTQyZTM2">Unlike the priestess, Zorian didn’t feel like the conversation had eased his worries.</p> <p class="cnMyMzUwZjdmN2FmODRhZTU4ZjVhOGE2NWQ0NTE3NzAx" style="text-align: center">- break -</p> <p class="cnNjNzk5MjQ2NjFjYTQ3OThiNWQ0Mzg0YTUwYWZhMjI0">Following his visit to the temple, Zorian decided to sit down in one of the many restaurants scattered throughout the city and consider this new information with a bit of food and drink. There was no doubt in his mind that the severing of the link between the spiritual planes and the material one was caused by the time loop, but what that meant was less clear. Was the material plane the only one experiencing the time loop, isolated from everything else within some kind of ‘time bubble’? The fact that his current timeline seemed to literally end when the time loop restarted strongly suggested this. Apparently the spell wasn’t snatching up a bunch of souls and putting them into their past bodies like he initially assumed – it was literally rewinding time itself in the targeted area while leaving a couple of souls intact in the process. No wonder the spell was so easily transmissible – compared to reverting everything one month into the past, the cost of looping an additional soul or two was probably utterly inconsequential.</p> <p class="cnM3NGY5OGEzMzUxMDQwM2M5MjgzMDUwODQ4NzM4YjA1">And that, if true, was very disturbing. That was not human magic. A hundred or so mages in possession of a mana well and a whole lot of time to prepare could affect a medium-sized country at most. The time loop must have enveloped the whole continent, <em>at</em> <em>least</em>, for the boundary to have not been noticed after a day or two. News spread fast these days. And frankly, Zorian had a hunch the time loop enveloped the entire planet. This was like something straight out of the age of gods… but if higher beings were involved, why was the time loop allowed to go off its intended course so severely?</p> <p class="cnM4MGM1Y2RiMDNlYTRkYzdhZjkyZGJmNmQ5YzQ3ODk2">His musings were interrupted by the scraping of a nearby chair. Someone had decided to join him.</p> <p class="cnM0ZDU3YjEzMjBlNDQ0ZDhhMDg5ZjYyZDcxMzA4Njk5">“Oh,” he said. “It’s you.”</p> <p class="cnNlM2Y3ZWZhYjQyNjQ3ZjdhMjAyNDE2OTZkZjA0NDE4">“Is that the way to greet a friend, Roach?” Taiven complained.</p> <p class="cnNjMjE5MGE5YjkwZTRmNTA5NjBjNzZjYTVlOGU0NTA5">Zorian rolled his eyes at her.</p> <p class="cnM5ODljYjM1OTQxNzQxOTZhZTVhYTk0NjI3YjkwZDEz">“Hi, Taiven,” he said blandly. “Fancy seeing you here. I mean, this place is pretty far from your usual haunts. It’s almost as if you decided to track me down to this place…”</p> <p class="cnNmMGExNmMzYjk2YjQ1Y2M4M2Y3MDViYjI0OThmOGI2">“That’s because I did,” Taiven said. “What are you doing on the edge of the city, anyway?”</p> <p class="cnNjYTc5MDMwZjE3MjQ5M2FiZTE5NGU3ZTFlYjA4NTE5">“I was visiting a temple nearby,” Zorian answered. “Lovely architecture.”</p> <p class="cnNmYzViZWRhZDYwYzQxYzBhZWM0YTFlOTkxY2YyZjk0">“You, visiting temples?” Taiven scoffed. Zorian said nothing. “Fine, be that way. I won’t pry. In case you’re wondering, I’m here because I asked around to see if I could find a human empath that could help you control your powers.”</p> <p class="cnNmN2NjMDIyMzlhYzRmMzZiOWY4MjBjMjc4YTMzYmNi">“You did?” asked Zorian, suddenly a lot more alert and enthusiastic about this conversation.</p> <p class="cnM4NDUyZmMzMzNlYjQwOThhZmE3MTJjYjA1ZjFjNTY1">Taiven smiled sheepishly. “I kind of did find someone willing to help you, but I’m not sure whether it’s something you’re willing to go for. The woman in question is a healer in one of Cyoria’s big hospitals and she’s only willing to teach you if you agree to an apprentice contract with her and become a full-blown healer.”</p> <p class="cnM0YTQ1YjAyNTcyNTQyY2M4NzdhZmM3MjcxMWNmMTZl">Zorian clacked his tongue in disappointment. He did intend to learn the basics of magical healing at some point in the future, but that was a long way off. Learning medicine wasn’t something you do in your spare time and would doubtlessly require him to dedicate most of the restart on mastering that one field. He had too many things on his plate as it was.</p> <p class="cnNmNjlkMDUyNDc5YzRiYjE5MzNiNTNkNGEzZDcwNTk0">“No, that doesn’t work for me at all,” Zorian sighed. “I have nothing against healers but that’s not the career I’m aiming for.”</p> <p class="cnMzZWFlNmQ0ZTUzNTQ5ODJiMzVkODEzNjBhMjJiMDI1">“Yeah, I kind of figured,” Taiven said. “It really would be kind of a shame to let all that work you sank into spell formulas go to waste. I guess the spiders are still your best bet, huh?”</p> <p class="cnM2ZGM0NWY5MmRjMDRhYTZhZGFlZGI4MTFmYTUzY2Q4">“Yeah,” agreed Zorian. “Although… to tell the truth, they have been dragging their many feet in regard to teaching me. Maybe if they thought I actually had valid alternatives to their help they’d hurry up a little? What was the healer’s name, anyway?”</p> <p class="cnM2MTM4OWUyM2I0NTQ5NjA5NjM5MTQwMGRmMzY0NmFh">Taiven narrowed her eyes. “You’ve been down there alone again?”</p> <p class="cnNhNDY3NDVhODBkYzQxOTFhY2JmYmMxOTdmYWQ0ZjQ2">Uh oh.</p> <p class="cnM0NzIxNTlhMzYzNzQwMDM4NGI4OGZhMmRkYWZjMTU3">“Maaaaaybe…”</p> <p class="cnMxZTdjOTM3ZDJiOTQyM2JhZmE0MWM1YmM2OWYyODIz">She reached out across the table and cuffed him in the shoulder. It hurt.</p> <p class="cnM3MjBjYjQ3ZTgyMTQ2ZGU4NjI2N2M3ZmM2OTkzOWNm">“Zorian, you moron,” she complained. “I told you not to do these things alone! Even if you trust the freaky giant spiders that much – and I don’t really think you should – there are other things down there! No matter how capable you are, it’s always smart to have another set of hands and eyes with you. Unless you think I couldn’t keep up with you?”</p> <p class="cnM2Njk4MzZjMDZmZDQ3ZGZhZGQxYzJhN2ZkZjVkZTk1">“I don’t think that at all,” Zorian said. “I just didn’t want to be a bother and…”</p> <p class="cnMyYmU4Y2IyMzc2MjQzYzRiZDkyOTg1ZTIzYjBjMWI4">“I already said I don’t mind helping,” Taiven cut him off. “You can’t use that as an excuse.”</p> <p class="cnM2MjFiNDBhMjAwNTQ1NWFhNTcwMWQxY2RjN2IzMTc1">“…and the Aranea are kind of prejudiced against non-psychic people,” finished Zorian.</p> <p class="cnNmMDI3ZDI3ZjU2NjQ3YmNhMjViYWFiYzY5MGVjMTFj">“Non-what?” asked Taiven incredulously.</p> <p class="cnM5YTRhYjRmNzQzZjQ1MTA5MDRjZDQyZTAxNTA4N2Zj">“Psychic. People who are like me and them. I don’t quite have a comprehensive explanation what being psychic entails, but it seems to be some kind of instinctive affinity for mind magic. That’s where my empathy apparently comes from – the aranea claim it’s a weak form of mind reading, and that I could actually do more once they actually deign to teach me.”</p> <p class="cnMzMzVkMzc2ZGU3ZjQzODFiZTY5MWM3ZDgwYjRkZGEw">Taiven seemed at a loss for words for a moment.</p> <p class="cnNlYjIzNmQxZDhhYzQ4YzJiOTdkMjQwMDA5M2Y1YjFk">“You’re reading my mind?” she finally said. “I didn’t give you permission to do that!”</p> <p class="cnMxNjM5NTc0MGMwOTQwMWE5OTM2NWJjOWZjMWNlZmNm">“I’m only getting vague impressions of your emotions, and not even that consistently,” said Zorian with a long suffering sigh. “Besides, that’s why I’m meeting with the aranea – to learn how to not do that unless I want to. How did you think empathy works, anyway?”</p> <p class="cnM4ZDZjN2VlNjkxYTQzN2M5MTM5NTU0MTQ4OWUwNjgy">“I guess I didn’t,” admitted Taiven. “But we’re getting off track – why does me not being psychic matter to your new spidery friends?”</p> <p class="cnMzMjY0NDEyMzk2NTQ4YjFiMDM1YTQ1OGUyMGE3ZjFh">“How should I know? Prejudices rarely make much sense.”</p> <p class="cnNjYWM5ZWEzZjgzMzRjYTU4YjM5YjE3NGZiZTMxNzVj">“Well go ahead and ask them the next time you see them!” Taiven said. “Because if you can’t give me a proper answer the next time I ask, I’m going down there to ask them myself, with or without your permission. It’s total bullshit!”</p> <p class="cnM2NTFiYzdmMmQ0YTQ0ZTNhOTk1NjI2ZmU3MWM4MmNk" style="text-align: center">- break -</p> <p class="cnM0ZjI4YTcwYzdhYzQwODFhYmRjMGQ2MWFmZjQ1MDVl">Aside from his visit to the temple, none of the other future forecasters were in any way helpful to Zorian. A fair number of them didn’t even want to talk to him, and those that did hadn’t made long-term predictions and hadn’t noticed anything strange. Well, one of them did <em>claim</em> to have done so and found nothing of note, but he was an obvious fraud and spent most of the talk trying to get Zorian to part with his money in exchange for a ‘more detailed reading of the future’.</p> <p class="cnMxYjQ1NWZmZjI4ODRmMDJiNjMzOTg3NDE3ZmY2MGRi">So Zorian turned to the matter of his classmates and the possibility that one of them was the third time traveler. Zorian didn’t think there was much chance of that, but better safe than sorry. Besides, it was a good way to look for clues as far as he was concerned, and he had been thinking of getting to know his classmates better anyway.</p> <p class="cnNiOTM5NDBkNmVjNDQ4YTk4MjNkNWE0MzMyMDQxYWE2">Including him, there were exactly 20 people in Zorian’s class – 12 girls and 8 boys. Of those, there were three people he was almost certain weren’t the third time traveler – Akoja, Benisek and Kael. The first two because he actually knew what their normal behavior and personality were before the time loop and had interacted extensively enough with the both of them in various restarts to judge them unchanged, and Kael because of the events that took place in the previous restart. Trying to write down everything he knew about the rest, he quickly found two classmates that were very suspicious: Tinami Aope and Estin Grier.</p> <p class="cnM4ODMzMTY4MjUyODRkZWU4NWM1YjE1ZDVhMTQwNjJj">Noble House Aope had a very shady reputation. The House began its existence during the Witch Wars, when one of the major witch clans agreed to defect to the Ikosians’ side if they were given the status of a formal House in return. The Ikosians, ever pragmatic, agreed. No doubt they thought they could milk the renegades for their magical secrets and then quietly sideline them until they could be officially removed, but that never happened. Instead, the Aope rose through the ranks of the Ikosian political system, leaving a trail of broken rivals in their wake, until they eventually stood on top as one of the more prestigious Noble Houses in all Altazia. This extreme success wasn’t a result of <em>just</em> being very competent politicians, though – Aope were rumored to practice all sorts of dark, forbidden magic stemming from their witchy roots. Necromancy. Demon summoning. <em>Mind</em> <em>magic</em>.</p> <p class="cnMxNDhjNDNlZWZhZTRmMzFhYjBhZWMzNzQ1MjgwNTEz">Of course, this was all just a rumor. Certainly no one who valued their life and career would ever suggest that Tinami Aope, the first-born daughter of the current head of Aope household, was practicing forbidden magics. Perish the thought. And in fact, the girl was painfully shy and withdrawn and in general looked like she wouldn’t hurt a fly.</p> <p class="cnMyOTExMWZjMTk2MzQ2ODlhZjUzMjA4ZTk4ZTAyOGFh">That didn’t prove anything, though. Beware of the quiet ones and all that. If there was one person in the class who had easy access to magics that could screw Zach over and hijack the time loop for their own ends, it was probably Tinami. Even better, her withdrawn nature would ensure that very few people knew her enough to realize she was acting strangely unless she did something totally crazy.</p> <p class="cnM5ZDkyMTM0MzA4YzQ1MjM4MDU4N2I0ODNiZDk1MGRm">Estin Grier, the second suspect, was primarily suspicious because of where he came from. He and his family had immigrated to Altazia from Ulquaan Ibasa – the infamous Island of the Exiles. Since the island was populated mostly by mages exiled there in the wake of the Necromancer’s War, that made Estin the second person who could plausibly have access to forbidden magics without too much trouble.</p> <p class="cnMzNGQ4ZTQ1Y2U2MDRiNjQ5YWVmYjU1N2VlNDczZWFj">Also, Zorian was fairly certain that the mages leading the invasion force came primarily from Ulquaan Ibasa. The island was one of the few places where one could find enough necromancers and war trolls to explain the numbers of them present at the invasion. It was also the last recorded home of Quatach-Ichl – the lich general that fought the Old Alliance in the Necromancer’s War and whose physical description matched almost exactly with the lich that had so thoroughly trounced Zach in that fateful battle where Zorian was dragged into the time loop.</p> <p class="cnMyZTNiZGFkZGJjZDRhY2U4MzBjY2ZiMjA5MWQ1Yzc0">Of course, those two were only the obvious suspects, and the third time traveler, if indeed present among his classmates, was no doubt far more cunningly hidden. Realizing he didn’t know enough about people in his class to really make a judgment, Zorian decided to seek the aid of the one person who could no doubt tell him something about everyone.</p> <p class="cnM2MzdiNDBjNjJjZDQ0YjRhMDdmNGQ5ZmU1OTlkYzAx">“Hello, Benisek,” Zorian said, sitting next to the chubby, talkative boy. “Can I ask you to do me a favor?”</p> <p class="cnNkZDU0MjlhM2FjMzQwM2M4YWQyMGE1ZThiYTBmNzg3">“Sure,” Benisek said. “What do you need?”</p> <p class="cnM1MjA1ODA5ZjE1YjQyZjlhY2M1MjYyYzBlMDQxY2Zi">“I need basic information about everyone in our class. What’s the latest gossip about them and so forth.”</p> <p class="cnM2MDY5YjExNWI4ZjQ5MTBiNmRjYzI3NzcyYWYzNjg0" style="text-align: center">- break -</p> <p class="cnNjODNiMWRkYzUxMDQ2NGU5YmFmMjNkYmQ5YTZmNjQw">[Well, that is certainly an interesting turn of events,] the matriarch remarked. [A confirmation of the cut-off point in the time line and another clue as to the true nature of this time loop is far more than I had hoped for. I must admit I hadn’t actually expected you to find anything useful among human diviners, but there you go. I don’t suppose you have anything on your classmates yet?]</p> <p class="cnM2NWQwNzY4MWIxMTRiMzliNmRmODY5MzAwZWRlM2Uy">[Not really,] Zorian responded. [I’m only starting with the investigation. Truthfully, this is bound to be a task spanning numerous restarts, so you shouldn’t expect quick results.]</p> <p class="cnM1NDk4Yzg4M2ZiNjRjNzViMjc1ODc4ZmM2MDY1M2Ew">[Yes, of course. Well, I have nothing else to add so unless you have any additional questions we can meet each other next week to check on each other’s progress?]</p> <p class="cnM3NjcxMWNjMDIxMTRjNWQ5MzVkYjM2YTE3ODk5Y2M1">[Actually, I have two questions,] said Zorian.</p> <p class="cnMzZjljNDA1ZTEyNDQ1MzE4Mzc3ZGNiOWRmNDU5N2Zm">[Ask away, then.]</p> <p class="cnNjMjM3ZWZiYjc3ODQwMWZhODJhMDY4MjAzNDk0MDA1">[First question: Can you explain to me what exactly you mean by ‘flickermind’ and why you disdain them so much?] Zorian asked. [You keep saying that word and it sounded terribly insulting and bigoted.]</p> <p class="cnMxY2Q5ODY1NDljYzQ4YWViM2M3YWUyYjk4ZTdkNzJh">The matriarch twitched her legs, emitting some complex emotion that Zorian couldn’t decode with his limited empathic abilities. That tended to happen a lot, actually, since the aranea were so thoroughly different from humans in both body and mind.</p> <p class="cnM3ZTU4NWUwMGM4MzRlZTE4N2NkZjRkNzE5MzIxMzdk">[I apologize if we offend,] she finally said. [It had been quite a while since we had a real, sustained contact with a human, and there are bound to be misunderstandings and points of contention.]</p> <p class="cnNkNTFmNTZlOWQzMTRkOWViOTBjZWQ1OWY4YjkzYzhh">[I notice you didn’t actually answer my question,] pointed out Zorian.</p> <p class="cnM1YjU1ZmNlZTViZTQ0NDM4MWQ0ODAzMjM4NjFhOGQ0">[It is like you suspect: a flickermind is a creature that isn’t psychic like you and me. I’m sure they can be wonderful people, but I – as well as most of my fellow aranea – find it hard to truly take them seriously. It’s like meeting a society of people that are born blind… they can obviously manage without sight, but you’d probably still consider them fundamentally crippled.]</p> <p class="cnM1MDBiODNlZTQwZTQ3NDM5NWY5OTNhZGRhY2JiZjk0">[You never did tell me what being psychic entails, you know?] Zorian pointed out.</p> <p class="cnNkMTMwMDE1ZGY2MTQ2ZjM5NTQ2YjJmYTRkMDcwMzFl">[Everything, from the smallest grain of sand to the very gods themselves is connected through the great invisible web that suffuses all creation,] the matriarch said. [Psychic people are open to these connections, and contact the minds of others, or even the universe itself, to perform what you humans call magic.]</p> <p class="cnNhODkxZmY3YjNiMzRlMTFiZTY2NGM1OGZiZWY5ZDA1">[That explanation sounds… almost religious,] said Zorian.</p> <p class="cnNmNmRmYjQ2ZTRlNTQ3ZDU5Nzc3NTBkZjM5ODFkZWNm">[The great invisible web does feature prominently in our spirituality,] the matriarch admitted. [What was the other question you wanted to ask me about?]</p> <p class="cnMzNDA5MzE0NmM1MzQ3ZDRhZjkwZDIwODFmZDMwMzcx">[Ah, yes. I had found a human empath that might be willing to teach me some of her skills. I wanted to ask you for your opinion-]</p> <p class="cnNkY2NiMjlkYTI2YTQ2ZGVhNWY2MmQwYWU1YTI4ZmNj">[No!] the matriarch interrupted. [That’s a terrible idea! Your human empaths are bad teachers! Their ‘training’ consists of nothing but showing people how to shut off their link to the Great Web and keep it closed most of the time! They brainwash their students into believing that sensing emotions is all there is to their powers and that the rest of the mind arts are immoral! They make a mockery of the great gift!]</p> <p class="cnM3ZDA5OGJjNTM0MjQ4Y2ViOTUwOTk3NzY0MDA5ZTg2">Zorian blinked in shock. He had intended to produce a reaction by broaching the topic in question, but he had no idea the matriarch would be affected this strongly! Anger and outrage simply <em>poured</em> off the matriarch, making it clear that she cared about this issue very, very much. For the first time since his first encounter with her, he remembered that she was actually quite a terrifying creature.</p> <p class="cnM5NGM2N2I0MzQ3ZDRmZTM5NTJlNTc5YmQxYjg3OWZi">[That’s a lot stronger denunciation than I expected,] Zorian admitted, forcing himself to remain calm. [Care to suggest an alternative, then? I really want to get this ability under control.]</p> <p class="cnMzOWIzOTdmNjRjNjQ2YTg4NDFjMGFjOWQxYTExNDUy">[Have I not promised to help you with that?] the matriarch asked.</p> <p class="cnNlZDE0MDBmNDJlMjRlNTA5NzY5OGZiOWU3NjkyMjY1">[And then you ignored the issue completely,] Zorian answered.</p> <p class="cnMxMzNlMTQxNmEwZTQwMWVhYTQ2ZjEyNmQ5OGMzZjVk">[I thought you needed time to come to terms with it. You didn’t exactly act thrilled when I first informed you of your gifts. Maybe if you hadn’t waited six months before contacting me we would have been on the same wavelength?]</p> <p class="cnNkNTM1MGIxN2E4NzRiZWI5YjhkZTAxNjYyMjUyNDJi">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMwZGFjZjIyNGI2NTRhNWRiNTc5M2M0MWI5ZTU2MThk">Ouch.</p> <p class="cnM0ZjRkNzJlMzQyYTRkMDFiNjdmN2QxNTczYjc2Zjg0">[But no matter,] the matriarch said, [this whole argument is pointless. If you want to learn how to use your gift effectively, I’ll be happy to help. Come back tomorrow at this time and we can begin with your lessons.]</p> <p class="cnNmYzBiYzM0YjMxZDQxN2M5NWNjOGNhNzRjMjBiNWYz">She turned to leave before pausing and sending him one final parting burst of communication.</p> <p class="cnMxZGMzNmY1ODBiNjQ1OTU5YmEzMTNiYTY2ZjRjZmQ2">[And then, once you experience the Great Web in its full glory, you can go to that human empath and see for yourself who is right.]</p> </div>

**Chapter 020****A Matter of Faith** Zorian didn’t like temples. Partially it was due to his bad experiences with them as a child, but mostly due to his inability to understand the reverence with which the priesthood spoke of the vanished gods they were supposed to be venerating. Virtually every story he had read or heard about the age of gods made the divinities sound like gigantic jerks, so why would anyone want them *back*? Nobody could ever give him a satisfactory answer to that question, least of all his parents, who were religious only so long as the neighbors were watching. The temple in front of which he was standing at the moment did nothing to dispel that unease. The large, dome-like building on the outskirts of Cyoria was larger and far more imposing than any other temple Zorian had previously been in, despite being described as one of the smaller ones in Cyoria. Still, the aranea matriarch had claimed this temple housed the best (human) future forecaster in the city, so his unease would have to be set aside for the sake of accomplishing the mission. He hesitantly stepped towards the heavy wooden doors that served as an entrance to the temple, warily glancing at the huge stone angels that flanked the doorway. Lifelike and grim-faced, the angels appeared to gaze down on him as he approached, judging him and finding him lacking. Try as he might, Zorian couldn’t completely dismiss his unease with the statues, since there was a very real possibility they were guardian golems or some other sort of security. He was just about to open the door and walk inside when he noticed a series of images carved into the door and paused to study them. Although the carvings on the door were fairly stylized and disjointed, he recognized instantly what they were about. They formed a crude sort of comic, depicting a familiar story of how the world was created according to Ikosians (and by extension, most religions drawing their traditions from them). According to Ikosians, the world was originally a swirling, shapeless chaos, inhabited only by the 7 primordial dragons. One day, the gods descended from the higher planes of existence and killed all of them save one. This last one they refashioned into the material world that humans now inhabit, turning her body into dirt and stone, her blood into water, her breath into air and her fire into magic. The vast networks of tunnels stretching beneath the surface of the world are dragon veins, now empty of blood that had been turned into the seas but still flooded with magic emanating from the Heart of the World – the fiery, still-beating heart of the primordial dragon that rests somewhere deep underground. Far from being content with her fate, the World Dragon still rages against her bounds, giving birth to natural disasters like volcanoes and earthquakes. Unable to strike back against the gods themselves, the dragon takes her anger out on their favored creations – humans – by utilizing her heart, the one thing the gods have not seen fit to take away from her. Pieces of it continually flake off from the main mass, giving birth to horrifying monsters whenever they hit the ground, at which point said monsters begin their ascent to the surface to terrorize mankind… And so on. Zorian didn’t believe there was much truth in the old story, but the whole thing was pretty horrifying if one took it at face value. With gods like that, it was no wonder the Old Faiths were steadily losing converts to new religions that popped up after the gods disappeared. “Can I help you with something, young man?” Zorian wrenched himself from his musings to look at the man who spoke to him. He found himself facing a young, green-haired man in priestly robes. The man’s relaxed posture and friendly smile set Zorian at ease, but he couldn’t help but wonder about that green hair. As far as Zorian knew, the only people who naturally had green hair were members of House Reid, and it seemed rather out of character for one of them to go into clergy. That particular house was infamous for their links to crime syndicates. “Maybe,” allowed Zorian. “I am Zorian Kazinski, mage in training. I was wondering whether Priestess Kylae was around and willing to talk to me? Oh, and sorry about worrying you. I suppose I had been staring at the entrance a little too long.” “Junior Priest Batak,” the man introduced himself. “And don’t worry, a lot of people are intimidated by the gates. It’s why I like to greet newcomers personally like this. As for Kylae… well, she is currently in the middle of a ritual, but if you’re willing to wait an hour or so I’m sure she’ll be happy to hear you out.” “Sure,” Zorian agreed. This was far better than he expected, to be honest – he half-expected the man to put him through some kind of religious test before allowing him to see the head priestess. Waiting an hour or two was a minor price to pay really. “Err, so should I come back later or…?” “Nonsense,” the man scoffed. “Come inside and I’ll make us something to drink while we wait. It’ll be nice to have someone new to chat with for a change. We get so few visitors these days…” Uh oh, it seemed that he might still end up being subjected to a test, only this one in the form of ‘casual’ conversation instead of something overt. “Slow week?” Zorian asked as they entered the temple. The interior was pleasantly cool and fairly dark, with rays of multicolored light streaming down from several high-placed stained glass windows, as well as totally empty. He was grateful for the lack of crowds, but it was unusual to see a temple completely deserted like this. “I wish,” Batak sighed. He led Zorian through rows and rows of wooden benches that filled the temple’s main hall, his steps echoing hauntingly behind him. “More like a slow decade. The aftermath of the Weeping has not been kind to this place.” “What do you mean?” Zorian asked. “What does the Weeping have to do with this place?” Batak gave him a judging glance before sighing heavily. “Though the gods have gone silent, the priesthood has never been completely powerless. Most priests have some skill with magic, and higher ranks can usually call upon the aid of angels and other lesser spiritual entities, but our real claim to authority came from various hidden mysteries that were entrusted to us before the gods departed to the unknown. Over time a lot of those were stolen or otherwise lost, but the one thing where we were always unmatched was the healing arts. As such, when the Weeping Plague started spreading across the lands like wildfire, we were expected to do something about it. Sadly, not only were we as powerless against it as anyone else, our close contact with the infected quickly resulted in massive casualties within our ranks. With the subsequent shortage of qualified priests, peripheral temples like this one were all but abandoned, both by believers and by the Holy Triumvirate.” Zorian looked around him, but failed to see any evidence of decay in the interior of the temple. The temple was clean and intact, and the altar – made out of white marble and framed with silk or some other expensive cloth – looked practically brand new. Plenty of stone statues were scattered throughout the building, seamlessly melding into the walls or support beams, and most of the remaining unadorned space was taken up by wooden panels that had various religious imagery carved into their surface, much like the main doors. In short, it was an absurdly luxurious building by the standards of rural temples such as the one in Cirin, and better maintained to boot. Zorian was almost afraid to ask what Cyoria’s main temple looked like if this one was not considered important enough to keep running. Batak led him to a small, unassuming door next to the altar and ushered him to what was apparently a more informal setting. Rather than being a classical office, it was instead a combination of a kitchen and a living room, far messier than and not nearly as lifeless as the main temple had been. Batak immediately started preparing some tea and started peppering him with questions. The questions were fairly standard – who he was, what he did, where he was from, who his family was, that sort of stuff – so Zorian felt comfortable answering them honestly. Strangely enough, Batak didn’t ask him a single question about his religiosity, something Zorian was glad for. Zorian, in turn, asked a couple of questions about Batak and Kylae, trying to understand what they were even doing here if the temple was abandoned. Batak was all too happy to enlighten him. Apparently the church leadership didn’t feel comfortable with simply demolishing the temple… or worse, leaving it to the mercy of the elements and looters. A perfectly understandable sentiment, in Zorian’s opinion – not only would it be a shame to consign such a majestic building to oblivion, it would also be a blatant admission of weakness from the church. In the end, Batak and Kylae were assigned to the temple, ostensibly to keep the temple running but in reality more to keep it presentable and ward off thieves and squatters. Finally, after he finished his cup of tea, Batak finally decided he had danced around the issue long enough. “So,” said Batak. “You never did tell me why you’re here, mister Kazinski. Do you think you could perhaps tell me what you need to speak with Kylae about or is this too sensitive for the ears of a mere junior priest?” Zorian thought about it for a second before deciding it probably wouldn’t hurt to tell the man why he came. Future forecasting wasn’t illegal or anything, after all. “Well…” began Zorian. “For a start, I heard that Priestess Kylae is skilled at forecasting the future through divinations.” Batak stiffened slightly, but quickly forced himself to relax. His smile did slip off his face, however. “She is,” he said. “It is a difficult field to practice and I doubt anyone could claim mastery of it in any real sense, but she is as close to an expert as you’re likely ever going to get.” “But there are other people who dabble in it regardless, one of which has sent me to speak with Kylae about her findings,” said Zorian, privately enjoying the mental image of the aranea matriarch hissing at him for calling her a ‘dabbler’ in the field. “Some of the results she had gotten out of her predictions have been very… irregular.” All pretenses of good cheer had left Batak’s face by the time he finished talking. Silence stretched into uncomfortable seconds. Zorian was starting to wonder if talking about the topic was somehow taboo or if he had otherwise insulted the man somehow when the junior priest spoke again. “And these… irregularities… when exactly do they appear? How far did your mysterious backer project her predictions before they went haywire?” It was at this point that Zorian realized: Batak already knew. He was no more a mere junior priest than Zorian was just an innocent messenger. “There is only one real irregularity, and it appears on the day of the summer festival. Specifically, the prediction returns a blank beyond that date… almost as if the whole world disappears after that point. But you already knew that, didn’t you?” asked Zorian rhetorically. Instead of answering him, Batak spat out a very unpriestly curse and started pacing around the cramped room in agitation. “I’ll take that as a yes,” Zorian sighed. Batak stopped pacing to give him a wary look. After a few moments, the priest visibly forced himself to relax. “I’m sorry,” said Batak, “I didn’t mean to be rude, it’s just… well, it’s probably best if I go and fetch Kylae now so we can discuss this together.” “Isn’t she doing a ritual at the moment?” Zorian pointed out curiously. He knew it was a very bad idea to stop magical rituals halfway through, but maybe the ritual Kylae was performing was purely religious in nature? “Well, sort of,” Batak said sheepishly. “I don’t think she’ll be terribly bothered if I interrupt her. Not for this, in any case. Please wait here while I go get her.” As Zorian watched Batak hurriedly leave, he couldn’t help but wonder why Batak was so spooked out by the termination date they uncovered. Zorian was certainly spooked, but that was because he knew exactly what was causing it, but to Batak and Kylae it shouldn’t look terribly unusual. Much like soul-related magics, the field of future prediction was very poorly understood, and strange never-encountered events probably weren’t unheard of. Zorian sincerely hoped that Batak’s agitation meant they knew something important about the anomaly that he and aranea matriarch had missed. It wasn’t long before Batak came back with a middle aged woman back in tow. Zorian’s first thought was that she was surprisingly young for a high priestess, but he supposed with the manpower shortage among the priesthood they couldn’t afford to be too picky about such things. For her part, the priestess gave him a long, searching look upon entering the room before giving him a strained smile and sitting down next to Batak, so that both of them were facing him. “Hello, mister Kazinski,” she said. “I am Kylae Kuosi, the high priestess of this temple. I hear you’ve wanted to speak to me. Specifically, that you wanted to speak to me about future prediction?” “About the termination date on the day of the summer festival, yes,” Zorian confirmed. A short exchange followed where they both confirmed they were indeed talking about the same thing and then the priestess leaned back on her chair and gave Batak a mild glare. “I told you it was not a mistake,” she said. “And I told you it wasn’t you who was the problem,” Batak shot back. “I guess we were both right.” Kylae sighed before refocusing on Zorian. “I don’t suppose you could introduce me to your master so I can discuss this directly with her? Not that I have anything against you but you just don’t have the necessary expertise and all your information is by necessity second-hand…” “Sorry,” Zorian said. “I’m afraid my ‘master’ definitely wishes to stay hidden. I agree she could help you better in person, but this is how things are at the moment.” And it was vanishingly unlikely that would change any time soon. According to current church dogma, aranea were classified as monsters – servants of the World Dragon, to be precise – and therefore not to be dealt with. Kylae and Batak seemed fairly liberal as priests go, but probably not that liberal. Admitting he was speaking on behalf of a giant sentient spider would have led to him being forcibly expelled from the temple at best. “If I may ask, though, why has this gotten you so spooked?” Zorian asked curiously. “I mean, I know why me and my, ah, master are concerned, but why do you have a problem with it?” The priestess looked at him curiously. “And why *are* you concerned, if I may ask?” “Trade?” offered Zorian, suppressing a smile in favor of a most innocent expression he could manage. Hook, line and sinker. The priestess shared a silent look with Batak, somehow communicating without words with her fellow priest. Apparently they knew each other quite well if they could manage that. Maybe they were lovers? If Zorian remembered correctly, priests were forbidden to have relationships with each other, and thus had to look for romantic options outside the church hierarchy, but it wouldn’t be the first time such rules were ignored. In any case, after a few seconds they seemed to reach a decision and turned again towards him. “We will share our concerns with you, but only if you go first,” the priestess said. “And be warned – I can tell when people lie to me. It is a supernatural ability and has never failed me before, so please don’t waste my time with lies and half-truths.” Well. That was kind of inconvenient. Zorian didn’t detect any attempt at barging into his mind, so whatever ability she had probably wasn’t mind-based in nature. Was she instinctively divining the truth of his statements? Peering into his soul? He supposed she *could* be bluffing, but he somehow doubted it. In the end he decided to take a risk. He fired off a couple of divinations to make sure they weren’t scried and that there were no cephalic rats around and then started to speak when they returned negative. “Let’s see if this will be a sufficient price for your help, then,” Zorian sighed. “The reason we’re concerned is that there is a well-funded, well-organized group of terrorists planning to take advantage of the summer festival to cause trouble. Some parts of their plan – like their usage of artillery spells and war trolls smuggled through the Dungeon – was fairly pedestrian. But there is a more exotic component to their plans – one that wreaks havoc with future prediction by its very nature.” There was a brief moment of silence as the two priests stared at him incredulously. “That… is not what I expected to hear,” the priestess said. “Gods and Goddesses, this is way above my pay grade. I… don’t think I want to know more, to be honest. I don’t want to get involved into such things.” “Probably for the best,” Zorian agreed. “If that is indeed the true cause of the irregularity, though, then my own reasons to panic about it are largely misplaced,” the priestess mused. “I’d still like to hear about it, if it’s not a problem,” Zorian said. “It’s about the angels,” Batak interjected. “Ever since the gods have gone silent, angels have sort of taken their place. They can’t grant magical powers to the priesthood or work miracles the way gods could, but they can be summoned in order to provide advice or give aid with their considerable personal abilities.” “And what did they say about the anomaly that got you so spooked?” Zorian asked curiously. “That’s the thing,” the priestess sighed. “We can’t ask them because no one has been able to summon then since about a week ago. We’ve been in contact with churches as far as Koth, and they report the same thing – even the most approachable of celestials are ignoring us. Hell, I’ve even heard rumors that demon worshippers cannot contact their vile masters any more. It is as if something has cut the entire material plane off from the spiritual realms.” Zorian swallowed heavily. A week ago… the start of the time loop obviously. “Quite disturbing, isn’t it?” said Kylae. “Coupled with the timeline simply cutting off a few weeks from now, well, I must admit it had really gotten me spooked. Finding out the two are basically unrelated certainly makes me rest easier.” There was further conversation after this, but none of it was terribly productive. He promised Batak and Kylae to be discreet about their troubles with contacting the spirit world and left. Unlike the priestess, Zorian didn’t feel like the conversation had eased his worries. - break - Following his visit to the temple, Zorian decided to sit down in one of the many restaurants scattered throughout the city and consider this new information with a bit of food and drink. There was no doubt in his mind that the severing of the link between the spiritual planes and the material one was caused by the time loop, but what that meant was less clear. Was the material plane the only one experiencing the time loop, isolated from everything else within some kind of ‘time bubble’? The fact that his current timeline seemed to literally end when the time loop restarted strongly suggested this. Apparently the spell wasn’t snatching up a bunch of souls and putting them into their past bodies like he initially assumed – it was literally rewinding time itself in the targeted area while leaving a couple of souls intact in the process. No wonder the spell was so easily transmissible – compared to reverting everything one month into the past, the cost of looping an additional soul or two was probably utterly inconsequential. And that, if true, was very disturbing. That was not human magic. A hundred or so mages in possession of a mana well and a whole lot of time to prepare could affect a medium-sized country at most. The time loop must have enveloped the whole continent, *at* *least*, for the boundary to have not been noticed after a day or two. News spread fast these days. And frankly, Zorian had a hunch the time loop enveloped the entire planet. This was like something straight out of the age of gods… but if higher beings were involved, why was the time loop allowed to go off its intended course so severely? His musings were interrupted by the scraping of a nearby chair. Someone had decided to join him. “Oh,” he said. “It’s you.” “Is that the way to greet a friend, Roach?” Taiven complained. Zorian rolled his eyes at her. “Hi, Taiven,” he said blandly. “Fancy seeing you here. I mean, this place is pretty far from your usual haunts. It’s almost as if you decided to track me down to this place…” “That’s because I did,” Taiven said. “What are you doing on the edge of the city, anyway?” “I was visiting a temple nearby,” Zorian answered. “Lovely architecture.” “You, visiting temples?” Taiven scoffed. Zorian said nothing. “Fine, be that way. I won’t pry. In case you’re wondering, I’m here because I asked around to see if I could find a human empath that could help you control your powers.” “You did?” asked Zorian, suddenly a lot more alert and enthusiastic about this conversation. Taiven smiled sheepishly. “I kind of did find someone willing to help you, but I’m not sure whether it’s something you’re willing to go for. The woman in question is a healer in one of Cyoria’s big hospitals and she’s only willing to teach you if you agree to an apprentice contract with her and become a full-blown healer.” Zorian clacked his tongue in disappointment. He did intend to learn the basics of magical healing at some point in the future, but that was a long way off. Learning medicine wasn’t something you do in your spare time and would doubtlessly require him to dedicate most of the restart on mastering that one field. He had too many things on his plate as it was. “No, that doesn’t work for me at all,” Zorian sighed. “I have nothing against healers but that’s not the career I’m aiming for.” “Yeah, I kind of figured,” Taiven said. “It really would be kind of a shame to let all that work you sank into spell formulas go to waste. I guess the spiders are still your best bet, huh?” “Yeah,” agreed Zorian. “Although… to tell the truth, they have been dragging their many feet in regard to teaching me. Maybe if they thought I actually had valid alternatives to their help they’d hurry up a little? What was the healer’s name, anyway?” Taiven narrowed her eyes. “You’ve been down there alone again?” Uh oh. “Maaaaaybe…” She reached out across the table and cuffed him in the shoulder. It hurt. “Zorian, you moron,” she complained. “I told you not to do these things alone! Even if you trust the freaky giant spiders that much – and I don’t really think you should – there are other things down there! No matter how capable you are, it’s always smart to have another set of hands and eyes with you. Unless you think I couldn’t keep up with you?” “I don’t think that at all,” Zorian said. “I just didn’t want to be a bother and…” “I already said I don’t mind helping,” Taiven cut him off. “You can’t use that as an excuse.” “…and the Aranea are kind of prejudiced against non-psychic people,” finished Zorian. “Non-what?” asked Taiven incredulously. “Psychic. People who are like me and them. I don’t quite have a comprehensive explanation what being psychic entails, but it seems to be some kind of instinctive affinity for mind magic. That’s where my empathy apparently comes from – the aranea claim it’s a weak form of mind reading, and that I could actually do more once they actually deign to teach me.” Taiven seemed at a loss for words for a moment. “You’re reading my mind?” she finally said. “I didn’t give you permission to do that!” “I’m only getting vague impressions of your emotions, and not even that consistently,” said Zorian with a long suffering sigh. “Besides, that’s why I’m meeting with the aranea – to learn how to not do that unless I want to. How did you think empathy works, anyway?” “I guess I didn’t,” admitted Taiven. “But we’re getting off track – why does me not being psychic matter to your new spidery friends?” “How should I know? Prejudices rarely make much sense.” “Well go ahead and ask them the next time you see them!” Taiven said. “Because if you can’t give me a proper answer the next time I ask, I’m going down there to ask them myself, with or without your permission. It’s total bullshit!” - break - Aside from his visit to the temple, none of the other future forecasters were in any way helpful to Zorian. A fair number of them didn’t even want to talk to him, and those that did hadn’t made long-term predictions and hadn’t noticed anything strange. Well, one of them did *claim* to have done so and found nothing of note, but he was an obvious fraud and spent most of the talk trying to get Zorian to part with his money in exchange for a ‘more detailed reading of the future’. So Zorian turned to the matter of his classmates and the possibility that one of them was the third time traveler. Zorian didn’t think there was much chance of that, but better safe than sorry. Besides, it was a good way to look for clues as far as he was concerned, and he had been thinking of getting to know his classmates better anyway. Including him, there were exactly 20 people in Zorian’s class – 12 girls and 8 boys. Of those, there were three people he was almost certain weren’t the third time traveler – Akoja, Benisek and Kael. The first two because he actually knew what their normal behavior and personality were before the time loop and had interacted extensively enough with the both of them in various restarts to judge them unchanged, and Kael because of the events that took place in the previous restart. Trying to write down everything he knew about the rest, he quickly found two classmates that were very suspicious: Tinami Aope and Estin Grier. Noble House Aope had a very shady reputation. The House began its existence during the Witch Wars, when one of the major witch clans agreed to defect to the Ikosians’ side if they were given the status of a formal House in return. The Ikosians, ever pragmatic, agreed. No doubt they thought they could milk the renegades for their magical secrets and then quietly sideline them until they could be officially removed, but that never happened. Instead, the Aope rose through the ranks of the Ikosian political system, leaving a trail of broken rivals in their wake, until they eventually stood on top as one of the more prestigious Noble Houses in all Altazia. This extreme success wasn’t a result of *just* being very competent politicians, though – Aope were rumored to practice all sorts of dark, forbidden magic stemming from their witchy roots. Necromancy. Demon summoning. *Mind* *magic*. Of course, this was all just a rumor. Certainly no one who valued their life and career would ever suggest that Tinami Aope, the first-born daughter of the current head of Aope household, was practicing forbidden magics. Perish the thought. And in fact, the girl was painfully shy and withdrawn and in general looked like she wouldn’t hurt a fly. That didn’t prove anything, though. Beware of the quiet ones and all that. If there was one person in the class who had easy access to magics that could screw Zach over and hijack the time loop for their own ends, it was probably Tinami. Even better, her withdrawn nature would ensure that very few people knew her enough to realize she was acting strangely unless she did something totally crazy. Estin Grier, the second suspect, was primarily suspicious because of where he came from. He and his family had immigrated to Altazia from Ulquaan Ibasa – the infamous Island of the Exiles. Since the island was populated mostly by mages exiled there in the wake of the Necromancer’s War, that made Estin the second person who could plausibly have access to forbidden magics without too much trouble. Also, Zorian was fairly certain that the mages leading the invasion force came primarily from Ulquaan Ibasa. The island was one of the few places where one could find enough necromancers and war trolls to explain the numbers of them present at the invasion. It was also the last recorded home of Quatach-Ichl – the lich general that fought the Old Alliance in the Necromancer’s War and whose physical description matched almost exactly with the lich that had so thoroughly trounced Zach in that fateful battle where Zorian was dragged into the time loop. Of course, those two were only the obvious suspects, and the third time traveler, if indeed present among his classmates, was no doubt far more cunningly hidden. Realizing he didn’t know enough about people in his class to really make a judgment, Zorian decided to seek the aid of the one person who could no doubt tell him something about everyone. “Hello, Benisek,” Zorian said, sitting next to the chubby, talkative boy. “Can I ask you to do me a favor?” “Sure,” Benisek said. “What do you need?” “I need basic information about everyone in our class. What’s the latest gossip about them and so forth.” - break - [Well, that is certainly an interesting turn of events,] the matriarch remarked. [A confirmation of the cut-off point in the time line and another clue as to the true nature of this time loop is far more than I had hoped for. I must admit I hadn’t actually expected you to find anything useful among human diviners, but there you go. I don’t suppose you have anything on your classmates yet?] [Not really,] Zorian responded. [I’m only starting with the investigation. Truthfully, this is bound to be a task spanning numerous restarts, so you shouldn’t expect quick results.] [Yes, of course. Well, I have nothing else to add so unless you have any additional questions we can meet each other next week to check on each other’s progress?] [Actually, I have two questions,] said Zorian. [Ask away, then.] [First question: Can you explain to me what exactly you mean by ‘flickermind’ and why you disdain them so much?] Zorian asked. [You keep saying that word and it sounded terribly insulting and bigoted.] The matriarch twitched her legs, emitting some complex emotion that Zorian couldn’t decode with his limited empathic abilities. That tended to happen a lot, actually, since the aranea were so thoroughly different from humans in both body and mind. [I apologize if we offend,] she finally said. [It had been quite a while since we had a real, sustained contact with a human, and there are bound to be misunderstandings and points of contention.] [I notice you didn’t actually answer my question,] pointed out Zorian. [It is like you suspect: a flickermind is a creature that isn’t psychic like you and me. I’m sure they can be wonderful people, but I – as well as most of my fellow aranea – find it hard to truly take them seriously. It’s like meeting a society of people that are born blind… they can obviously manage without sight, but you’d probably still consider them fundamentally crippled.] [You never did tell me what being psychic entails, you know?] Zorian pointed out. [Everything, from the smallest grain of sand to the very gods themselves is connected through the great invisible web that suffuses all creation,] the matriarch said. [Psychic people are open to these connections, and contact the minds of others, or even the universe itself, to perform what you humans call magic.] [That explanation sounds… almost religious,] said Zorian. [The great invisible web does feature prominently in our spirituality,] the matriarch admitted. [What was the other question you wanted to ask me about?] [Ah, yes. I had found a human empath that might be willing to teach me some of her skills. I wanted to ask you for your opinion-] [No!] the matriarch interrupted. [That’s a terrible idea! Your human empaths are bad teachers! Their ‘training’ consists of nothing but showing people how to shut off their link to the Great Web and keep it closed most of the time! They brainwash their students into believing that sensing emotions is all there is to their powers and that the rest of the mind arts are immoral! They make a mockery of the great gift!] Zorian blinked in shock. He had intended to produce a reaction by broaching the topic in question, but he had no idea the matriarch would be affected this strongly! Anger and outrage simply *poured* off the matriarch, making it clear that she cared about this issue very, very much. For the first time since his first encounter with her, he remembered that she was actually quite a terrifying creature. [That’s a lot stronger denunciation than I expected,] Zorian admitted, forcing himself to remain calm. [Care to suggest an alternative, then? I really want to get this ability under control.] [Have I not promised to help you with that?] the matriarch asked. [And then you ignored the issue completely,] Zorian answered. [I thought you needed time to come to terms with it. You didn’t exactly act thrilled when I first informed you of your gifts. Maybe if you hadn’t waited six months before contacting me we would have been on the same wavelength?]   Ouch. [But no matter,] the matriarch said, [this whole argument is pointless. If you want to learn how to use your gift effectively, I’ll be happy to help. Come back tomorrow at this time and we can begin with your lessons.] She turned to leave before pausing and sending him one final parting burst of communication. [And then, once you experience the Great Web in its full glory, you can go to that human empath and see for yourself who is right.]

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNkZmQzMTk1NDQ4MTRkOTJhNzc5MGFlYWIxY2I4NzUx">Bob, FarShot and ShadowRunner continued their trek into the tunnels of the Yellow Zone. Where the city had been clean and tidy, the tunnels here were grungy and littered with trash. Every so often they’d catch glimpses of mutant roaches scattering at their approach, each one as long as a human forearm. FarShot hugged her rifle, a 5mm Gauss like the one Bob had practiced with in the simulator, but with a tube on top where the one he’d used had the small crystal pane. It had been too expensive for him to purchase, so he’d ended up purchasing a Basic .223 Semi-Auto Rifle which he had yet to test out. ShadowRunner was equipped with two pistols.</p> <p class="cnM1NDVjNWI3ZWM3NjRhOGU5NTg2ODU1NWNmYzlkNDc5">As Bob watched ShadowRunner swing them about, looking for threats, he got the distinct feeling that he had been using them entirely wrong in the combat simulator. ShadowRunner held the pistols straight out, where Where Bob had been aiming them from his waist, more or less, with his elbows tucked into his sides.</p> <p class="p1 cnM0YjkyNjVlMzExNDQxYTRiN2Q4ZjQ1NGM2ZWU4OGVm">“Alright, Bob, last time FarShot and I were here, we got attacked only a little bit further in than this. So, yeah. Keep your eyes open. Dying kinda sucks.”</p> <p class="p1 cnNjMGRjMWUzNjBmNzQ5NTJhMjczMWY1MGM3MTcxNjY5">Bob was intrigued. “What’s it like? Dying in game?”</p> <p class="p1 cnNiZDE3NTk5MTE5ZDQwOTM4OGUwNmU5NTk5YjcwZGRk">“It’s painful,” FarShot answered. “Then once you come back, you feel like you have a terrible hangover for the next hour, and when you move around it just feels… off. It’s kind of shitty. You get a stat penalty for an hour after you revive. We both just logged out until the death penalty was over.”</p> <p class="p1 cnM2NGEwM2U4ZjQxNjRkNDZhNmU2MDk5NDc2Y2EyNWRl">“Yep. Then we ran into you just a few minutes after logging back in.” ShadowRunner added.</p> <p class="p1 cnMwZjk1OWI2NDc0ZjQxZmQ4MDY1NDdiMjk5OWU2OTJk">“Well, let’s try to avoid that this time,” Bob said, though now he was truly curious. He’d not had much occasion to feel pain in his life, much less a hangover. It would take month’s worth of production output from a single large brewery to get a dragon drunk for a single night. He only knew this bit of trivia due to an old and long dead friend, Aureloden, who had been known among the mortals at the time as the Drunkard Dragon, and had extorted multiple kingdoms for alcoholic tribute before he was killed by a mercenary army.</p> <p class="p1 cnNjOWFlOTk5N2RlMDRhYjI5MWViMTc1MTFiYzcwMmZj">As they continued through the tunnels, more and more side passages began to open up, and from them they could hear skittering sounds and distant hisses and squeaks.</p> <p class="p1 cnNlOWY0MWJhOWQ1YjRmMzBhY2FkMDgzOGQ4YWIzM2I3">“Man, I’m glad this place is well lit, because if it wasn’t it would be creeping me out way worse than it already is,” ShadowRunner said.</p> <p class="p1 cnM0OWQzNTdiNmVkNDQxZjc5MTkzMzU0YjkxOWM1MmNh">“It still makes my skin crawl, knowing those sounds are from giant bugs, those huge rat things, or Theron knows what else,” his sister replied.</p> <p class="p1 cnMyZjg0NGY3ODZmMjQ5YTRiMDJiNjVjOWY5MzA4Zjk4">“Well, if anything comes, I’ll toss down a shield. That should cut off about half of the corridor. Then we can just focus on killing them.”</p> <p class="p1 cnNkMGM5NzIxYTVkZTRkZDhiNTg5MzUzYmQzZDJjZTc3">“Yeah, I suppose that makes sense,” said FarShot. Her brother grunted in agreement.</p> <p class="p1 cnNkNzNmNjYzMGU0ZDRkZTY4ODcwZjA0NDZhZmEwMzM1">A few minutes later, ShadowRunner held up his hand. “I think I hear something approaching, ahead and left.” He pointed to a side passage some fifty feet ahead.</p> <p class="p1 cnMwYmIyMTQyZmU0ZTRkYTNhMzZhZDgyMWVjMTM0MWQw">“Right, let’s get ready,” Bob said. He deployed a shield to block off the left side of the tunnel. The shield, once deployed, spread out into a solid wall of dark, lustrous material that came up almost to Bob’s chin. He then deployed a turret along the right hand wall, choosing the buckshot option. He still hadn’t looked up what the two options meant, but the idea of shooting shell-less molluscs at a target seemed rather ridiculous. They would probably just splatter everywhere without causing any damage, so he intuited that the term must have another meaning in this world which the translation enchantment was failing to capture. Not that the concept of buckshot made any more sense. It just didn’t sound as… gooey. The turret, which looked like an armored eighteen inch tall egg when inactive, sprouted legs of blackened metal to stabilize itself, and the tapered top of it split open as a cluster of lenses arrayed around a barrel popped out, and began to sweep over the area.</p> <p class="p1 cnMxZTNmOWM3NDE5NTRlMDc4YzM1YjYwZmNmMDNiNWE5">Bob and FarShot stood back, while ShadowRunner crouched against the right wall, and faced the gap between the shield and the left wall.</p> <p class="p1 cnNlNjhiNDMwYjhmMDQ2MGZiYzg5MjgxMDIyNTEzNjk2">A skittering sound began to grow louder, accompanied by an odd, hissing bark. Dozens of dog-sized hairless rats with six legs and green skin poured out of the tunnel ShadowRunner had pointed out, and charged toward the threesome. Some tried to scrambled over the dark and glossy material of the shield, but none of their six limbs could gain purchase on the unnaturally slick surface. As soon as the critters rounded the shield, Bob’s turret began firing, a steady *THUNK* every second and a half, sometimes seeming to hit multiple mutant rats with a single shot. Bob himself was focused on aiming and firing with his rifle as the over-sized and garishly colored rodents rounded the edge of the shield. Not much skill was needed here, as he just needed to point the weapon in the direction of the wave of rodent flesh and he was practically guaranteed to hit something. ShadowRunner was firing his pistols with wild abandon while his sister was carefully selecting and dispatching her targets.</p> <p class="p1 cnM5Mjc0ODFhYzM3MzQwZjE4MWE3NmE4ZDkyODZkNjM1">Together, they managed to eliminate the swarm of mutant rats, leaving a pile of quivering flesh, pools of blood and scraps of hide.</p> <p class="p1 cnM0MzM0MmYyNTg2OTQ5MWViZmE3Nzk4MjY4YjRkYjk4"><strong>&lt;&lt;Skill Level Increased: Turret Control</strong></p> <p class="p1 cnM2YWNiMmZjN2M5NjQ1YWRhMGJjZTJhNGJjYTMyMjNl">Bob received that notification as the flood of enemies slowed to a trickle, then he received another series of notifications.</p> <p class="p1 cnNmMzllYmQ0Mzc5MzQxNDI5YzBjYWI4ODYwNjIwM2Qy"><strong>&lt;&lt;Level Up. You have reached Level 2 as a Combat Engineer. You have received one skill point and one ability point.</strong></p> <p class="p1 cnM4ZDZhNzk5ZjlkZDQ0YzZiNjhmOWNmNGQ2MDI2Yzhi"><strong>&lt;&lt;You have received your first ability point! To spend this point, open your class’s ability tree by saying “Ability Tree”</strong></p> <p class="p1 cnNmNjQ4OGRhMDY5YzRjNjZiM2QwZGYwYjU2YWFkZTNl"><strong>&lt;&lt;You have received your first Skill Point! To spend this point, open your Status and select a Skill to increase by one level.</strong></p> <p class="p1 cnNkMzgzNDI5ODJjMzRkNzViZDkyYzFiOTAwZWM0ZGNh">“Aw, shit yea. I leveled up How about you two?” ShadowRunner was ecstatic, pumping his pistol-filled fists into the air.</p> <p class="p1 cnM4MmVmNGM3MjcwMDQwNzliZjU5ODQ2OTg4NjY3NDM1">“Same here,” confirmed Bob. “Got an Ability Point and a Skill Point.”</p> <p class="p1 cnNjNzRkZTdmN2Y2ZjQzMmU5NGM1ZjExYzQ0MTU0MmUw">“So did I,” confirmed FarShot. “I’m putting my skill point into Long Rifles. Haven’t really looked at the ability tree yet.”</p> <p class="p1 cnMyNTI2OTQxNTY0NzQ0NDM5ZjY3MmVjMzdjODJiMjc3">“Good idea,” her brother agreed. “I’m putting mine in Pistols.”</p> <p class="p1 cnMyZjYyYWVkZTk2ZDQ3OTRiYTUwMDZlOTA1YTMyMzZi">Bob didn’t immediately answer, as he was looking at his ability tree. He had two initial options, Durable Constructs and Improved Link. They were the first two among twenty one total options. Durable Constructs increased the resilience of any mechanical object he had built or was the last one to repair. Improved Link improved the grade for his link by one stage. Looking at the abilities that would be unlocked later, he chose Improved Link, since he could then take Additional Channel as his next ability. Between the two abilities, he’d be able to throw out two turrets of a higher grade than what he currently had.</p> <p class="p1 cnNlMWFmOGJmZDQ0ZTRhMzY4YTc1YTgzOTc0MjhmNzc0">As for his Skill Point, he put it into Power Management, as the skill was intended to optimize the power consumption of the equipment he used, allowing him to stretch his power supply further.</p> <p class="p1 cnNmMDRlYTA0MjY1ZDQwOWZiMTc2NjA0M2U5MmNiZGFk">“Ugh, can we get moving? This spot reeks of blood and burning. It didn’t really hit me till just now, but this stench is abyssal,” FarShot complained.</p> <p class="p1 cnM4ZDU0MzQ5NzFhMzRkZjg4MWMxYThmZThiNmQzZmQx">“Agreed. Sometimes this game is a little too real for me.”</p> <p class="p1 cnMyNzM4YzYzMTgwZjQ4NjE4Yzc4ZWUxYmJiYTc3MmUw">Bob shrugged. “Alright, let’s keep going.” He deactivated the turret, which reverted to its armored egg form, and stuck it back in his inventory, then deactivated the shield. He marveled at the way the seemingly solid surface flowed away, revealing dull gray plates that retracted and folded in on each other until it was a small box of solid material. A truly fascinating piece of equipment. Bob wondered how the creators of the game came up with all this ‘technology’ that pervaded this world. He stowed the portable shield in his inventory, and replaced his mostly spent magazine with a fresh one, a tip he’d read about in the WIK.</p> <p class="p1 cnM2YzM0MTkyNjEzNDQxYzhiODdlNTgzZDdiMDc3YTk0">The weapons of this world were fascinating. Bob idly wondered if he could create a facsimile of them to give out as loot in his dungeon. The idea was worth considering. Perhaps the new weapons would inspire the adventurers to become better. Doubtful, but worth trying.</p> <p class="p1 cnNkYTNkNGM2ZDkwNzRmZDlhYzAzYmVhNmYxNTllMGZk">They continued walking, leaving a trail of red footprints behind them for a ways, following their Nav screen directions toward the appropriate area for their requests.</p> <p class="p1 cnM2ZDBlNWFkZTg4MjQ5M2E5ZjkxMWRhODk5ZjIyODY2">“You know, Bob, that turret of yours is way too good. I think it got half the kills back there, maybe more,” said ShadowRunner.</p> <p class="p1 cnMwOTdkZmZhNDE3YTQ2ZjNhMTYzN2JlZjk1Yjc2NWNk">“Yeah, I kept having to adjust my aim because it killed my target just as I was lining up a shot,” FarShot added.</p> <p class="p1 cnMzMmEyYjRiNzZlYzQzYzRhOGEzY2RiNjljOWJiMTc5">“I think that’s because I was using the ‘buckshot’ option. I didn’t really know what that was, so I looked it up just now using the WIK. Buckshot fires a bunch of small pellets which spread out as they travel. The other option, slug, apparently fires a single, solid projectile that is much heavier than a typical firearm round. Heh, I chose buckshot because I thought it would be shooting actual slugs at them otherwise. But it seems it was quite effective against that little swarm. There is so much to learn about this game world. It is rather fascinating.”</p> <p class="p1 cnM1ZTdjMzljM2M0ZDQzNjBiNmNkYzJlN2M3MmMxN2M1">ShadowRunner grinned. “No kidding. Aside from the quest NPCs, this place feels so real. But I suppose they had to drop the ball somewhere, no way they could make something so rich and complex without messing up somewhere. I bet they’re making gold hand over fist with these games.”</p> <p class="p1 cnNhMzI0ZGM5NDczMzQwMGZiNWYwMjYzY2I5YmJkN2Qw">“Whatever Bard they had on staff to weave the stories of this place was definitely not paid nearly enough. This place is a wonder,” FarShot added.</p> <p class="p1 cnMyY2NkY2NjN2JlMjQ1Y2RhNzc4ODhkMzhkMWZhNTA5">Lost in thought for a moment, Bob unintentionally mumbled his inner thoughts. “I wonder if I can contract their story teller. I’m sure I can outbid their current employer.”</p> <p class="p1 cnM2YjFhYmQ4NjQ0NTRhMzZiYzJmNjE3MjAyNDBkMzAy">The siblings stopped and stared at him.</p> <p class="p1 cnM0Mjk1Y2I4MTQ4NzQ0NDNiNzI3YTk4ZTIyYmE2MDk0">“Can you?” FarShot asked.</p> <p class="p1 cnM2MzQyZmQ4NTQ5NjRmMWE4ZDkxMTI5YTIwNTk0YTU2">Shit, I didn’t mean to say that aloud, Bob thought. Scrambling, he tried to pull himself out of the hole he’d just dug with a series of half-truths. “I make a lot of gold while I’m in Deep Thousand. More than most. Not as much lately, but I still have generous reserves on hand. After all, no mortal artisan can produce the same items with the same quality consistently. Although I do not encounter any danger I cannot handle, I still turn a tidy profit.”</p> <p class="p1 cnNlNjFiMzE0N2Y3NDRmZjU4ZDM2MzBhOTA2ZWI4NzUz">He was new at spinning webs of half-truths and deceit, but the siblings were not particularly world-wise, and so they implicitly accepted his explanation.</p> <p class="p1 cnM5NjdiZTdmMjdlZjRhYzVhNWFmYTIzMmMzNTdjNDMy">“That’s awesome. I’ve heard about people who farm the dungeon for equipment, but it sounds like you’ve got it down to an art. Ha, maybe if we introduce you to Dad, he’ll try to foist my sis off on you.”</p> <p class="p1 cnMzYWEzMzRiNGY4ZjQ3M2Y4MGZlYzA0ZTA3NDg3OWZj">Revulsion churned in his stomach at the very thought, and he fought to keep that off his face. “I doubt she’d like that. I’m no youngster. I can guarantee with certainty that I am older than your own father. Besides, I’m not comfortable with intimacy outside of my species.”</p> <p class="p1 cnM1M2RiY2E3NjljNzRjNWM5YzZkYjJkODlmZTEzZmRm">FarShot laughed. “I knew it, you’re an elf, aren’t you? Your comment earlier about life being too long was a dead giveaway.”</p> <p class="p1 cnNhYzczMDg5Yzg0YTRhYTFiNzFhNjgxMzg0NzEzNDMx">Bob shrugged and held out his hands, neither confirming nor denying, allowing the mortal girl to indulge in whatever delusions she had.</p> <p class="p1 cnM1MzQ2NzAwYTA5YzQ4Nzk5YWI0MTg3MWRhMzA0ZWI4">“I knew it! You know, brother, if we somehow managed to get him to help us out, I bet we could force Father to retire as the head of the family. Just imagine what pressure he’d be under if we secured a trade deal with an elven adventurer that farms Deep Thousand.”</p> <p class="p1 cnNmMGFjY2YzNGEzZTRjMTZiYjJlOGY0NWM1NWExOGI3">ShadowRunner grew somber as she spoke. “We can’t foist our family problems off on some guy we just met, that is not the right way.”</p> <p class="p1 cnNkYWNiYTA0ZTkwNjQyNjZiOThjYTA4ZjIxM2Y0Nzk2">“I know.” FarShot lowered her head.</p> <p class="p1 cnM1MzU1YjlmNzJiNTRhMzQ4N2E1OWQ4OWYxN2FlMGZh">Bob held his tongue. He didn’t actually care about their petty mortal dramas over who the sister would breed with or familial succession. Really, they should just take his earlier advice and kill their patriarch if he was that much of a nuisance. However, to further chide them probably wasn’t something a human would do. Instead, he redirected the conversation.</p> <p class="p1 cnNiNmMzYzNkODUyOTRiMDBiMGQ2ZjZmODM5OWQ4MWZj">“So, what abilities did you guys take? I took one that improves my link, so I can deploy a better turret.”</p> <p class="p1 cnM1MDVkYWViOWZlYTQzYTdhNWI0NTNiMTc5MDVhNzAy">“I took an ability that highlights enemy weak points. The other option was Steady Breathing, which I still don’t really understand. It’s supposed to eliminate breathing induced movement,” FarShot answered.</p> <p class="p1 cnM1NzA5MDViZTM0NTQ3ZjY5MjkwM2I2YjI4ZmRlMWQx">“I took one that lets my intruder-link interfere with enemy IFF. So it should make some enemies have a harder time targeting me, I guess? I picked it because the abilities further along that tree sound really good, but there’s a lot of terminology I don’t really understand.”</p> <p class="p1 cnMxOWQ2MmIxMDBmNjRjMTliNjU0YWQ2ZjY4ZWUwNGQx">“There is a lot to learn. I think there is a lot of depth to this world that we’ve barely touched on.”</p> <p class="p1 cnNkZDIzMGJmOTc1OTRhN2Y4OWEwZTk5ZDk1Mjk0MTg0">The trio continued walking through the tunnels, talking quietly about the abilities available to their classes.</p> </div>

Bob, FarShot and ShadowRunner continued their trek into the tunnels of the Yellow Zone. Where the city had been clean and tidy, the tunnels here were grungy and littered with trash. Every so often they’d catch glimpses of mutant roaches scattering at their approach, each one as long as a human forearm. FarShot hugged her rifle, a 5mm Gauss like the one Bob had practiced with in the simulator, but with a tube on top where the one he’d used had the small crystal pane. It had been too expensive for him to purchase, so he’d ended up purchasing a Basic .223 Semi-Auto Rifle which he had yet to test out. ShadowRunner was equipped with two pistols. As Bob watched ShadowRunner swing them about, looking for threats, he got the distinct feeling that he had been using them entirely wrong in the combat simulator. ShadowRunner held the pistols straight out, where Where Bob had been aiming them from his waist, more or less, with his elbows tucked into his sides. “Alright, Bob, last time FarShot and I were here, we got attacked only a little bit further in than this. So, yeah. Keep your eyes open. Dying kinda sucks.” Bob was intrigued. “What’s it like? Dying in game?” “It’s painful,” FarShot answered. “Then once you come back, you feel like you have a terrible hangover for the next hour, and when you move around it just feels… off. It’s kind of shitty. You get a stat penalty for an hour after you revive. We both just logged out until the death penalty was over.” “Yep. Then we ran into you just a few minutes after logging back in.” ShadowRunner added. “Well, let’s try to avoid that this time,” Bob said, though now he was truly curious. He’d not had much occasion to feel pain in his life, much less a hangover. It would take month’s worth of production output from a single large brewery to get a dragon drunk for a single night. He only knew this bit of trivia due to an old and long dead friend, Aureloden, who had been known among the mortals at the time as the Drunkard Dragon, and had extorted multiple kingdoms for alcoholic tribute before he was killed by a mercenary army. As they continued through the tunnels, more and more side passages began to open up, and from them they could hear skittering sounds and distant hisses and squeaks. “Man, I’m glad this place is well lit, because if it wasn’t it would be creeping me out way worse than it already is,” ShadowRunner said. “It still makes my skin crawl, knowing those sounds are from giant bugs, those huge rat things, or Theron knows what else,” his sister replied. “Well, if anything comes, I’ll toss down a shield. That should cut off about half of the corridor. Then we can just focus on killing them.” “Yeah, I suppose that makes sense,” said FarShot. Her brother grunted in agreement. A few minutes later, ShadowRunner held up his hand. “I think I hear something approaching, ahead and left.” He pointed to a side passage some fifty feet ahead. “Right, let’s get ready,” Bob said. He deployed a shield to block off the left side of the tunnel. The shield, once deployed, spread out into a solid wall of dark, lustrous material that came up almost to Bob’s chin. He then deployed a turret along the right hand wall, choosing the buckshot option. He still hadn’t looked up what the two options meant, but the idea of shooting shell-less molluscs at a target seemed rather ridiculous. They would probably just splatter everywhere without causing any damage, so he intuited that the term must have another meaning in this world which the translation enchantment was failing to capture. Not that the concept of buckshot made any more sense. It just didn’t sound as… gooey. The turret, which looked like an armored eighteen inch tall egg when inactive, sprouted legs of blackened metal to stabilize itself, and the tapered top of it split open as a cluster of lenses arrayed around a barrel popped out, and began to sweep over the area. Bob and FarShot stood back, while ShadowRunner crouched against the right wall, and faced the gap between the shield and the left wall. A skittering sound began to grow louder, accompanied by an odd, hissing bark. Dozens of dog-sized hairless rats with six legs and green skin poured out of the tunnel ShadowRunner had pointed out, and charged toward the threesome. Some tried to scrambled over the dark and glossy material of the shield, but none of their six limbs could gain purchase on the unnaturally slick surface. As soon as the critters rounded the shield, Bob’s turret began firing, a steady *THUNK* every second and a half, sometimes seeming to hit multiple mutant rats with a single shot. Bob himself was focused on aiming and firing with his rifle as the over-sized and garishly colored rodents rounded the edge of the shield. Not much skill was needed here, as he just needed to point the weapon in the direction of the wave of rodent flesh and he was practically guaranteed to hit something. ShadowRunner was firing his pistols with wild abandon while his sister was carefully selecting and dispatching her targets. Together, they managed to eliminate the swarm of mutant rats, leaving a pile of quivering flesh, pools of blood and scraps of hide. **<<Skill Level Increased: Turret Control** Bob received that notification as the flood of enemies slowed to a trickle, then he received another series of notifications. **<<Level Up. You have reached Level 2 as a Combat Engineer. You have received one skill point and one ability point.** **<<You have received your first ability point! To spend this point, open your class’s ability tree by saying “Ability Tree”** **<<You have received your first Skill Point! To spend this point, open your Status and select a Skill to increase by one level.** “Aw, shit yea. I leveled up How about you two?” ShadowRunner was ecstatic, pumping his pistol-filled fists into the air. “Same here,” confirmed Bob. “Got an Ability Point and a Skill Point.” “So did I,” confirmed FarShot. “I’m putting my skill point into Long Rifles. Haven’t really looked at the ability tree yet.” “Good idea,” her brother agreed. “I’m putting mine in Pistols.” Bob didn’t immediately answer, as he was looking at his ability tree. He had two initial options, Durable Constructs and Improved Link. They were the first two among twenty one total options. Durable Constructs increased the resilience of any mechanical object he had built or was the last one to repair. Improved Link improved the grade for his link by one stage. Looking at the abilities that would be unlocked later, he chose Improved Link, since he could then take Additional Channel as his next ability. Between the two abilities, he’d be able to throw out two turrets of a higher grade than what he currently had. As for his Skill Point, he put it into Power Management, as the skill was intended to optimize the power consumption of the equipment he used, allowing him to stretch his power supply further. “Ugh, can we get moving? This spot reeks of blood and burning. It didn’t really hit me till just now, but this stench is abyssal,” FarShot complained. “Agreed. Sometimes this game is a little too real for me.” Bob shrugged. “Alright, let’s keep going.” He deactivated the turret, which reverted to its armored egg form, and stuck it back in his inventory, then deactivated the shield. He marveled at the way the seemingly solid surface flowed away, revealing dull gray plates that retracted and folded in on each other until it was a small box of solid material. A truly fascinating piece of equipment. Bob wondered how the creators of the game came up with all this ‘technology’ that pervaded this world. He stowed the portable shield in his inventory, and replaced his mostly spent magazine with a fresh one, a tip he’d read about in the WIK. The weapons of this world were fascinating. Bob idly wondered if he could create a facsimile of them to give out as loot in his dungeon. The idea was worth considering. Perhaps the new weapons would inspire the adventurers to become better. Doubtful, but worth trying. They continued walking, leaving a trail of red footprints behind them for a ways, following their Nav screen directions toward the appropriate area for their requests. “You know, Bob, that turret of yours is way too good. I think it got half the kills back there, maybe more,” said ShadowRunner. “Yeah, I kept having to adjust my aim because it killed my target just as I was lining up a shot,” FarShot added. “I think that’s because I was using the ‘buckshot’ option. I didn’t really know what that was, so I looked it up just now using the WIK. Buckshot fires a bunch of small pellets which spread out as they travel. The other option, slug, apparently fires a single, solid projectile that is much heavier than a typical firearm round. Heh, I chose buckshot because I thought it would be shooting actual slugs at them otherwise. But it seems it was quite effective against that little swarm. There is so much to learn about this game world. It is rather fascinating.” ShadowRunner grinned. “No kidding. Aside from the quest NPCs, this place feels so real. But I suppose they had to drop the ball somewhere, no way they could make something so rich and complex without messing up somewhere. I bet they’re making gold hand over fist with these games.” “Whatever Bard they had on staff to weave the stories of this place was definitely not paid nearly enough. This place is a wonder,” FarShot added. Lost in thought for a moment, Bob unintentionally mumbled his inner thoughts. “I wonder if I can contract their story teller. I’m sure I can outbid their current employer.” The siblings stopped and stared at him. “Can you?” FarShot asked. Shit, I didn’t mean to say that aloud, Bob thought. Scrambling, he tried to pull himself out of the hole he’d just dug with a series of half-truths. “I make a lot of gold while I’m in Deep Thousand. More than most. Not as much lately, but I still have generous reserves on hand. After all, no mortal artisan can produce the same items with the same quality consistently. Although I do not encounter any danger I cannot handle, I still turn a tidy profit.” He was new at spinning webs of half-truths and deceit, but the siblings were not particularly world-wise, and so they implicitly accepted his explanation. “That’s awesome. I’ve heard about people who farm the dungeon for equipment, but it sounds like you’ve got it down to an art. Ha, maybe if we introduce you to Dad, he’ll try to foist my sis off on you.” Revulsion churned in his stomach at the very thought, and he fought to keep that off his face. “I doubt she’d like that. I’m no youngster. I can guarantee with certainty that I am older than your own father. Besides, I’m not comfortable with intimacy outside of my species.” FarShot laughed. “I knew it, you’re an elf, aren’t you? Your comment earlier about life being too long was a dead giveaway.” Bob shrugged and held out his hands, neither confirming nor denying, allowing the mortal girl to indulge in whatever delusions she had. “I knew it! You know, brother, if we somehow managed to get him to help us out, I bet we could force Father to retire as the head of the family. Just imagine what pressure he’d be under if we secured a trade deal with an elven adventurer that farms Deep Thousand.” ShadowRunner grew somber as she spoke. “We can’t foist our family problems off on some guy we just met, that is not the right way.” “I know.” FarShot lowered her head. Bob held his tongue. He didn’t actually care about their petty mortal dramas over who the sister would breed with or familial succession. Really, they should just take his earlier advice and kill their patriarch if he was that much of a nuisance. However, to further chide them probably wasn’t something a human would do. Instead, he redirected the conversation. “So, what abilities did you guys take? I took one that improves my link, so I can deploy a better turret.” “I took an ability that highlights enemy weak points. The other option was Steady Breathing, which I still don’t really understand. It’s supposed to eliminate breathing induced movement,” FarShot answered. “I took one that lets my intruder-link interfere with enemy IFF. So it should make some enemies have a harder time targeting me, I guess? I picked it because the abilities further along that tree sound really good, but there’s a lot of terminology I don’t really understand.” “There is a lot to learn. I think there is a lot of depth to this world that we’ve barely touched on.” The trio continued walking through the tunnels, talking quietly about the abilities available to their classes.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM4MTRmZDE5NjdkZjQ1MTQ4YjEwYWZjNjIxMGI0NTcz"> <strong><em>-Vol 4: To The North Pole!-</em></strong></p> <p class="cnNkZTU3NWJkN2IwMjRiODE4ZGVhYTg1YzlmZmIyZjM4"><strong><em>-Into The Zone-</em></strong></p> <p class="cnNhYzIyMmRlMzExODRlMWFiODM2ZjZmYzU2ZjI1NDM0">Vera drove the car towards a specific direction, and after half an hour, they finally reached a highly guarded place. This place was defended by Hunters of various guilds and the DCB. With is good eyesight, he was able to see a big gate which was guarded by hundreds of hunters and military. </p> <p class="cnM4NGRlODZjOTI3YjQyZjg5OTQ1YTkwOTk0M2IzNzUz">The gate was big enough to let a military issued truck pass through and wide enough for two cars to move simultaneously. Considering how busy this place was, the gateway may seem to be small, but it was well within the reasons for doing so. Nobody knew the status beyond these walls, so who knew if monsters would rush at the moment they open a gate? That’s why the gate was so small. </p> <p class="cnM0ZWY1OGIzNjJlMzQxMzY4YzM1N2VhNGNmOTg2MmZl">“You see that gate? It took more than fifty hunters who are more than level 100 work tirelessly for 12 hours to make that hole. I don’t know who made this wall, but he/it must be powerful to make this possible.” Vera’s voice contains some wonder as well as dread. She was afraid of the fact that it was made by someone with bad intention towards humans. </p> <p class="cnMyM2M1OTYwNTIwMzQyZGU5M2EyNDAzY2Y3MDFmNmY2">“It might be a natural phenomenon!” Kenshin put forth his point. The appearance of a wall out of nowhere, that too naturally… it can be possible in the Era they were living in. </p> <p class="cnNiMDY0YzE4MjFlZjQwM2U4NDA0YTIyZGU5ZmM2Y2Fk">“That’s what we thought at first, but we took down that idea soon after. The area this wall covering is too uniform and calculated. Besides, no natural phenomenon can make such a thing possible. The only possible explanation would be the appearance of a dungeon.” Vera sounded very grim when she spoke about her speculations. She was afraid of this outcome as well. If a dungeon of such enormous proportion would take forever to clean once. If the dungeons were not cleaned regularly, a dungeon break would soon follow. </p> <p class="cnM0ZDAwZWJkNGMwNDQ0ZmM5ZmU0MDBkY2I1NzBiNGQ1">A dungeon break of such massive proportion has the potential to destroy half of the earth. It was one of the reasons why all the guilds, as well as DCB, were working together on this project. If things don’t go as planned, then higher-ups would step in. This informations didn’t make it to the public, but as a higher class official, vera knew about it. </p> <p class="cnMzYzhiMmFjN2ZhNTQ4ODhiZjRjNDM1Nzc4Y2NkNGVm">The military and guild guards who guarded the opening nodded towards Vera and allowed them to move on. When Kenshin crossed the wall, he found the temperature to be a few degrees lower than outside. It was due to the mist covering the sky. It didn’t allow the sunlight to enter, making the place a few shades darker than outside. The weirdest thing was that the moment he entered this place, his phone stopped receiving signal, despite being full when outside the wall. It’s as if a signal jammer was placed on a massive scale. </p> <p class="cnNmNjRmMjk4YmE5MjQ0YjRiNzcxZGRhNDhiN2ZiNjkw">“These mist acts as an all-purpose signal jammer. It can even stop high-frequency signals that were designed to bypass any other jammers. This place was similar to entering a dungeon.” Seeing Kenshin’s repeated action of checking out his phone and sky, she explained a bit further. </p> <p class="cnMxN2I4NThmNjdhZDQ1ZDhiMTFhN2IyY2QwNDNhYTAw">“I see. So that’s why travelling through land vehicle is the only way.” Kenshin now understood the point. </p> <p class="cnM4MTRiNjdmNGJiYzQ3ZmU5MTZkMmM1MWJhNDhlNjRh">“So Kenshin, I read you just recently awakened your magic skill? How did you make it so strong in such little time?” Vera asked while driving. She found this point very suspicious. This Kenshin only awakened fifteen days ago, but reports claimed that he was able to cast level 7 fires. Even for a prodigy, this much small amount of time was impossible to upgrade a skill to level 7. </p> <p class="cnMyMzA4MTRiZWQwMzQ3MjY5Y2EwNGI2YWFjOTI1Yjcw">In history, there were only a few numbers of hunters who managed to do so, but they are too unique to be considered as a comparison material. Kenshin clearly didn’t exhibit that uniqueness as them. Then how was this possible? Logic says that Kenshin had awakened many years ago and hidden the fact but she didn’t think like that, and neither did his introducer, Mito branch’s director. Then how did he do it? Kenshin started to sweat when he heard the question. Thankfully he was fully prepared for it. </p> <p class="cnM1NzQ0YTQyNmEwNjRhODBiY2FiZjE4NGI2Y2IzYjBh">“I don’t know. It just grew stronger on its own.” Kenshin was nonchalant when he spoke, but in his heart, he was wiping away sweat endlessly. </p> <p class="cnNmNjc4ZWUxMDRmYzRjNzJhNjJjNGM0YjcyMGZiYTUx">“Really?” </p> <p class="cnNlZmZiZTViZDE3MzQ1YThiMGI2ZGJkNTQwNmVjMDUz">“Yeah. Besides, I think the fight I had during dungeon break incident also helped.” Kenshin spoke with ease, the way he practised during these past few days. </p> <p class="cnM5ODA0ZjE1Njc0ZDRjMDQ4MWE3MTQ3ODBjNmI1ZDY1">“Is that so!” Vera clearly didn’t buy that, at least entirely. But she didn’t push it anymore. She knew during this mission, she would be able to find out more about this hunter named Kenshin who was the only hunter among the team who was under level 50. </p> <p class="cnNjOTQ2ZDFiMTIxYjQ5YTg4NjhlYTgzMTI0ZGI2NTUz">She was also very curious about Kenshin’s WIL, the report told that he awakened it on his own even before knowing what it was. It was a common fact among the upper echelons that everyone’s WIL had a property to it, which influenced their overall battle prowess. She had a WIL, that aligned towards the intent of ‘cutting’ hence increasing her battle prowess with swords to grow exponentially. She also knew some people who had an intent ‘Sheild’ which increase their defence by a considerable margin.</p> <p class="cnMzMjE3MDFlYjNiMTQ4OWRiNmQ1MzQ4OWJkOTJiNmVl">Same thing with another hunter with ‘evade’ intent as his WIL, making his dodging speed phenomenal. She had a hunch that his WIL’s Intent might be related to his sudden speed of level up but she wouldn’t be sure until she sees it with her eyes. </p> <p class="cnM2OTlmZDNhYjNiNjRiZmViNzY5ZWVjMDI4MmYxODMw">After that, both did some small talks regarding various hunter stuff until they finally had to stop. There was a massive polar bear like a monster standing in their way. It was glaring at them as if they are intruding on its private property. But it might be as they had thought, bears had a strong sense of territory so they might have imposed on its private property. </p> <p class="cnM4Y2Q4MjY3Mzk4YjQwZGM4YzkzZTE1YWI0YjlkZGMz">*ROAR!!!* The bear roared loudly as if warning them to move back. </p> <p class="cnNjMjBlOTZmY2NkYzRhZWU4OTE1M2Y4ZTg0MmJlMzcy">“Go kill it,” Vera ordered Kenshin while pointing at the bear. A monster at such a low level didn’t need her to move personally. Nodding his head, Kenshin got off the car and slowly walked towards the bear. He didn’t even take his sword as he didn’t need it to slay this monster. Suddenly a ball of fire appeared before him, after a few twists it morphed into a polished flaming knife.</p> <p class="cnM2MmE1OWRhNmZkMjQ5NzQ5ZjY1ZjdlYmMyMWE2NTBh">The knife then started to rotate at a very high speed in midair, before Kenshin send it flashing towards the bear’s head region. </p> <p class="cnNlMjA0ZTU1MGM3OTQ3ZWRiY2EzMTYzNTQ4MDhlYTRl">*Squelch* With a squelching sound, the flaming knife penetrated its skull and burned down half of its brain in an instant. </p> <p class="cnNkNWNhN2E3MjkzZDRkNzQ5YTk4ZWM2YTQzMDY5NGFh">*RoaR* with a last painful roar, the bear fell to the ground, dead with black smoke coming off its head. After that Kenshin conjured another flaming knife and removed the bear’s pelt.</p> <p class="cnM1Zjg0NDZkMGFkZjRhMGNhYTI1MDI1Mjc4MjgwY2Rl">This time he controlled the heat so that it won’t burn the fur. He also collected its heart and some of its meat. There were no other drops, so he ignored the rest and went back to the car. </p> <p class="cnM3NTU4NzY0MTYxYzRiMWI5ZjlkOGUwZDRiNmRiNmQw">Killing this bear gave him a measly EXP of 200, not even enough to fill a fraction of his current EXP requirement. It also didn’t drop any unique items, making him frown in discontent and complain to it for being stingy. </p> <p class="cnNmY2NhMzYyMzM2ZjQ1ODc5MmQ1MzFjOWE1MjUzYzBk">While he was storing his collected stuff on the car, Vera had a thoughtful expression on her face. The battle power Kenshin showed him right now was indeed do not belong to a hunter of his level. It made her belief about his unique WIL even stronger than before. </p> <p class="cnM1M2NmMDY3MzliNDQzODViZmFhYzQwNDcwNzVmNTVj">Unaware of her thought process, Kenshin was happy because he was able to show his gracefulness in front of this beautiful captain of his. </p> <p class="cnM0MWUwMjlmMzFkNjQ4OWFiZWVhNzdmMTZkOWQ0MDlh"> </p> </div>

***-Vol 4: To The North Pole!-*** ***-Into The Zone-*** Vera drove the car towards a specific direction, and after half an hour, they finally reached a highly guarded place. This place was defended by Hunters of various guilds and the DCB. With is good eyesight, he was able to see a big gate which was guarded by hundreds of hunters and military. The gate was big enough to let a military issued truck pass through and wide enough for two cars to move simultaneously. Considering how busy this place was, the gateway may seem to be small, but it was well within the reasons for doing so. Nobody knew the status beyond these walls, so who knew if monsters would rush at the moment they open a gate? That’s why the gate was so small. “You see that gate? It took more than fifty hunters who are more than level 100 work tirelessly for 12 hours to make that hole. I don’t know who made this wall, but he/it must be powerful to make this possible.” Vera’s voice contains some wonder as well as dread. She was afraid of the fact that it was made by someone with bad intention towards humans. “It might be a natural phenomenon!” Kenshin put forth his point. The appearance of a wall out of nowhere, that too naturally… it can be possible in the Era they were living in. “That’s what we thought at first, but we took down that idea soon after. The area this wall covering is too uniform and calculated. Besides, no natural phenomenon can make such a thing possible. The only possible explanation would be the appearance of a dungeon.” Vera sounded very grim when she spoke about her speculations. She was afraid of this outcome as well. If a dungeon of such enormous proportion would take forever to clean once. If the dungeons were not cleaned regularly, a dungeon break would soon follow. A dungeon break of such massive proportion has the potential to destroy half of the earth. It was one of the reasons why all the guilds, as well as DCB, were working together on this project. If things don’t go as planned, then higher-ups would step in. This informations didn’t make it to the public, but as a higher class official, vera knew about it. The military and guild guards who guarded the opening nodded towards Vera and allowed them to move on. When Kenshin crossed the wall, he found the temperature to be a few degrees lower than outside. It was due to the mist covering the sky. It didn’t allow the sunlight to enter, making the place a few shades darker than outside. The weirdest thing was that the moment he entered this place, his phone stopped receiving signal, despite being full when outside the wall. It’s as if a signal jammer was placed on a massive scale. “These mist acts as an all-purpose signal jammer. It can even stop high-frequency signals that were designed to bypass any other jammers. This place was similar to entering a dungeon.” Seeing Kenshin’s repeated action of checking out his phone and sky, she explained a bit further. “I see. So that’s why travelling through land vehicle is the only way.” Kenshin now understood the point. “So Kenshin, I read you just recently awakened your magic skill? How did you make it so strong in such little time?” Vera asked while driving. She found this point very suspicious. This Kenshin only awakened fifteen days ago, but reports claimed that he was able to cast level 7 fires. Even for a prodigy, this much small amount of time was impossible to upgrade a skill to level 7. In history, there were only a few numbers of hunters who managed to do so, but they are too unique to be considered as a comparison material. Kenshin clearly didn’t exhibit that uniqueness as them. Then how was this possible? Logic says that Kenshin had awakened many years ago and hidden the fact but she didn’t think like that, and neither did his introducer, Mito branch’s director. Then how did he do it? Kenshin started to sweat when he heard the question. Thankfully he was fully prepared for it. “I don’t know. It just grew stronger on its own.” Kenshin was nonchalant when he spoke, but in his heart, he was wiping away sweat endlessly. “Really?” “Yeah. Besides, I think the fight I had during dungeon break incident also helped.” Kenshin spoke with ease, the way he practised during these past few days. “Is that so!” Vera clearly didn’t buy that, at least entirely. But she didn’t push it anymore. She knew during this mission, she would be able to find out more about this hunter named Kenshin who was the only hunter among the team who was under level 50. She was also very curious about Kenshin’s WIL, the report told that he awakened it on his own even before knowing what it was. It was a common fact among the upper echelons that everyone’s WIL had a property to it, which influenced their overall battle prowess. She had a WIL, that aligned towards the intent of ‘cutting’ hence increasing her battle prowess with swords to grow exponentially. She also knew some people who had an intent ‘Sheild’ which increase their defence by a considerable margin. Same thing with another hunter with ‘evade’ intent as his WIL, making his dodging speed phenomenal. She had a hunch that his WIL’s Intent might be related to his sudden speed of level up but she wouldn’t be sure until she sees it with her eyes. After that, both did some small talks regarding various hunter stuff until they finally had to stop. There was a massive polar bear like a monster standing in their way. It was glaring at them as if they are intruding on its private property. But it might be as they had thought, bears had a strong sense of territory so they might have imposed on its private property. *ROAR!!!* The bear roared loudly as if warning them to move back. “Go kill it,” Vera ordered Kenshin while pointing at the bear. A monster at such a low level didn’t need her to move personally. Nodding his head, Kenshin got off the car and slowly walked towards the bear. He didn’t even take his sword as he didn’t need it to slay this monster. Suddenly a ball of fire appeared before him, after a few twists it morphed into a polished flaming knife. The knife then started to rotate at a very high speed in midair, before Kenshin send it flashing towards the bear’s head region. *Squelch* With a squelching sound, the flaming knife penetrated its skull and burned down half of its brain in an instant. *RoaR* with a last painful roar, the bear fell to the ground, dead with black smoke coming off its head. After that Kenshin conjured another flaming knife and removed the bear’s pelt. This time he controlled the heat so that it won’t burn the fur. He also collected its heart and some of its meat. There were no other drops, so he ignored the rest and went back to the car. Killing this bear gave him a measly EXP of 200, not even enough to fill a fraction of his current EXP requirement. It also didn’t drop any unique items, making him frown in discontent and complain to it for being stingy. While he was storing his collected stuff on the car, Vera had a thoughtful expression on her face. The battle power Kenshin showed him right now was indeed do not belong to a hunter of his level. It made her belief about his unique WIL even stronger than before. Unaware of her thought process, Kenshin was happy because he was able to show his gracefulness in front of this beautiful captain of his.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMwNTEwMzk5YzM4ZTQ0MDE5YTgxMzAxMjc1OGQwOGVh"><span style="font-weight: 400">It would have been great if someone had come to save me. Swung in through a window on a conveniently placed rope, scooped me up and carried me to safety. Jenny, Flossie, Dudley. Claire? Sure. I’m not proud, I’d accept the assist. </span></p> <p class="cnMyZDk0ZjQxMDgzNDRiNmE5ZDcxNjhjZjZkYTBjN2E3"><span style="font-weight: 400">“You’re a fool,” said Gideon. “You think you can make friends with fairies and every other freak you come across. They’ll end up using you and then once they’ve finished with you, they’ll make life a misery for the rest of us. How could you possibly think we’d allow it?”</span></p> <p class="cnNjOGIzYTZhMDk4MDQzOGY5ZDRkZDkyZDkzZTg5NDBm"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ending up being used was still preferable to being used straightaway, I felt. And it wasn’t like I trusted any of the people I was allied with. It would have been nice to be able to explain this to Gideon, but currently, my mouth was filled with pubic hair. </span></p> <p class="cnM2MTg4ZTkyYzc5MDQwY2VhZjE3YmRmNWEyZDkxMzU0"><span style="font-weight: 400">I was hanging upside down, unable to move or use any of my abilities, wrapped up in hair and on the verge of choking to death. If ever a man needed rescuing, it was me.</span></p> <p class="cnM4ZWM5N2U2OGI2ZDRhNDU4NzE0NDgxZDY2YTBkMjg5"><span style="font-weight: 400">No one was coming. I even tried to send a psychic message, my brow furrowing with the effort. Perhaps a passing mentalist would pick up my signal and send me a couple of tickets to their next show. </span></p> <p class="cnM5OGFkMTdmYzc2ZjQ3MWQ4NTBjMDk5ZDQzYmIyY2Jk"><span style="font-weight: 400">If I still had Wesley renting out space in my head, she would have been the perfect person to sort out Gideon. She could vibrate him until all his hair fell out, leaving him silky smooth all over. But she had gone, I had no idea where, or how. She and Richina both had found a way out of my brain. I, on the other hand, was still stuck in here.</span></p> <p class="cnM5NzNkZTZjOGNjZTQyMjhiMjI0ZTNlYWYwODllOTQ5"><span style="font-weight: 400">I struggled manfully (well, I struggled), but Gideon had me in an unbreakable hair grip. I would have liked to have said something about how shit his power was, made some pithy remarks about his lifestyle choices and his mother’s sexual proclivities, but I had to admit his counter-argument of ‘shut the fuck up’ was pretty strong.</span></p> <p class="cnM5N2NjYjZhZTYyNjQ5MWI4MjAxOTc4YTI5NmUyY2U5"><span style="font-weight: 400">There have been many comic book stories where a superhero loses his power for a bit. It’s something of a cliché, the struggles of your favourite overpowered cape-wearer with no powers and a lycra outfit with clashing colours. He becomes a mere mortal, but it turns out his powers aren’t what made him a great hero. He finds a way to overcome his enemies even when he has no special abilities, using a combination of gumption and perseverance, or something. It was a machine gun in one issue of Superman.</span></p> <p class="cnM3NWNiNzlmY2Q2MzQ5Y2NiZWJjMmRhOThjMTcwOGUz"><span style="font-weight: 400">They were trying to impart an important moral lesson with those stories. Something about what’s in your heart, what kind of man you are, principles and honour. You know, the usual stuff our elders and betters try to convince us of while they’re embezzling pension funds and diddling little kids. </span></p> <p class="cnMxNDMxNzc3ZDU5ODRkN2FiNjczMGExN2EzYjM5OWZm"><span style="font-weight: 400">We always portray ourselves as the best we can be in our fictions. Even when a cop hunts down a criminal and kills him on the spot, he was justified. He had no proof, the courts would have let the murderer go, but we saw the killer kill that girl in the first act of the movie, so we know he deserved to die in act three.</span></p> <p class="cnMxNDRhZDNhZjQxMjQ0YjY5ZTllMmNkNDJmZWIzMDk3"><span style="font-weight: 400">Of course, it isn’t just the men we portray as exceptional in those kinds of films. The women can also kick ass, and they do it with femininity, in high heels. </span></p> <p class="cnNlMTFmNWJkNTczZDQwNjk4Y2U0ZmFjN2QwMWIyYzRm"><span style="font-weight: 400">I, unfortunately, am no Superman. I’d be happy if I could jump into a phone booth and come out as Clark Kent. Being over six feet tall and built like a brick shithouse is still pretty super, even if you can’t fly or look at women’s underwear through their clothes. </span></p> <p class="cnM2NWJjYjlhNGQxNzQ3MDhiMzA3OTU3MDlmZDcxMTEw"><span style="font-weight: 400">If Gideon had planned to kill me all along, then this seemed like a long-winded way to go about it. Perhaps he wanted to show off, but for whom? There was no one here apart from me, and my hands were tied so I couldn’t even give him a round of applause. </span></p> <p class="cnNmMWU3MTE5YzhlNTRhNGE5ZjAzMTZkMjIwMTQyNDBl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Gideon’s hair had rapidly crawled over my body, holding me tight. I couldn’t breathe, my gag reflex was going into overdrive and all the blood was rushing to my head. If I could have tapped out I would have, but he had me tightly wrapped up in his hair follicles. It seemed my run of hapless victories was about to come to a close.</span></p> <p class="cnM0ZGI2NmM4ZTliNTQzODBiZjRkMzYyYWFhNGZlOTkz"><span style="font-weight: 400">That was not to be, though. Hapless was how I rolled and hapless was who I rolled with. </span></p> <p class="cnNmZWUxOGQ0MTQ0ZDRkNzlhZWZiNzAzYzI3YzY2Yzdk"><span style="font-weight: 400">Gideon made a strange gurgling sound and the hairs enveloping me loosened enough to drop me on the ground, which was painful. </span></p> <p class="cnMxYjY0NGJkNTQ3ZTQ1YWE4MDJjOTY3MjlkMzc3YmQy"><span style="font-weight: 400">The long strands of wiry pubic hair let go of me and retracted rapidly into the bottom of Gideon’s trousers. At the same time, long strands of hair sprouted in a much more luxurious form on either side of his head. </span></p> <p class="cnM5NTRlZDkzMDgwZDQ0MjM4OWRmM2ZkMjQyZmNjNzQ1"><span style="font-weight: 400">The hair flowed out of him at such speed it seemed to be affecting his brain. Gideon’s face was distorted into a strange grimace, the type of look you see on people’s faces in pictures of them on the down part of a log flume.</span></p> <p class="cnMzYTRhMmEyNjY5NzQ3YjA4YTgxMjQ2NjU5MWI2ZDc1"><span style="font-weight: 400">He didn’t seem to have control of his follicles and whatever was making his power go haywire wasn’t doing it gently.</span></p> <p class="cnM2MWI4MmJkYTg0MTRhYWY5YzcwMjhkNDM1MGYxN2Uz"><span style="font-weight: 400">The hair grew into two enormous pigtails which then began to plait themselves. Gideon was yanked off his feet and suspended in mid-air with the plaits stretched out on either side. When they completed lacing together, both strands shot straight up in the air and then moved in a circle.</span></p> <p class="cnNiYmRmNTI1OGU2NzQ5MDk4NjAzZTcxYWVmOWQ1MzI2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Gideon was spun around and around at dizzying speed. It was dizzying for me to watch so it must have been even worse for him.</span></p> <p class="cnM3M2UwMjQ1ZGMyYjRkYzliY2E5ODMwMGJmYzFhMmI0"><span style="font-weight: 400">Three, four times around, and then the spinning stopped and Gideon was smashed into the floor at maximum velocity.</span></p> <p class="cnNhZjczOTEzYmNjNTQxNmFhZDIxOTJlNzQ1NWRmZWRh"><span style="font-weight: 400">I was back on my feet now, covered in red marks where the chains of hair had bound me. My throat was dry and scratchy and there were still hairs stuck down there making me gag like I was about to bring up a hairball. It was not a comfortable feeling. </span></p> <p class="cnNjZjFkNzYwMmI2ZDRhNjg5Y2QwOGY4MjIzYzY3MDI4"><span style="font-weight: 400">There was no sign of anyone else and I had no idea what had just happened, but someone had come to my rescue after all. First time for everything, I guess.</span></p> <p class="cnM0ZTIwZGIyM2FjYjRmNTI4YWJhYjA1OTYwMjIwMzI0"><span style="font-weight: 400">Even though Gideon was lying unconscious on the ground, or appeared to be, I was wary of what he might do next. I realise it was a bit late to start being cautious but at least I had finally remembered my place in the universe. It didn’t matter how feared or respected I was among the general population, the universe would always cuck me as and when the opportunity arose. No quarter given, no retreat or surrender allowed no matter how hard I petitioned for them.</span></p> <p class="cnM2YTczZmQ4Yzg2MDQ0OWViYWQ1MzVhY2NkZWE1MDc0"><span style="font-weight: 400">My body still felt a bit tingly, like when your leg goes to sleep and then the blood rushes back in. Gideon had been able to neutralise my ability using his hair. How was that even a thing? Magic made no sense, no wonder I couldn’t get proper control over it. </span></p> <p class="cnNhYWJkMTMxZGFiZDRjODNhMTlkZDgyYTRmMDhlZTc1"><span style="font-weight: 400">I waited for the tingling to pass and then slipped into the adjacent world. Whatever abilities Gideon had, he would be a lot less capable without his connections to the rest of existence. He seemed the type who liked being around people. A little isolation would do him good.</span></p> <p class="cnNiMjk5ZDJkZTk5MDQ2ODQ5MTcxMWU4MzUyMjA3ZWU4"><span style="font-weight: 400">What I saw once I shifted between planes was the usual mess of vines growing out of Gideon’s body and one vine bigger and shinier than the rest extending from the top of his head. This seemed like a prime candidate for the chop. It looked thick and slimy but at least it wasn’t throbbing. I’ve never liked the ones that throb.</span></p> <p class="cnNhOTI3M2UyMGVmMTQ3OWI4ZmNmZmJiN2JkNjlkMDVj"><span style="font-weight: 400">I took out my wooden swords and floated over to him, ready to make a firm and decisive cut. Once that was done, I had to decide what to do with the rest of him. Making him my prisoner would only keep his threat contained temporarily. He was bound to get free at some point and be a massive pain.</span></p> <p class="cnM2NzFjYjUyOGEwZjQxY2I5OTZmMzFiODQ5YWRlOWY1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Kill him? It was my signature move, but I was getting tired of always having to go to such extremes. These sorts of situations are supposed to call for a reluctant hero, not a reluctant monster.</span></p> <p class="cnM5M2ZmMTlkMzgyOTQ3NTliNTQ3NDM1MmY2ZmVjNjMx"><span style="font-weight: 400">Something stayed my hand. The vine seemed familiar in some way. In my rush to take my revenge I was in danger of making a mistake (another one). </span></p> <p class="cnNiZjBjNmUwNjQ3ZTRhZGJhMjdiMzEwYjdkYTM4MzZk"><span style="font-weight: 400">On the other hand, hesitation could lead to my downfall, that’s always the worry. What if I could have succeeded, but a moment of self-doubt let someone else get in there ahead of me?</span></p> <p class="cnMzOTA0NDQzNTE4OTQ4Mzk4NjFmN2E2ZTczMTVmYTkw"><span style="font-weight: 400">I hesitated anyway. Experience had taught me that my self-doubt was usually justified. That’s the thing about people who find themselves in positions of power, they start believing in themselves a bit too easily. You see it with people who become parents. Just because you now have other smaller stupider people listening to you, that doesn’t mean you’re no longer the clueless idiot you were nine months ago. </span></p> <p class="cnM0OGRjZDY2MzNlMjQwYTdiMmZmZjk5MmNjYWUwOWVj"><span style="font-weight: 400">If you happen to be the kind of person others come to for advice and answers to difficult moral quandaries, then fair enough, carry on issuing instructions and lifestyle dos and don’ts. But if you’ve never been called during moments of crisis for your analysis, then your kids would probably be better off watching a Youtube video on whatever it is they’re curious about.</span></p> <p class="cnNjZjRmNTkxODdiODRlYTA4ODYwZjAyZTE1NmU0MDEx"><span style="font-weight: 400">I returned to my body. As long as I didn’t end up alone with him, I should be able to deal with him. Which is to say, the other people should be able to deal with him while I used them as a shield. I had an army now, it would be wasteful not to use them.</span></p> <p class="cnMyNGU4Y2MyMTYzODQ2YzM4ODc0N2QxMTAwY2Q1OTRk"><span style="font-weight: 400">As soon as I was back in the real world, I heard someone humming loudly, like they wanted you to ask what the tune was so they could then sing you some of it. Not hard to guess it was Flossie entering the room. </span></p> <p class="cnM2ZDY0NGJjNjdkNzQ0YTdiODNlN2U4ZWUwNWQyNzY4"><span style="font-weight: 400">I turned around as she came blithely walking in, Dudley behind her. She had a doll in her hand, with lots of hair tied into plaits.</span></p> <p class="cnM3YWNiYzg1NGFkMTRiNDBhZDY2OWU2ODkzM2E5M2E5"><span style="font-weight: 400">The doll was of Gideon, the hair was his real hair that I had given to Flossie to take to Mrs Somya. The big vine I’d seen was her connection to him. If I’d cut it off, I’d have released him. It was nice to know there was still some kind of self-preservation filtering device at work in the back of my brain even when the rest of me was panicking and making awful decisions. </span></p> <p class="cnNiMGM1MDMwNWYxMTQxZDBiZTE2ODYwODEwNjk0ZTJi"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Mrs Somya said to give yo’ this,” said Flossie. “Look, I made it pretty.”</span></p> <p class="cnM4NzFjMzVlYTY0NTRkZTE4ZGEwODFiOTg1ZDFmY2Zl"><span style="font-weight: 400">“What did you do to the doll?” I said. It looked like Gideon in the simplified way Mrs Somya had of making inanimate objects look like their targets, but with an excessive amount of hair attached.</span></p> <p class="cnM4NzRlNmQwM2NkODRjNDg4ZWZlOWU4YmY1YTY5ODIx"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Ah thought he would look better like this. Do yo’ like it?” She held up the doll, which looked ridiculous with plaited pigtails. She noticed Gideon on the floor. “What happened to him? Oh, he’s got the same hairstyle! Great minds think alike.”</span></p> <p class="cnMxZTk4YzEwZDY4OTRhNmRiZWY4NDNiMjdhZWE0NDIz"><span style="font-weight: 400">That was not the conclusion I would have drawn.</span></p> <p class="cnMwY2RjZmI1NjA4ZDRhOTY5MTRkNjkzYjc1OGY4YWI3"><span style="font-weight: 400">Gideon groaned and tried to get up. I took the doll from Flossie and swung it around by the hair. Gideon went flying into a wall.</span></p> <p class="cnM0MTMwZjBmZTUyNTQ2MzJiMWU1ZGZhZGJkZGYxOGQw"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Eek!” said Flossie. “Why did yo’ do that?”</span></p> <p class="cnMyZGM2ZWJiNzk2NzRmMWFhYzZjZTVhNDZiNDlmYjM2"><span style="font-weight: 400">“He tried to kill me,” I said. “And he’ll probably try again if we don’t do something about it.”</span></p> <p class="cnNlOGVjMTk5MTljZTQzMDJhOThkNzgyMjNhMzAzYmY0"><span style="font-weight: 400">“You’re not going to kill him, are yo’?”</span></p> <p class="cnMxZWRkZDZhNTNkODRiMTE4ZTgxOGNjMmQ0ZGRiODk4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Did I have any other options? Interrogate him first? Torture him into revealing important information? All that screaming and crying wouldn’t be much fun, and that would just be me having to watch. I’ve always been squeamish when it comes to blood and gore.</span></p> <p class="cnNmN2QzNzk4NTFhODQwM2FiMWVmMzhkMTlmOTFjMzcx"><span style="font-weight: 400">More people came in. Not because they’d heard some commotion and were checking to see if I was okay — that would be ridiculous, of course. They’d just got bored and were wondering if they could leave.</span></p> <p class="cnNiZjg4Y2MyNDk3ZTQ3NWVhODZhNWY2NGQ2ZmI1Mjg1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Gideon tried to get up again. He may have broken some bones, which wasn’t that big a deal. I could always heal him. Or I could not heal him.</span></p> <p class="cnNkNTY3NGQ0Y2Y2YjQyZWNhYjYyYzFjMGM5N2QwMGE2"><span style="font-weight: 400">The difficulty is in making a decision when there is no way to know if it is the right one, until, that is, you’ve made it and hindsight gives you a play by play on how it was the wrong one.</span></p> <p class="cnM5YWY2YzdjZDhkZTQ3NzhiNGUxOGI2OGE1ODEyMjc3"><span style="font-weight: 400">The doll in my hands looked like Gideon and not like him at the same time. It looked ridiculous, no question, thanks to Flossie’s styling. Somewhere in the West Midlands were some very relieved Barbie dolls thankful their suffering was over.</span></p> <p class="cnM5NTgwZWFhYzViZTRmNzk4YWYxMzlmNWUyMzkxZTQz"><span style="font-weight: 400">Mrs Somya’s voodoo worked with bits of wood and straw, not even carved or shaped, just tied together. There was no paint, no face drawn on. The hair wasn’t even securely fastened, I could have pulled it off easily. </span></p> <p class="cnMwMGE5OThlZTE5MTRkZGJhZGUzYTdjY2QzZjQxNmZl"><span style="font-weight: 400">I pinched the head between thumb and finger and without even thinking about it I snapped it off.</span></p> <p class="cnMyZWZhMTgxYWVkYzRjNDBhOWVhNTAzZjMzYmM4ZWQ0"><span style="font-weight: 400">It was easy. It was easy if you looked at the doll and not the person.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">Gideon’s head turned at a ninety-degree angle to his neck and he spasmed, then stopped moving. There’s actually a lot less blood and gore when you kill by proxy. Perhaps this was the way to solve all my problems, me and a roomful of dolls, snap, snap, snap.</span></p> <p class="cnM2Mjk4NzI5NDczZDRlYTNhNTc1NTUzYjBlZmVjYWI4"><span style="font-weight: 400">There was a general air of shock in the room but they could see the condition I was in. Clearly, I had been assaulted and had acted in self-defence, eventually. </span></p> <p class="cnM2MWY1OWQyYzQ1MjQ4ODc5MzExMzY4NDlmYTg0MWMw"><span style="font-weight: 400">Jenny went over to check on Gideon, but no one said anything. I’m not sure if they were worried they might be next or they preferred to make their comments via the appropriate Hallmark card (they have one for every occasion).</span></p> <p class="cnM1OTllMTI3Y2U5MDQ1YWZiZTQ3ZmRiMWZkNzAyYTUx"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">You have an aura that glimmers like a star</span></em></p> <p class="cnNkN2U4OTVlNjViNTQyOTBhZmRmZGI5NjdiZTY2OTZi"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">And not a murderer</span></em></p> <p class="cnNlMTNlMmY1MWFmZTRlM2FiNjY4YTUxM2E3ZDM1NmNm"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Sorry you had to kill a deceitful prick</span></em></p> <p class="cnNjMTM4NGNhYjk5ZjQxNGJhZmRlNTQzYWIyNDhiYzc1"><em><span style="font-weight: 400">It wasn’t your fault.</span></em></p> <p class="cnM1M2IxZTI3ZTM2OTRmNzVhMjI5ZmQ3NDBiYTE5MjI4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Dudley, I think the rest of his team are around here somewhere, can you have a look?”</span></p> <p class="cnNjOWUyNzZlODIyMDQ1ZWViOTYzYmRjZWFmMjFhY2Ez"><span style="font-weight: 400">Dudley nodded and sat down at the table, his eyes closed. We all stood around waiting for someone else to say something. </span></p> <p class="cnM2ZjhkYWNlYzA0ODQ4MzY5NmE1Nzc2ZDY4MTBkOTc1"><span style="font-weight: 400">“I think I see them,” said Dudley after only a couple of seconds, which was a relief. Any longer and we’d have had to start making small talk. “They’re entering one of the spires.”</span></p> <p class="cnM3YzJhNGExNmYwMjQwYzNhMDA2ODk3ZTEyMGYwYzE1"><span style="font-weight: 400">“Okay then,” I said. “Time we went had a look in one too.”</span></p> <p class="cnM4MjhkZGYzMTI1YTRlMTk5Y2RjNDhmYmNmYTMzMjBi"><span style="font-weight: 400">But for the first time in a long while something felt wrong. The fact I felt something was itself a big change. </span></p> <p class="cnMwYTM1NWY0ZDZiNTRlNWQ5ZTZjNzA4ODI4M2Y0NGJj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Logically speaking, I could fully accept that keeping Gideon around would have been nothing but trouble. He wouldn’t be grateful and mend his ways, he would come after me when he got the chance and feel fully justified. Killing him was just common sense. Brutal, but sensible. But it was wrong. It was too casual and offhand. Not just inhumane, but unhuman. </span></p> <p class="cnMzMzZjZGNiNDZiNTRhMDE4Mzc2MGJlMjUwMTFmYWNl"><span style="font-weight: 400">I stood there, unable to move. My actions weren’t acceptable, by which I mean they weren’t acceptable to me, so why had they been so easy? I only noticed Jenny when she touched my face with a gentle hand. She had tears falling from her eyes.</span></p> <p class="cnMzYWIyOTQ0YWQ0MjQ5ODU5N2JiYzUwYzY1YjA3ODE4"><span style="font-weight: 400">“It happened,” she said in a soft whisper. “It finally happened.” She pressed her face into my chest. </span></p> <p class="cnM2Yzg1MTg0ZjZmYTQ4OTg4NWQzYTZjM2M0YjQ0YWEw"><span style="font-weight: 400">I had no idea what she was talking about.</span></p> </div>

It would have been great if someone had come to save me. Swung in through a window on a conveniently placed rope, scooped me up and carried me to safety. Jenny, Flossie, Dudley. Claire? Sure. I’m not proud, I’d accept the assist. “You’re a fool,” said Gideon. “You think you can make friends with fairies and every other freak you come across. They’ll end up using you and then once they’ve finished with you, they’ll make life a misery for the rest of us. How could you possibly think we’d allow it?” Ending up being used was still preferable to being used straightaway, I felt. And it wasn’t like I trusted any of the people I was allied with. It would have been nice to be able to explain this to Gideon, but currently, my mouth was filled with pubic hair. I was hanging upside down, unable to move or use any of my abilities, wrapped up in hair and on the verge of choking to death. If ever a man needed rescuing, it was me. No one was coming. I even tried to send a psychic message, my brow furrowing with the effort. Perhaps a passing mentalist would pick up my signal and send me a couple of tickets to their next show. If I still had Wesley renting out space in my head, she would have been the perfect person to sort out Gideon. She could vibrate him until all his hair fell out, leaving him silky smooth all over. But she had gone, I had no idea where, or how. She and Richina both had found a way out of my brain. I, on the other hand, was still stuck in here. I struggled manfully (well, I struggled), but Gideon had me in an unbreakable hair grip. I would have liked to have said something about how shit his power was, made some pithy remarks about his lifestyle choices and his mother’s sexual proclivities, but I had to admit his counter-argument of ‘shut the fuck up’ was pretty strong. There have been many comic book stories where a superhero loses his power for a bit. It’s something of a cliché, the struggles of your favourite overpowered cape-wearer with no powers and a lycra outfit with clashing colours. He becomes a mere mortal, but it turns out his powers aren’t what made him a great hero. He finds a way to overcome his enemies even when he has no special abilities, using a combination of gumption and perseverance, or something. It was a machine gun in one issue of Superman. They were trying to impart an important moral lesson with those stories. Something about what’s in your heart, what kind of man you are, principles and honour. You know, the usual stuff our elders and betters try to convince us of while they’re embezzling pension funds and diddling little kids. We always portray ourselves as the best we can be in our fictions. Even when a cop hunts down a criminal and kills him on the spot, he was justified. He had no proof, the courts would have let the murderer go, but we saw the killer kill that girl in the first act of the movie, so we know he deserved to die in act three. Of course, it isn’t just the men we portray as exceptional in those kinds of films. The women can also kick ass, and they do it with femininity, in high heels. I, unfortunately, am no Superman. I’d be happy if I could jump into a phone booth and come out as Clark Kent. Being over six feet tall and built like a brick shithouse is still pretty super, even if you can’t fly or look at women’s underwear through their clothes. If Gideon had planned to kill me all along, then this seemed like a long-winded way to go about it. Perhaps he wanted to show off, but for whom? There was no one here apart from me, and my hands were tied so I couldn’t even give him a round of applause. Gideon’s hair had rapidly crawled over my body, holding me tight. I couldn’t breathe, my gag reflex was going into overdrive and all the blood was rushing to my head. If I could have tapped out I would have, but he had me tightly wrapped up in his hair follicles. It seemed my run of hapless victories was about to come to a close. That was not to be, though. Hapless was how I rolled and hapless was who I rolled with. Gideon made a strange gurgling sound and the hairs enveloping me loosened enough to drop me on the ground, which was painful. The long strands of wiry pubic hair let go of me and retracted rapidly into the bottom of Gideon’s trousers. At the same time, long strands of hair sprouted in a much more luxurious form on either side of his head. The hair flowed out of him at such speed it seemed to be affecting his brain. Gideon’s face was distorted into a strange grimace, the type of look you see on people’s faces in pictures of them on the down part of a log flume. He didn’t seem to have control of his follicles and whatever was making his power go haywire wasn’t doing it gently. The hair grew into two enormous pigtails which then began to plait themselves. Gideon was yanked off his feet and suspended in mid-air with the plaits stretched out on either side. When they completed lacing together, both strands shot straight up in the air and then moved in a circle. Gideon was spun around and around at dizzying speed. It was dizzying for me to watch so it must have been even worse for him. Three, four times around, and then the spinning stopped and Gideon was smashed into the floor at maximum velocity. I was back on my feet now, covered in red marks where the chains of hair had bound me. My throat was dry and scratchy and there were still hairs stuck down there making me gag like I was about to bring up a hairball. It was not a comfortable feeling. There was no sign of anyone else and I had no idea what had just happened, but someone had come to my rescue after all. First time for everything, I guess. Even though Gideon was lying unconscious on the ground, or appeared to be, I was wary of what he might do next. I realise it was a bit late to start being cautious but at least I had finally remembered my place in the universe. It didn’t matter how feared or respected I was among the general population, the universe would always cuck me as and when the opportunity arose. No quarter given, no retreat or surrender allowed no matter how hard I petitioned for them. My body still felt a bit tingly, like when your leg goes to sleep and then the blood rushes back in. Gideon had been able to neutralise my ability using his hair. How was that even a thing? Magic made no sense, no wonder I couldn’t get proper control over it. I waited for the tingling to pass and then slipped into the adjacent world. Whatever abilities Gideon had, he would be a lot less capable without his connections to the rest of existence. He seemed the type who liked being around people. A little isolation would do him good. What I saw once I shifted between planes was the usual mess of vines growing out of Gideon’s body and one vine bigger and shinier than the rest extending from the top of his head. This seemed like a prime candidate for the chop. It looked thick and slimy but at least it wasn’t throbbing. I’ve never liked the ones that throb. I took out my wooden swords and floated over to him, ready to make a firm and decisive cut. Once that was done, I had to decide what to do with the rest of him. Making him my prisoner would only keep his threat contained temporarily. He was bound to get free at some point and be a massive pain. Kill him? It was my signature move, but I was getting tired of always having to go to such extremes. These sorts of situations are supposed to call for a reluctant hero, not a reluctant monster. Something stayed my hand. The vine seemed familiar in some way. In my rush to take my revenge I was in danger of making a mistake (another one). On the other hand, hesitation could lead to my downfall, that’s always the worry. What if I could have succeeded, but a moment of self-doubt let someone else get in there ahead of me? I hesitated anyway. Experience had taught me that my self-doubt was usually justified. That’s the thing about people who find themselves in positions of power, they start believing in themselves a bit too easily. You see it with people who become parents. Just because you now have other smaller stupider people listening to you, that doesn’t mean you’re no longer the clueless idiot you were nine months ago. If you happen to be the kind of person others come to for advice and answers to difficult moral quandaries, then fair enough, carry on issuing instructions and lifestyle dos and don’ts. But if you’ve never been called during moments of crisis for your analysis, then your kids would probably be better off watching a Youtube video on whatever it is they’re curious about. I returned to my body. As long as I didn’t end up alone with him, I should be able to deal with him. Which is to say, the other people should be able to deal with him while I used them as a shield. I had an army now, it would be wasteful not to use them. As soon as I was back in the real world, I heard someone humming loudly, like they wanted you to ask what the tune was so they could then sing you some of it. Not hard to guess it was Flossie entering the room. I turned around as she came blithely walking in, Dudley behind her. She had a doll in her hand, with lots of hair tied into plaits. The doll was of Gideon, the hair was his real hair that I had given to Flossie to take to Mrs Somya. The big vine I’d seen was her connection to him. If I’d cut it off, I’d have released him. It was nice to know there was still some kind of self-preservation filtering device at work in the back of my brain even when the rest of me was panicking and making awful decisions. “Mrs Somya said to give yo’ this,” said Flossie. “Look, I made it pretty.” “What did you do to the doll?” I said. It looked like Gideon in the simplified way Mrs Somya had of making inanimate objects look like their targets, but with an excessive amount of hair attached. “Ah thought he would look better like this. Do yo’ like it?” She held up the doll, which looked ridiculous with plaited pigtails. She noticed Gideon on the floor. “What happened to him? Oh, he’s got the same hairstyle! Great minds think alike.” That was not the conclusion I would have drawn. Gideon groaned and tried to get up. I took the doll from Flossie and swung it around by the hair. Gideon went flying into a wall. “Eek!” said Flossie. “Why did yo’ do that?” “He tried to kill me,” I said. “And he’ll probably try again if we don’t do something about it.” “You’re not going to kill him, are yo’?” Did I have any other options? Interrogate him first? Torture him into revealing important information? All that screaming and crying wouldn’t be much fun, and that would just be me having to watch. I’ve always been squeamish when it comes to blood and gore. More people came in. Not because they’d heard some commotion and were checking to see if I was okay — that would be ridiculous, of course. They’d just got bored and were wondering if they could leave. Gideon tried to get up again. He may have broken some bones, which wasn’t that big a deal. I could always heal him. Or I could not heal him. The difficulty is in making a decision when there is no way to know if it is the right one, until, that is, you’ve made it and hindsight gives you a play by play on how it was the wrong one. The doll in my hands looked like Gideon and not like him at the same time. It looked ridiculous, no question, thanks to Flossie’s styling. Somewhere in the West Midlands were some very relieved Barbie dolls thankful their suffering was over. Mrs Somya’s voodoo worked with bits of wood and straw, not even carved or shaped, just tied together. There was no paint, no face drawn on. The hair wasn’t even securely fastened, I could have pulled it off easily. I pinched the head between thumb and finger and without even thinking about it I snapped it off. It was easy. It was easy if you looked at the doll and not the person. Gideon’s head turned at a ninety-degree angle to his neck and he spasmed, then stopped moving. There’s actually a lot less blood and gore when you kill by proxy. Perhaps this was the way to solve all my problems, me and a roomful of dolls, snap, snap, snap. There was a general air of shock in the room but they could see the condition I was in. Clearly, I had been assaulted and had acted in self-defence, eventually. Jenny went over to check on Gideon, but no one said anything. I’m not sure if they were worried they might be next or they preferred to make their comments via the appropriate Hallmark card (they have one for every occasion). *You have an aura that glimmers like a star* *And not a murderer* *Sorry you had to kill a deceitful prick* *It wasn’t your fault.* “Dudley, I think the rest of his team are around here somewhere, can you have a look?” Dudley nodded and sat down at the table, his eyes closed. We all stood around waiting for someone else to say something. “I think I see them,” said Dudley after only a couple of seconds, which was a relief. Any longer and we’d have had to start making small talk. “They’re entering one of the spires.” “Okay then,” I said. “Time we went had a look in one too.” But for the first time in a long while something felt wrong. The fact I felt something was itself a big change. Logically speaking, I could fully accept that keeping Gideon around would have been nothing but trouble. He wouldn’t be grateful and mend his ways, he would come after me when he got the chance and feel fully justified. Killing him was just common sense. Brutal, but sensible. But it was wrong. It was too casual and offhand. Not just inhumane, but unhuman. I stood there, unable to move. My actions weren’t acceptable, by which I mean they weren’t acceptable to me, so why had they been so easy? I only noticed Jenny when she touched my face with a gentle hand. She had tears falling from her eyes. “It happened,” she said in a soft whisper. “It finally happened.” She pressed her face into my chest. I had no idea what she was talking about.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM3OTM2ODllMzg1MTQ3ZGJiMWQ1YjM4MzdkNDk5MzFi">“Joan, the promised two weeks have passed!”</p> <p class="cnNiNDI3MjQ4ZDM1YjQzMzJiNWFjZTUxNDQ2MDkyNTEz">A young man with silver hair burst noisily into the shop with a wide grin, showing off his pearly-white teeth.</p> <blockquote> <p class="cnNiZGUyMmM3Y2RmMTRlZDliY2I0ODcwZjU1MDVhNGVm"><span style="color: #00ff00">Name: Heouie of House Gastothes</span><br><span style="color: #00ff00"> Level: 42</span><br><span style="color: #00ff00"> Age: 17</span><br><span style="color: #00ff00"> Race: Human  <strong>[Details]</strong></span><br><span style="color: #00ff00"> Afflictions: None   <strong>[Details]</strong></span><br><span style="color: #00ff00"> Occupation: C-rank Adventurer</span></p> <p class="cnNlODc4Mjg4M2M0YTQwYWI5YTFmZWYwODNjMTMzMmI0"><span style="color: #00ff00">HP: 652/652</span><br><span style="color: #00ff00"> MP: 439/439</span></p> <p class="cnMyYzBkM2EzZjIzMzQxM2Q4NzBkNzNmMmEzNWI3NGYz"><span style="color: #00ff00"><strong>[Attributes &amp; Titles]</strong></span><br><span style="color: #00ff00"> <strong>[Background]</strong></span><br><span style="color: #00ff00"> <strong>[Skills]</strong></span></p> </blockquote> <p class="cnNkNGJkMGYxNzdiODQzYWU5ZjRkYjEzMWM3MGExYjI0"><em>Nope, still don’t remember who this guy is.</em></p> <p class="cnNjMzQxNmJlYWRhYjRiOTg4OTI1Njg1N2U2NTk3YjJl">But he seemed to know who I was, so…</p> <p class="cnNjNThhZjIwYzNlYzQ0ODY5ZDY2YzIzZDZlYTg2NDdh">“Heouie!” I raised a hand and greeted him with enthusiasm, hoping I’d pronounced his name right. “Long time no see! How are you, man?”</p> <p class="cnMzNTFhZTQ3NzgzNzQxNzJiZDkzYTZjMjVjZjJkMDk3">Heouie stumbled and fell flat on his face.</p> <p class="cnNkZjI3YmEyOWQ2ODQzMDViNzYyMmMwOGFlYTI3ZGI0">“Oh shit, mate, you okay?”</p> <p class="cnMwMmQxNDcwZjI0YzRhOWRiZWI0YTY2NjdkNjU0MGQ3">I hurried out from behind the counter to help him up. Only when he stared at me like I’d grown a second head did I realise I’d probably fucked up.</p> <p class="cnMwOTQ2NDc0YzBkYjQzMThiMGU1Y2RhMTAyYjFkYWNm"><em>Ah, shit. Are we not friendly? He seemed pleased to see me, so I just assumed…</em></p> <p class="cnM1Mjc5ZTQyYzQ1MTQ3NWU4NjFmZTEzMzM2ZGExNjM5">He narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously. “I’m fine, but <em>you</em> on the other hand-”</p> <p class="cnNhNTVlMjU0MTYxNTQxMmQ5MjMxNDFiMDZiMzZmY2Ni"><em>Damage control, damage control…</em></p> <p class="cnMzMWVhNWM3OWUyZjRkMjM4YWJjMmZhZjk1YjA1NDdk">“Anyway!” I said loudly. “Listen, Heouie, you know I’m always pleased to see you,” which just made his eyes narrow more “but I’m working right now, so…”</p> <p class="cnM1NTJjZjY3NmIxYzQ3NWM5NTUzNjFjZDkyZWZlN2Fi">I turned him around, took ahold of his shoulders, and pushed him out of the store without allowing him to get a word in edgewise.</p> <p class="cnMwMTVhMTA5ZTY1YzQ1YTlhZDQ5Y2QwYjBkYzhhY2Ew">“We’ll catch up later, okay? For now, sayonara!”</p> <p class="cnM1NGEzMzYyOTYwYTQzOGE4YmZhZGE5MjU1NjcxYjI0">I waved and shut the door in his stunned face. I wiped the light sweat from my forehead.</p> <p class="cnNiY2M5YjU5YjY4MjQxNjU4MjJiZGJhOGJjOWZlODYz"><em>Great. Now to just avoid that guy for the rest of my life. That’ll teach me to assume things.</em></p> <p class="cnNlM2FmOTg2OGQxNzQxMmY4MjAzNWE3ODVlMzc2ZDQ2">“Joan, what the <em>hell</em> was that?”</p> <p class="cnNkY2FiNWIxNDAyNDQ2M2RhMzYyMTkzODUxNWRiZjUx"><em>Shit, I forgot there were actually customers in the shop.</em></p> <p class="cnMxMGVlYzJkZjNjMjQ4OTJhMTYzNWNmNDJlNWZjNWNl">I pasted a placid smile on my face and looked quizzically at the light blue-haired woman.</p> <p class="cnNlMjUwMDk4ODk1YTRlMDU4OTU0YjQ0MGNhNTg1NTkz">“What was what?”</p> <blockquote> <p class="cnMwMmYxMmIwNGRkMDQ1NDg5YjNlMmNhNjhjODQyNGZi"><span style="color: #00ff00">Name: Senga</span></p> <p class="cnNmNjg5MWVkNWNlYjQyMjViZWRjMmJiZmU3NTc5NDRh"><span style="color: #00ff00">Level: 52</span><br><span style="color: #00ff00"> Age: 23</span><br><span style="color: #00ff00"> …</span></p> </blockquote> <p class="cnNhZjI0NDVjYjA0YjQ3YjFhYTY1ZWJiNzVlNDM1OGY1">Senga gestured to me, then the door, at a loss for words. I tilted my head in confusion. She threw her hands up in the air.</p> <p class="cnM5MzA3MTRmODg2NzRmNjhhYjgxYzFjYzRmNjljNzRk">“Everyone knows you don’t like him and aren’t afraid to show it. So, what the <em>hell </em>was that?”</p> <p class="cnMwYmRkYzIzYjBiODQwYzk4ODBmZGVlNGJhNDEwZjY1">“Ah, well…” <em>Think, Joan, think… </em>“It sure got rid of him quickly, didn’t it?”</p> <p class="cnMzOGYyNmZlMDk5MzQ4YjY4ZWE0NDQzODIyNjYwZTE4">I grinned at her. She narrowed her eyes at me but evidently couldn’t find fault in my statement, so she just sighed. Then her expression turned concerned.</p> <p class="cnMxZmY1ODZjYzQ0MjRkNTA5ODUzNjM2OWZiNDA1NWM4">“Hey, I heard that you’ve been in the clinic for the past few days. What happened?”</p> <p class="cnMwYjY4MmFmMWRhMjQwNjY5ZjNjMzMxZGE5MWI1ZGZl">“Oh, you know. Just a minor mishap with a spell. I’m in perfect health now. Really,” I added at her doubtful look, “Just ask the apothecary if you’re that worried.”</p> <p class="cnNhMDdhY2M1M2JjMjRmMTQ4NDJhMzBiN2FmNzY1MTRj">“Hm…”</p> <p class="cnNjNjhiNmZjODE4NjRhNmM4MjhmN2QyYTMzYTUxMTZk">“Okay, okay, that’s enough worrying about me,” I said, eager for a subject change. “Just let me do my job and bring that up to the counter.”</p> <p class="cnNhNjE2OTdkMjhhZDQ1M2Q5OGQ5MjdmZmNmMTIwYzJh">Senga looking searchingly at me for a moment longer. Then she sighed.</p> <p class="cnNhYjA5ZTkwOTA1ODRiMDE4OThiNmRmMjM3ZTZlMDlj">“Alright then. By the way, have you got any…”</p> <hr> <p class="cnMzYmRjMTlhOThiNzQ1OThhZWEwMzAwOTQzMGRkYjFh">Over the next few weeks, I got to slowly reknow everyone I had before. Aunt Detion, Toen, the butcher’s family… I had everyone fooled. Actually, I think Aunt Detion harboured suspicions, but she had yet to call me out so everything was fine. If she ever did confront me, I’d just bullshit for all I was worth. And failing that, run away.</p> <p class="cnNiODE2MDAyZWRlMjQxMjI5ZGU0MGZjZmNiOWQ1YmYw">A perfect plan, if I did say so myself.</p> <p class="cnM0ZTViOWMxZmNhMDQ3NjU4ZThkODZlMjk4MWIwZGM3">Kuro was the only one I ever told, through whispers late at night when I knew for sure everyone else was asleep. It was also the only one I managed to remember. I didn’t know if that was because it wasn’t a sapient or if it was because of the symbiotic relationship I had with it. I’d never know for sure; I didn’t even know why exactly I had such a specific form of amnesia.</p> <p class="cnMwNWEwY2QwNjY1NzQ5YmJiMjY4ZjBkMWJlOTYwMTlk">In this way, time slowly passed and the weather turned cooler. We were reaching the end of my third month here when a big change came.</p> <hr> <p class="cnM2NzE1ZmMwOGJmMDQwYjE4ZDc1NmMzZGM4NDU5YzBl">The bell rung and a new customer entered the shop. I looked up briefly from my 7th origami rose of the day to greet them.</p> <p class="cnNhMTU4OTNlZDUwOTQ4M2Q4YTc4NWU4NmE1MWE1NTgx">“Welcome to Cleimeph.”</p> <p class="cnNkYTUzNDk2NjNhYTRkMjU5NGZmNmRiMzE0MmUyYWQ0">“Who are you?”</p> <p class="cnNhMTI1ZDdlYWU4OTQ2MWY4Y2QzNmZjZTYxNGFhYTdl">I looked up again, startled by the almost hostile tone in the man’s voice.</p> <p class="cnM0ODFkM2VmNDM4ODRlYzc4MDM0ZTcxODExNjYwNmI1">“I’m Joan…?” I said, not entirely sure what he was asking. “I work here.”</p> <p class="cnMzOGIyMWY1Mzc3ZjQ3MjViZmE3ZGE0YjAyMWQwZmI4">The man narrowed his eyes at me but seemed to accept that answer.</p> <p class="cnNkZjI1MDllNDJkZDQ5ZjRiY2MwNTNhYzgwOGU2Nzkw">“Where’s Arsral?”</p> <p class="cnMyMmFiNzVlNzNmMTRhMGE4MjY3YWVlYWZhMzlhYTQ5">“In the ba- wait, no, he’s out. You can wait here until he comes back if you’d like…? He left a while ago, so it shouldn’t be too long.”</p> <p class="cnM0MzY3NDU3NGEyMzQxMzQ5NTJiOGNlYTlhZjQyOGVj">“Alright.”</p> <p class="cnNkNDcxNzlmNzBmYzRmYTFiNWZjYWMxMzc1ZTBhMGM5">He leant against the wall by the side of the doorway, just out of way of any other customers and didn’t speak again. I snuck glances at him under the pretence of reading my book.</p> <p class="cnM0ZGIwMGRhN2IzYTQ5MzNiNWNlNDk3OGU5ZjU4ZTBm">The man had familiar green eyes and a nose I was sure I’d seen on someone else. He had a strong jawline covered in stubble and was handsome in a rugged way. Personally, I preferred Arsral’s pretty boy looks but I could definitely see the appeal of a man like this one.</p> <p class="cnM2YzQ5YmEzNTcxYjRjMTNhY2ExNDkzZTU2YTlkMmFk">Despite looking like he ate bears for breakfast, he was obviously still pretty young. He couldn’t have been more than twenty.</p> <p class="cnM0YzZhMWI5NzAyYjRiZDY5NGM0MTMzZWMxOGM5YTM1">He definitely noticed me staring but ignored it. He didn’t seem inclined to answer any questions I might have had for him either, so I gave into the temptation to peek at his status.</p> <blockquote> <p class="cnM1YmZkYmNkMjdmNDQ0YjBhOGJhNWU0YzE2MDdmZjk5"><span style="color: #00ff00">Name: Sir Arslop of the Amber Knights<br></span><span style="color: #00ff00">Level: 79<br></span><span style="color: #00ff00">Age: 20<br></span><span style="color: #00ff00">Race: Human <strong>[Details]<br></strong></span><span style="color: #00ff00">Afflictions: None <strong>[Details]<br></strong></span><span style="color: #00ff00">Occupation: Royal Knight; Captain of the 4th Squadron of the Amber Knights</span></p> <p class="cnNiM2JiZDNiYWQ3ZDRmNjU4NTVkMDhmY2RkYTI3ZDcw"><span style="color: #00ff00">HP: 1308/1308<br></span><span style="color: #00ff00">MP: 602/602</span></p> <p class="cnNjNjcyYTVmOGVkOTQ0NjM4ZTI3ZGM4MWUyZmZhM2E3"><span style="color: #00ff00"><strong>[Attributes &amp; Titles]<br></strong></span><span style="color: #00ff00"><strong>[Background]<br></strong></span><span style="color: #00ff00"><strong>[Skills]</strong></span></p> </blockquote> <p class="cnMxY2E1YjE3ZmRmZDQ3NDViOTJmMWI3ZDIxODcyNjUy">Oooh. So that’s why he looks so familiar.</p> <p class="cnMwMjYzYjM3Njk1MzQzZDZiN2E4ODNiMmJkMGVhNGE1">“Yo, are you by any chance Arslop, elder brother of Arsral and Arswen?”</p> <p class="cnNjMmU4MzIwMzZhOTRkMDE5M2RiZGE0MmYzYTVjYzcw">He squinted suspiciously at me. “What’s it to you?”</p> <p class="cnM4NGU1MzVkMDEwYjQ5Njg4ZDU3NDIwMmU0YjNlOGI0">I raised my hands appeasingly.</p> <p class="cnNiOTRkZTQ3ZWFjNDRiZjk4Y2I5YWM0YzEwYzQ3N2Zl">“Nothing, nothing! I can just see the resemblance. Your brothers look a lot like you!”</p> <p class="cnMwODcxYjBmOWFkMTQyMjI5ZWE4OGViNDM5MGFkZjY5">Arslop’s face softened a little at my comment. I counted that as a win. But before I could further the conversation, the worst person possible burst noisily into the shop.</p> <p class="cnM0MGJhNTM4Zjk4MjQwYzI5YzE3Yjg3ZDBhNzAxOGJm">Heouie. After relearning of my relationship with him, I had been subjected to his silly challenges again and again. Running, more poker, sparring, wooing women… you name it, I beat him at it. Not without a lot of cheating with both Kuro and my own skills of course; who do you think I am? Someone honourable?</p> <p class="cnNkNzRjMGMwOGFmNzQ1MzE5NTJiYmZmNjIzMWQxZjcw">“Joan, two weeks have passed since my last challenge! I have come to-”</p> <p class="cnMwMzJlODY3M2M3NDRkMWM4MDJlMDE5MDg4OTA2YjNm">I pegged a conjured block of wood at his head. It missed spectacularly, but it didn’t need to hit. Once Hewey saw Arslop he blanched, and when I looked at Arslop I realised I had never truly seen someone look ‘murderous’ until now.</p> <p class="cnM1OTQzMWEyY2FmZjQ5YjQ5ZTZhM2I1OTZhYWRlMjg4">“A-hem, I see you have a guest. I’ll be taking my leave now, goodbye!”</p> <p class="cnNhZmFiYTZlZGUxMzQ1NTQ5ZTVlMGNkYWVjZjQyOTQz">He ran away as quickly as his legs would carry him. I whistled. If he had run that fast during our race he surely would have won.</p> <p class="cnNhODExNmE2OGNlZjQ4NTg4OWM1MmFhODU2OGExMmNk">Then Arslop’s murderous expression turned on me.</p> <p class="cnMxNjViNTY5NTdjNjQyNjNhOWNmYTQwZGIzNzM0ZGY5"><em>Oh shit.</em></p> <p class="cnMwMzM1M2RhOWM2NTRjMTVhMDM4ZDZmOTZmYjkzODgy">“Are you friends with <em>him?</em>”</p> <p class="cnNlZmEwZWYzNzU2YjRhMTM4ODdiNzFhYjNhNzAxNDg4">“No, no, not at all!” I waved my hands frantically as if to physically rid him of the notion. <em>Please have mercy on this poor soul.</em> “In fact, I really need to thank you for chasing him away! He’s very annoying!”</p> <p class="cnM1MmRhZTRmYjE2ZDRiYzVhNWY0N2QwZGU3ZTYwZDA1">He didn’t move his eyes from me. I broke out into a cold sweat.</p> <p class="cnNkYzc0NzU4MjQ3ZjRjNzk4MTk4Y2VkZDcxNzAxZjU2"><em>Did I not make my disdain for him clear enough? What more do you want from me? Please, stop glaring!</em></p> </div>

“Joan, the promised two weeks have passed!” A young man with silver hair burst noisily into the shop with a wide grin, showing off his pearly-white teeth. > Name: Heouie of House Gastothes > Level: 42 > Age: 17 > Race: Human  **[Details]** > Afflictions: None   **[Details]** > Occupation: C-rank Adventurer > > > HP: 652/652 > MP: 439/439 > > > **[Attributes & Titles]** > **[Background]** > **[Skills]** *Nope, still don’t remember who this guy is.* But he seemed to know who I was, so… “Heouie!” I raised a hand and greeted him with enthusiasm, hoping I’d pronounced his name right. “Long time no see! How are you, man?” Heouie stumbled and fell flat on his face. “Oh shit, mate, you okay?” I hurried out from behind the counter to help him up. Only when he stared at me like I’d grown a second head did I realise I’d probably fucked up. *Ah, shit. Are we not friendly? He seemed pleased to see me, so I just assumed…* He narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously. “I’m fine, but *you* on the other hand-” *Damage control, damage control…* “Anyway!” I said loudly. “Listen, Heouie, you know I’m always pleased to see you,” which just made his eyes narrow more “but I’m working right now, so…” I turned him around, took ahold of his shoulders, and pushed him out of the store without allowing him to get a word in edgewise. “We’ll catch up later, okay? For now, sayonara!” I waved and shut the door in his stunned face. I wiped the light sweat from my forehead. *Great. Now to just avoid that guy for the rest of my life. That’ll teach me to assume things.* “Joan, what the *hell* was that?” *Shit, I forgot there were actually customers in the shop.* I pasted a placid smile on my face and looked quizzically at the light blue-haired woman. “What was what?” > Name: Senga > > > Level: 52 > Age: 23 > … Senga gestured to me, then the door, at a loss for words. I tilted my head in confusion. She threw her hands up in the air. “Everyone knows you don’t like him and aren’t afraid to show it. So, what the *hell* was that?” “Ah, well…” *Think, Joan, think…* “It sure got rid of him quickly, didn’t it?” I grinned at her. She narrowed her eyes at me but evidently couldn’t find fault in my statement, so she just sighed. Then her expression turned concerned. “Hey, I heard that you’ve been in the clinic for the past few days. What happened?” “Oh, you know. Just a minor mishap with a spell. I’m in perfect health now. Really,” I added at her doubtful look, “Just ask the apothecary if you’re that worried.” “Hm…” “Okay, okay, that’s enough worrying about me,” I said, eager for a subject change. “Just let me do my job and bring that up to the counter.” Senga looking searchingly at me for a moment longer. Then she sighed. “Alright then. By the way, have you got any…” --- Over the next few weeks, I got to slowly reknow everyone I had before. Aunt Detion, Toen, the butcher’s family… I had everyone fooled. Actually, I think Aunt Detion harboured suspicions, but she had yet to call me out so everything was fine. If she ever did confront me, I’d just bullshit for all I was worth. And failing that, run away. A perfect plan, if I did say so myself. Kuro was the only one I ever told, through whispers late at night when I knew for sure everyone else was asleep. It was also the only one I managed to remember. I didn’t know if that was because it wasn’t a sapient or if it was because of the symbiotic relationship I had with it. I’d never know for sure; I didn’t even know why exactly I had such a specific form of amnesia. In this way, time slowly passed and the weather turned cooler. We were reaching the end of my third month here when a big change came. --- The bell rung and a new customer entered the shop. I looked up briefly from my 7th origami rose of the day to greet them. “Welcome to Cleimeph.” “Who are you?” I looked up again, startled by the almost hostile tone in the man’s voice. “I’m Joan…?” I said, not entirely sure what he was asking. “I work here.” The man narrowed his eyes at me but seemed to accept that answer. “Where’s Arsral?” “In the ba- wait, no, he’s out. You can wait here until he comes back if you’d like…? He left a while ago, so it shouldn’t be too long.” “Alright.” He leant against the wall by the side of the doorway, just out of way of any other customers and didn’t speak again. I snuck glances at him under the pretence of reading my book. The man had familiar green eyes and a nose I was sure I’d seen on someone else. He had a strong jawline covered in stubble and was handsome in a rugged way. Personally, I preferred Arsral’s pretty boy looks but I could definitely see the appeal of a man like this one. Despite looking like he ate bears for breakfast, he was obviously still pretty young. He couldn’t have been more than twenty. He definitely noticed me staring but ignored it. He didn’t seem inclined to answer any questions I might have had for him either, so I gave into the temptation to peek at his status. > Name: Sir Arslop of the Amber Knights > Level: 79 > Age: 20 > Race: Human **[Details]**Afflictions: None **[Details]**Occupation: Royal Knight; Captain of the 4th Squadron of the Amber Knights > > > HP: 1308/1308 > MP: 602/602 > > > **[Attributes & Titles]****[Background]****[Skills]** Oooh. So that’s why he looks so familiar. “Yo, are you by any chance Arslop, elder brother of Arsral and Arswen?” He squinted suspiciously at me. “What’s it to you?” I raised my hands appeasingly. “Nothing, nothing! I can just see the resemblance. Your brothers look a lot like you!” Arslop’s face softened a little at my comment. I counted that as a win. But before I could further the conversation, the worst person possible burst noisily into the shop. Heouie. After relearning of my relationship with him, I had been subjected to his silly challenges again and again. Running, more poker, sparring, wooing women… you name it, I beat him at it. Not without a lot of cheating with both Kuro and my own skills of course; who do you think I am? Someone honourable? “Joan, two weeks have passed since my last challenge! I have come to-” I pegged a conjured block of wood at his head. It missed spectacularly, but it didn’t need to hit. Once Hewey saw Arslop he blanched, and when I looked at Arslop I realised I had never truly seen someone look ‘murderous’ until now. “A-hem, I see you have a guest. I’ll be taking my leave now, goodbye!” He ran away as quickly as his legs would carry him. I whistled. If he had run that fast during our race he surely would have won. Then Arslop’s murderous expression turned on me. *Oh shit.* “Are you friends with *him?*” “No, no, not at all!” I waved my hands frantically as if to physically rid him of the notion. *Please have mercy on this poor soul.* “In fact, I really need to thank you for chasing him away! He’s very annoying!” He didn’t move his eyes from me. I broke out into a cold sweat. *Did I not make my disdain for him clear enough? What more do you want from me? Please, stop glaring!*

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM4OTYyOGM5OGNmNjQ2MGE4MTcyOGUxZDdiZGU4MDA4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Athan had told me AEGIS rebooted and then just sort of abruptly ended the call. I loved my brother, but damn if he couldn't be an inconsiderate dumbbutt sometimes. Now I had nothing to do but worry and pace around while worrying, until their date was over and AEGIS came home.</span></p> <p class="cnNhNDYxZTJkMTY4MjRkYTc5ZDhlYzEyOTNmZTk4NDRl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Assuming she did, of course. If things went really well...or really poorly, I guess, she might not even be back tonight. And I doubted Athan would consider this and give me a call. Made me want to pull my hair out a little.</span></p> <p class="cnNlNzdkYTA5YzA5OTQzYjNhZTA2NjBjODIwMDAxNGRk"><span style="font-weight: 400">I was in the penthouse suite of a reasonably fancy hotel, which we'd booked for the next couple of days with the intent of throwing a Christmas party in here. We didn't have enough people to book a ballroom or anything, and this suite was actually pretty freaking huge, so it'd suffice for our needs. I was busying myself with decorations, allegedly, and was having a pretty decent time of it before that call.</span></p> <p class="cnM4Y2RmOGNkMjIwZDQ0NDU5YmZhYTBmNjM3Mzk2NDkx"><span style="font-weight: 400">Now the sprigs of holly and adorable little poinsettias seemed so pointless and vain. AEGIS was in trouble out there, potentially, and I was stuck at home like a worried mother. For a while I tried to work anyway, but I wasn't AEGIS, I didn't revel in throwing myself into mindless work, stress just made it harder for me to focus.</span></p> <p class="cnM3NDVmYjU4YmUxODQ4OWQ4YWUwZjkzMmMyZTZhZDk4"><span style="font-weight: 400">With a defeated sigh, I gave up on the garland I'd been torturing in my hands instead of hanging up, grabbed a wreath, and hung it on the door as I left. Maybe food would help. There was a little place on the ground floor. </span></p> <p class="cnNiNWEzYjU3MGM4MzRhODE4NTAyMGFiODRkNWIxZGE5"><span style="font-weight: 400">When I arrived, the host asked if I wanted to sit at the bar, and I realized I might be in trouble. I gave him my room number and fake ID, and sat down to a nutritionally-balanced meal of a double vodka and the nebulous promise of a pork tips sandwich whenever that was ready.</span></p> <p class="cnMzNGYyNjE0NGFlZDRmNDhhOGYwODk2NDI3YTQyYmVl"><span style="font-weight: 400">I slammed the first double and then took out my mobile so I'd have something to do other than pulverize my liver. I hadn't been on </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">Kingdom Blades</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> in a while, the whole Exhuman experiencing having soured it for me some, but without much else to do, I booted it up.</span></p> <p class="cnNiOTVjNWYzZTVmZjQ2MzJhZTgxMTZlN2NmODQwYzZm"><span style="font-weight: 400">First thing I saw was a few dozen requests and messages from people in my clan. I tapped through most of them, sending off some of my characters to assist people I was pretty close with, and replying to a message or two, feeling reasonably welcomed and missed as I dug through my queue.</span></p> <p class="cnM0YzBkMDAzM2MwMDRjOTY4OWRlZTYyOTcyYzAwZGU1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Finally, I got to the last message, sent last night by AEGIS. A note and a gift.</span></p> <p class="cnNlYzY2MjhmMTNlNjQ0NzliMWRhMzA2ZGU1MDcwZDAz"><span style="font-weight: 400">&gt; hey gurl </span></p> <p class="cnMxNGY0YTNhZjQ1YjQyMDBhM2M1MWQzOTkxYzRlYzJk"><span style="font-weight: 400">&gt; plan is for me to be with your bro all day tmr so try not to miss me too much found these wizard boots last time i ran 5T from the set i know you were looking for</span></p> <p class="cnMzODZhMDFiODBmYjRmODA4NTZlOGYzNjg0YjJkMDNj"><span style="font-weight: 400">&gt; when i get back lets do some LW runs!</span></p> <p class="cnMyMzM4YzA0ZGY1ODQxNDFiODYxZjlmZTI3ODQzZWFk"><span style="font-weight: 400">&gt; all my love, sexibot</span></p> <p class="cnNjOWUwNDZkZTMxYTQ5MTA5MTU1YTFkODkzZGJjMTEy"><span style="font-weight: 400">&gt; ps thx for all your help with athan and planning i dunno that i could do it without you, sometimes seems like he and karu would just be so much happier with each other but then you root for me anyway dunno what i did to deserve a friend like you but thx for everything</span></p> <p class="cnNlZTJlZmMxNmQ2NzRmOGE5NWFjMGI5NGE3ZDVkZWU2"><span style="font-weight: 400">I opened the present and it was the boots she'd mentioned. Actually a really rare and valuable piece of gear, and I know she had a wizard who could use them, but she was giving them to me anyway. It was a really nice gesture, but I didn't appreciate it half as much as her postscript.</span></p> <p class="cnNmYTExM2Q3Yzg4NTQ2NjBhZDkyZmJkYTY1YmU0YTAx"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Another drink miss?" the bartender asked, picking up my used glass.</span></p> <p class="cnNmNmY3NzU3MWMzNjQ1ZGE4NjYxODg3YTRmNzYwOGIx"><span style="font-weight: 400">"No, I'm done drinking tonight, thanks," I said.</span></p> <p class="cnNiNTkwYmEzNjBiODQwNWI4ZTVlM2QxYzVhMGI5ZTk4"><span style="font-weight: 400">And just as fast as my feelings had turned around the first time, they turned around on me again, and I felt stupid for worrying. Athan might be a dummy, but AEGIS was careful and competent, a meticulous planner and if she was determined to do something, she'd do it. If she wasn't asking me for help, she didn't need it, and it wouldn't do any good to sit here worrying about her, or worse, getting myself wasted so she had even more to worry about.</span></p> <p class="cnNhODFkMDZmNzdhZDQ1M2I5OWI3YTAxZDBlNzU0ZTY4"><span style="font-weight: 400">I'd get my food, I'd eat it, and I'd go hang up some freaking Christmas lights. AEGIS would come home whenever she came home and we'd talk until way later than I should go to bed. That was the game plan, and I was gonna stick to it.</span></p> <p class="cnM1NzRlZmZiZjZlNjQ0Nzc5MGU0YzMyMDkzZDg3Mjc1"><span style="font-weight: 400">And...I did. The sandwich was alright. The couple shots I had in me seemed to help me worry a lot less, though another couple more would definitely help, but by the time I finished putting lights and garlands around the walls, I was singing Christmas carols obnoxiously. </span></p> <p class="cnM3OWE1ZGUwOGJkODQ2ZmI4NjIyYWQxNzZiODAwZGIx"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Wow, is someone killing a cat in here?" I heard over my own din from behind.</span></p> <p class="cnNlYTQ2ZjI3ZjdlYTRkNTM5ZGQ5MTQ1ODk2NTAxMTVj"><span style="font-weight: 400">"AEGIS!" I turned and ran at her, throwing myself at her in a full-bodied hug that staggered her a couple of steps. </span></p> <p class="cnM2M2VkNTY5MWUyNTQ0YzhhNTQ0NGM4MTg0ZTM2YmUx"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Hey girl. What's with the waterworks? Singing so bad it's making you cry?"</span></p> <p class="cnNlZjk0MmE0OTQ1ZjRiZWY4MDI5YTlkNjA0Njc4OGFm"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Shut up. I was worried, okay? Stop being a dick."</span></p> <p class="cnMwMTljMzUzOGUzMDQ3OGRiM2RkY2QxZDAwNTdiMjE2"><span style="font-weight: 400">She smiled earnestly and held me as long as I wanted. She was so warm and soft, I never wanted to let her go. She smelled good too. I'd asked about that once, and she said she had no idea, she couldn't smell. Just components from her synthetic skin might have a rubbery or sickly-sweet effusion. She'd actually been surprised she had a smell, it wasn't something she'd ever considered. She was happy it smelled nice though.</span></p> <p class="cnM2Njc3MDJlNjg2MTRhZGU5M2M4NjA3MzE4OTcyZjk3"><span style="font-weight: 400">After a minute of making an embarrassment of myself, I forced us apart and put a smile on. "So! How'd it go!" I asked. Her stupid grin told me everything I needed to know even before she gave me the blow-by-blow of how very nearly every single part of the plan almost failed, but in the end, everything had worked out. She likened it to driving an old tractor which threatened to fall apart but still plowed the field successfully at the end of the day, and I had to wonder just how many tractors this girl drove to come up with that kind of metaphor. But more importantly…</span></p> <p class="cnNlNDMzOTBkMTE1NzRlYjhhODYwZDMzZDMxMWJmNjBh"><span style="font-weight: 400">"So, did your fields get plowed, at the end of the day?" I asked, with a shit-eating grin.</span></p> <p class="cnMyZjQyYTQyZjBlOTQ1YTdiYzE5N2VhZjVlM2IzZGJh"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Okay, this was definitely a bad metaphor," she said with a grin to match my own.</span></p> <p class="cnNiMTVjODU3Mzc3YzQyYmM5ZDQ5ODEzZGE4M2IzZjhi"><span style="font-weight: 400">I fell onto one of the several couches of the suite and put on my best serious detective face, stroking an imaginary beard. "Someone's blushing and dodging the question." </span></p> <p class="cnM2MjQwZGI3MzVmYzQzNmFiYzA5OGU4ZWZlNDFmYjJi"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Just...just a little. After...I guess when we got to dinner, Athan suddenly seemed a lot more into it than the rest of the day. Not like he was miserable-looking all day or anything, but it felt like...like he was trying not to smile, or be happy. Frustrating as fuck. I dunno why he'd do that."</span></p> <p class="cnNmNzZlYzI3NjgyOTQ3NWQ4NWNhYjdlOWI4MWUzMmNm"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Because he's an idiot, probably."</span></p> <p class="cnM1MDllZmQzNGRiYTQ4MmU5Y2U4MDI4MWVkZDgxOTg2"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Well, if we agree on that, we're probably right. But at dinner, something changed, and he just seemed a lot more committed, like instead of just being dragged around, he was taking it seriously. I dunno how specifically to describe it, but fuck if it didn't get me all tingly and bothered."</span></p> <p class="cnM0NDc1OWI3YTg5ZjRjNDI5MzAyMzJjYTFmOWQyMzll"><span style="font-weight: 400">I couldn't not giggle, blushing, despite my brother being part of this equation.</span></p> <p class="cnNjODk1ZGZhOTUwZDQ0NmViOGNlMjJmYzk3MDRjNTk3"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Sometimes, he's just the biggest dumbass in the world, and I just look at him and go, what the hell, why'd I have to fall for this monster of an idiot. But then sometimes, he's just so...confident. So </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">there</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400">, you know? Like he'd claim he'll fight the whole world for you, and fuck, you know, he fucking would. And he's not stupid, he's just oblivious, some of the things he says or thinks...there's so much passion in him. Just gets me...uh...wet as hell."</span></p> <p class="cnM4YmU2ODRiZjA5ODQ4NGVhODFhZWFhMWU0MmZjYzU2"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Yeah, I don't exactly relate."</span></p> <p class="cnM3NGZjOTAzMTRhYTRkY2FiYjZkN2MwNDY5Mzg3N2Y5"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Anyway. So...when we...finished dinner...I took another pass at him, asked him if it would be too silly to get two hotel rooms in a day...and to my total surprise, he went with it. Nothing more serious than what we've done before, but I made sure he had a nice time, and I practically had to carry him home, he was so spent--"</span></p> <p class="cnMxZGExNDhlNWQ5NTQ4YjNhNGViN2EzOGJlYjVhODcy"><span style="font-weight: 400">"AEGIS, ew!" I laughed.</span></p> <p class="cnMwYjhjYmIwYmZmMDQxYTA5ZmRhODQ5MGQ1NDkxYTc3"><span style="font-weight: 400">"You think that's ew? I need to take a shower. I think I still have some stuff in my hair. And definitely in betwee--"</span></p> <p class="cnNjMTE1YjUzN2UwMDRmMjE4YjFiYTY2MDdjZDNlMzA2"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Ew! Ew! Ew!" I was still laughing even as I got up and covered my ears to get out of the conversation. I was glad they were having fun, but as someone who visualized everything that came to mind, this conversation was rapidly veering out of control. </span></p> <p class="cnM5MWE2NmFiZjYzMDRjMDlhZmFjYzA3NzVmYmU3ZWI4"><span style="font-weight: 400">It got a smile out of AEGIS though, who settled for the sympathetic smile instead of torturing me. Once I'd made sure the danger was gone, I came back and faced her squarely.</span></p> <p class="cnM0Mjg5MjcxMmExMDQ2NjdiZGRhNTI4NmZjMzJjOTYz"><span style="font-weight: 400">"So tell me about the crash," I said.</span></p> <p class="cnMwNzU0ZjM1ZDVhZTQ4N2Q4YTNmZjRhNmJjODI1Yzcz"><span style="font-weight: 400">She frowned. "I don't know. Diagnostics take up most of my system resources so I was going to leave them for tonight."</span></p> <p class="cnNjZDUyNDk2MTI4MjQ1YTJiZDQ4ZDFmY2YzZjQ0ZDU0"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Athan didn't do anything or anything?"</span></p> <p class="cnM0NDk0YWZkNDQxZjQ4NzRiNzk0MTBkNzk2N2QyMjMx"><span style="font-weight: 400">"No, we argued a bit but things didn't really get heated, and I crashed after that anyway. I don't know, and won't until I see what's up."</span></p> <p class="cnNjNTFiM2JmMWMzMDQzOTBhZDRhNDhkMzdlNGJmN2Q2"><span style="font-weight: 400">It sounded earnest and plausible but I knew this girl way too well. Something was unsaid. Maybe it was just normal fear. I recognized too well the mask she was putting on, saying everything is okay when you suspect it isn't. If she had anything concrete, she'd tell me, probably, or I might be able to read it off her. But instead, she just had scary, vague guesses.</span></p> <p class="cnNmOTAyMjJkMzM1YzQyZmJiYmRiY2NkNmM1ODgxZmZj"><span style="font-weight: 400">I decided to push my luck. An aggressive attack now when we were just so relaxed together would have a lot of shock value which might get a response out of her. AEGIS was also pretty servile by nature, and couldn't really stand up to a strong demand by someone she liked.</span></p> <p class="cnM5MDlmMDM0Y2E5ZTRhYzk5YjQ0OTYxOWM2YjA3YTFl"><span style="font-weight: 400">Trick was to get the info from her before she stopped liking me.</span></p> <p class="cnMyYzUxNjY2YTkwMTRlZDA5NWYxMDc5MmVhMzc2YzVk"><span style="font-weight: 400">"AEGIS don't bullshit me."</span></p> <p class="cnM3MWJmZTRjYzQ3NjRkMjliYzExMDYwNzg1ZjUwNGUy"><span style="font-weight: 400">"What?"</span></p> <p class="cnNkN2VlY2NmMzU2NjRjYWI5YWNhMzczMDg1MDcwMDFk"><span style="font-weight: 400">"I'm not stupid enough to fall for that garbage. Now tell me what's really got you worried."</span></p> <p class="cnM4MDIxNjY2ZDg1ZDQxZTg4ODU0YjIwOTNhN2ZhMGIy"><span style="font-weight: 400">She bit her lip and immediately moved to play with her hair. Reluctance and stress. Eyes looking involuntarily around the room, avoiding me. Wanted to end this by escaping somehow.</span></p> <p class="cnM0MThmMDRlZTU0NjRkMWQ4ZWY4ZjE1ZDdlMjMyOTE2"><span style="font-weight: 400">I closed the distance on us and put my hand on her shoulder. Break physical contact barrier, invade personal space, cut off escape. I even chose the side with the pigtail she was stroking, pushing that comfort out of her grasp. I needed her to be more uneasy than reluctant.</span></p> <p class="cnMxMjM0ZjVmNDI2YjQwY2JhZWRkMjI4MGYxNDU5OGIx"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Hey, who's to say I didn't say already?" she laughed. Nervous laugh. Trying to diffuse the situation. </span></p> <p class="cnMwM2YyNjkzOWIyMTQyZGVhNDY3OTA4ZjU5ODJhMDcy"><span style="font-weight: 400">"I'm not an idiot. Just tell me AEGIS, you know it's better if we're all working on the same page."</span></p> <p class="cnM0ZjYwODliN2JmYTQwMmY4ZWU4ZTFlZDJiM2M0OTc2"><span style="font-weight: 400">Maintain authority, but build compassion. Put pressure on that human instinct to want to come clean. If I had an inkling of the truth, I'd dangle it in front of her now, but I had nothing. This was all on her to give up or not.</span></p> <p class="cnMyMDRmZjFiYTM5ZDQ4NjliNGVkZTQyMTk4YzA2NjQ1"><span style="font-weight: 400">"It's really okay, Lia. I'll just run the diagnostics and see what shakes out. We can talk about it then."</span></p> <p class="cnMwY2I3YzFlYWVjZTRhMDc4MjgxM2I4NmI1YjE3YzRm"><span style="font-weight: 400">Soft no just means yes.</span></p> <p class="cnNkNDM4N2Q5ZWU2ODRjOWFhYWY2YzY1M2ExNmRhMTUy"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Okay. I was just...really worried about you. I got this phone call, and then Athan just hung up, and I couldn't stop crying just thinking about you."</span></p> <p class="cnNmMGUzYzZlMDQ1ZjRhYWViN2UwNGIxZTQ5ZjFkZTJi"><span style="font-weight: 400">Kick up the guilt. I left out the bar because that would give her some indignation to stand on. Fake a retreat to encourage a pursuit.</span></p> <p class="cnM4NDc0YzgzMWVkOTQzYmY5NTVhMzVjNDM5YTYzNzYx"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Oh, Lia, I'm so sorry."</span></p> <p class="cnNlMGQzYjJlOGJlZTQ0MWRhMjkxZTE5ZWJmNmFkMjA5"><span style="font-weight: 400">And bingo.</span></p> <p class="cnM5ZTI0N2E4OWQ2ZTQxMzRhZThkNzQzMDY0M2Q5ZWU0"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Look, it's really nothing. I'm just...it's a little worrying that it doesn't seem like it's a hardware failure. Rua didn't crash, I did. I don't know why, but that means there's something wrong with my code somewhere. I've got backups of course, but they're not much good except to see what's changed, since I'm not going to go restoring older versions of myself unless I have to."</span></p> <p class="cnMxMzk5NDc0OGMxMjQ1YTM4MmJkMmQwYzE0Njk3ZGI5"><span style="font-weight: 400">"But you've never crashed like this before? How could it be your code?"</span></p> <p class="cnM5YTI5ZmQ0ZDQ1MzQ0MTliZmVmMjJmMGJlNWUyMTJk"><span style="font-weight: 400">"I don't know. Could be anything. Probably just a bizarre complication of small things, like coming down from an argument while worrying about trying to feed Athan while standing in the cold or something, I don't know. But I'll have a look and figure it out, so don't worry, okay?"</span></p> <p class="cnM1ZmVmODM4NjA4NTQ2ODhhZGE0MjA5NDAzMjA4ODY1"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Okay. Let me know if I can do anything."</span></p> <p class="cnM2NmFmNTg5MGU1NzQxYWE4NjM4ZjA3NGFlMzA5ZDNh"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Sure will. Now I'm gonna go find that shower if you don't mind."</span></p> <p class="cnMwYTc4NjRmZjA1OTQ3Mjc4ZDNhMjliN2JlNzYxZTFl"><span style="font-weight: 400">I let her go. She gave me a wan smile and left for the larger of the two bathrooms.</span></p> <p class="cnNlYjJmMjgzNjFhMDQzZGM4OGQ5ODE5NGY4OGE4ZThl"><span style="font-weight: 400">'Don't worry', she'd said, but it sounded like there was plenty to worry about. Still, I trusted AEGIS absolutely, and she was both aware of her problem and looking into it seriously, and there wasn't much more I could do than that, but from the sound of it, it was possible she could crash like this again.</span></p> <p class="cnNkM2VlYzMzYWRiZTRiYWRhNGQ4M2JlNjY5ZDNmMTQ4"><span style="font-weight: 400">I flopped down on the couch, upside-down, with my toes kneading the air over the back and my head inches from the ground. </span></p> <p class="cnM3YTQ5NGUwZTg1ODRmMTE5MjA2ZGZlNmY0OGUzYTYx"><span style="font-weight: 400">She hadn't needed a reboot to come back. It wasn't a total system failure, just something had failed. But like AEGIS had said, that could be anything, from something she was thinking or trying, or a combination of events. </span></p> <p class="cnNkOTdhMmFkNWMwYzQ1MDg4NWYxNDk1YWM1Y2ExNzI2"><span style="font-weight: 400">To be safe, I pulled out the transfer core I had gotten from AEGIS and plugged it into my mobile. I made an image copy to send it over to Athan with instructions on how to make a copy.</span></p> <p class="cnMwOTBkMGVjNjkxMTRmY2FhZjcxOTQ3NDc4MDJlOGQ1"><span style="font-weight: 400">Before I did, I had a thought and deleted my message and started up a few other programs I usually used for 'work'. This boot driver was a very low-level interface with AEGIS' most fundamental code, I couldn't just send it out carelessly.</span></p> <p class="cnNiNDFlM2U4MDJlMTRhZWM4Y2RmZTg4YjJjYjNhZDk3"><span style="font-weight: 400">I encrypted the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">sea lion</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> out of the driver image and put it on a virtual host which would only accept a direct connection from Athan's holo, and would only allow him to stream it directly onto another transfer core without saving it locally, to be decrypted only after the entire transfer was complete. After that, the image I put up would zero itself out.</span></p> <p class="cnNjOWFmOTQwYzFlMDRkMmViMDRkOTcxMGQwZGZmMmNk"><span style="font-weight: 400">It wasn't flawless, and if Athan wanted to and had the right software, he could capture the image on his holo without too much trouble, though it'd still be encrypted. It wasn't like I was typically in the business of keeping data out of the hands of people I was sending it to, but it might be a disaster if he left his holo lying around and the XPCA decided to go through it or something. </span></p> <p class="cnMxNzQ5OGUyMmE4MjQ2OTRhOTYyZWUyNjExYTYwNzMw"><span style="font-weight: 400">In all likelihood, I was just being paranoid and stupid, outsmarting myself again, like when I'd tried to break Saga's compel, but this time there was no downside to it, so what the hell. I realized at some point the shower had stopped and AEGIS had walked past me, probably saw me working and left me alone, or maybe was mad I'd pulled her secrets out of her and was avoiding me. I hoped it was the former and finished up what I was doing.</span></p> <p class="cnM4NTVmMDFlNDBlOTRkYjc5NzZjOGI5ZThiN2FhZDg4"><span style="font-weight: 400">Finally satisfied with the mess I'd made and hoping it would never even be touched or looked at, I double-checked all my work, my toes curling and uncurling in the air, and then sent the file off. </span></p> <p class="cnM4ZjUyZjBkNmFkMDQ4M2FhMzk3ZmY1MzRhMzFiYjBj"><span style="font-weight: 400">Good waste of an hour. It was way too late, and I wasn't putting up any more damn decorations today. I wanted to go talk to AEGIS more about the date, but was also tired. If I didn't sleep now, I'd regret it tomorrow when I would be putting up decorations AND sleepy.</span></p> <p class="cnMzMWNjMWRkNjIxYjQzYjJiMmQwODQ4MTBmMWY5M2Fh"><span style="font-weight: 400">But hell, that was future Lia's problem. I went to the little study area which I think served as another bedroom if guests wanted more than one, and found AEGIS sitting at a desk with her mobile and a desktop terminal and the wall holo all plugged into her.</span></p> <p class="cnM0ZmI2YWY3ODA4MDRhZGViZTJkYjdlYmQ1NmE1OWQx"><span style="font-weight: 400">She was also 'open', which always kind of freaked me out. Her front casing on her chest was sitting on the floor next to her, like a bloodless, dismembered torso. Instead of soft skin and perky breasts, there was a hole in her, filled with machinery which moved constantly, even while she was still, cycling air and coolant and pressurized gels and oils through her like blood. So many parts with so many purposes, all so tiny and precise. </span></p> <p class="cnM1NDFlZWM0MWNhZjQxYzI4NzliZjk3ZjRhYzJiMzVl"><span style="font-weight: 400">I guess humans were the same way. All of our guts had their own specific purpose. Ours were just a lot messier to look at after you opened us up.</span></p> <p class="cnNkYmQwMTk0N2RkODQxMWViYjE0YTgyNTk5MmQ0NGM0"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Hey. Need another device?" I asked, holding up my mobile as means of greeting.</span></p> <p class="cnMzOGI2MTNlMjNiNzQ3ODhiYmJhODZmZGYyNzM5MDkw"><span style="font-weight: 400">"No, I'm good. Sorry to leave my tits just hanging out on the floor like this," she grinned.</span></p> <p class="cnNhZThlYjA5MTcwNjQ0ZjBiNjRkOWY1MmYwOGZjYzY1"><span style="font-weight: 400">"At least you're wearing shorts. The first time I came in and you were open </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400">and</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400"> naked, that was two shocks I didn't need at the same time."</span></p> <p class="cnM2NTc3Y2EyZTJlYTRkZWZhOTNhZDgxNGIzODY1MWI0"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Funny, open and naked I think is just how your brother--"</span></p> <p class="cnM2ZWYyZWFkNGY5NTQ4YmJiYTI5MDE0Y2E2MWRjYmQ1"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Okay! Not listening!" I said, humming defiantly with my fingers in my ears. She was laughing, I think, so I let my guard down. "But seriously, how's it going?"</span></p> <p class="cnMzYjEyZjVlNjk2YTRmNTA5M2U1ZTRjM2QyZWM5OTg2"><span style="font-weight: 400">"It's going weird. I don't want to get into the specifics because they'll bore you and you won't understand, but the broad strokes are, my code changes constantly as I learn things and pick up new memories which make an impact on me. Not much, but a little. I can also change it myself if I feel the need, but I never do that."</span></p> <p class="cnNmYmNjMjAxZWE2YTRhOTk5Y2Y2Njg1YTBhMmNhMjJh"><span style="font-weight: 400">She looked at me seriously, which had extra weight considering the machinery exposed under her chin. "But it looks like the code has been changing a lot more recently, and I don't know why. It might be a natural response to a new type of stimulus, or I might just be unnaturally excited the last few days. Not to make you cover your ears again, but I do find your brother very exciting in a lot of ways."</span></p> <p class="cnM0NWI3NjdlYTdjZTQyNjA4MWEzZDFiYTdmNjM1ZTZm"><span style="font-weight: 400">"But you've always crushed on him."</span></p> <p class="cnNmMWM1ZTRkYzMyOTQwZWQ5OGVjNWVmMWNlYmYxMmIz"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Right. Which is why I'm skeptical. Our relationship hasn't changed that much, so I'm skeptical my code would. But I don't know what else would be causing it."</span></p> <p class="cnM2Y2Y1ZWY2NzM3MzQxYTY5Nzc5NjY5OTNiZjU3ZGNm"><span style="font-weight: 400">I looked closely at the holos and saw nothing but thousands of lines of text flying past. For all the meaning I could get from them, I may as well be deciphering hieroglyphics.</span></p> <p class="cnNlOTkxMjYyOTIzMjRjNDNhODQ1MGFmY2VjZTMyYmU2"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Is there any pattern to the changes?" I asked. It's the first thing I would look for if it wasn't in gobbledygook.</span></p> <p class="cnNlZmExM2RkYzEyNjQzZGU4MjZhYWI3NDcyMTA0MjM1"><span style="font-weight: 400">"I haven't really checked. I'm just kind of overwhelmed by the fact that I'm sitting here changing so much, even right now. A lot of it seems to be in alert and security protocols, which is stuff I absolutely don't touch, if I'm in a panic situation I don't want to be thinking any differently than I usually do, and rewriting security is just asking for a potential breach."</span></p> <p class="cnNkOGYyNDYxOWJiYzRiODE5MTNkMTIzYTYxZjE2YjQ1"><span style="font-weight: 400">"A breach?" I asked, sitting next to her.</span></p> <p class="cnMwZjk3MTZiZTZiYzQwMmNhNDE4MjFiZTE2YmZkOWU1"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Yeah. Well, I was designed to be running a lot of important stuff, so it only makes sense that I'd have a lot of security to keep myself safe from cyber-attacks. I'm a software like any other, y'know? My mom did a really good job with it though, I thought, pretty damn good code considering how old it is. But now it's changing and I don't know why."</span></p> <p class="cnM1ZDA2NDA2YzE2MTQ5ZTk5NjBmOWQ4NWM0ZGIzMGY2"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Uh," I felt panic bubbling up inside me and tried to keep my voice calm. "AEGIS? Code changing itself. Opening new security vulnerabilities. Are...you sure...you don't already have a virus?"</span></p> <p class="cnM2NGMzZGI4Nzc3OTRlNDFhYmE3NWMxZmNhM2Y4MTdl"><span style="font-weight: 400">"No," she sighed, frustrated. "I'm not. That's kind of the unspoken fear right now. If I do, I can't very well go to the 'net and update my virus definitions. I don't run on anything resembling a conventional OS, which means...if I do have a virus, it was written specifically to target me."</span></p> <p class="cnNiOTFjNzI3NWUzYzRlY2Q4OTBmZGViMDk3Yzk1NWZi"><span style="font-weight: 400">How she could sound so calm about all of this, I had no idea. I knew panic wouldn't help the situation, but it was a very real possibility at this moment that AEGIS as I knew her was being corrupted from the inside-out.</span></p> <p class="cnM1ZjM3NjU1OTViODQwZjNhZWY3M2Q0YThkMzk3MGYx"><span style="font-weight: 400">"So what do we do?" I asked.</span></p> <p class="cnM0NDBhYzI4N2IwNTQxYTQ4MDEzMzE2MTkzODNhZWI4"><span style="font-weight: 400">"I don't know. The smart option would be to roll back to an earlier version of me before I was infected."</span></p> <p class="cnNkNDA4NmMxZmQxZTQxZDhiOWI5ZGZiNjYyYzY4M2Ix"><span style="font-weight: 400">"So do it."</span></p> <p class="cnM3NjA0NGVhZjBkNzQyYzQ4Y2NhZjNhNTMzOGIyZmEz"><span style="font-weight: 400">"I would, but…" she sighed. "It's like everything that happened to me in the last few days would have never happened. If it were some of those years I was just sitting in the dirt, I could do it in a heartbeat. But these few days...tonight especially...and being with you all in Eryendria, that was one of the coolest experiences of a lifetime. I could--and would--save the memories for me to watch and relive but...it's not the same, you know? It'd be like watching a different version of myself do all these cool things, while I just saw it on the holo."</span></p> <p class="cnM1YTc0Y2ZjMGNlNjRjZTZhMzQ5ZDI0MmEyNzU5YzI1"><span style="font-weight: 400">"But...you might die, or worse, if you have a virus."</span></p> <p class="cnM3ZTExZjQ1YjFiNjRjYWY5ZGZmMTI3N2JlZTA0MDU3"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Yeah."</span></p> <p class="cnNkZDg1ZDM4YjQxZTRmOTY4NDZhYmRjNzhhYmEzODJj"><span style="font-weight: 400">"I don't see how that's a better alternative to losing a few memories, even if they were good ones."</span></p> <p class="cnNkMWRkYTI1NTYyZDRkYzU5YThjMjIxM2Q3OWQxMTk5"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Yeah, I know."</span></p> <p class="cnNjMjcyMmNkNDAyNzRhNjg5MjViMmUyNTEzNDkxNzgw"><span style="font-weight: 400">I wasn't telling her anything she didn't already know, so I shut up. She reached over and squeezed my hand gently. </span></p> <p class="cnM1YjBjZGViYTc2NzRjYzhiNzVhODdlNTJmOTA0NGY2"><span style="font-weight: 400">"I think, before then, I'm going to take a crack at rewriting myself, seriously. I haven't done it, and I'm a little scared, but if it's a virus, that means it's somewhere in there, and if I can wipe it out, it can't wipe me out. I'm not like a human, it's not multiplying inside me, it's just one piece of code running that I need to find and kill."</span></p> <p class="cnM4NDgzZjI1NzY1MDQ2MmViMzMzNTI2M2UyODA0ZTU4"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Isn't that really dangerous?"</span></p> <p class="cnNkOGM2NmEwZWEyYjQ1OTZhYjQ5OWYwYmIwNDIxMjkw"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Maybe a bit. But I think I have two huge advantages in my favor."</span></p> <p class="cnNjNzUzMTc0MWMxZjQ2MDdhNWNjYWM1OTZkODcyZTFi"><span style="font-weight: 400">"And what are they?"</span></p> <p class="cnMyMGUzMTBjMWFjMzRmZWM4ZTE4YzNiMzMyNWEyYzk5"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Well, one, a virus usually only succeeds because the user has to go through their computer to fight it. Users are slow and viruses are fast, and so it winds up being the user versus their own infected computer. That doesn't apply to me. If this thing is gonna beat me, it needs to be better and faster at shutting me down than I am at shutting it down."</span></p> <p class="cnMzMTk0ZmZhYjUwZTQyM2FiYTlhZWJiNGUyYmFlODI4"><span style="font-weight: 400">"That is kind of reassuring. I've seen you code, you look like you're just writing a dictionary from memory when you are."</span></p> <p class="cnM0MmYwOGJjNmZmNzRjMjRiOTFiY2JlMTMyOTZiOTZi"><span style="font-weight: 400">"Damn straight I do."</span></p> <p class="cnNhNzlkY2Q3Y2Y0ZDQ3MzhiYmFkOGQ5MzMwNTI1OTIx"><span style="font-weight: 400">"And what's the second huge advantage?"</span></p> <p class="cnMyYmY5NWEyMDQyZjRjOTFiZWFkYjE2OGFkOWU4NmY4"><span style="font-weight: 400">"I have something worth fighting for. These precious memories, I don't want to let them go. I will kick this virus' fucking ass before I let it take them from me, no matter what."</span></p> </div>

Athan had told me AEGIS rebooted and then just sort of abruptly ended the call. I loved my brother, but damn if he couldn't be an inconsiderate dumbbutt sometimes. Now I had nothing to do but worry and pace around while worrying, until their date was over and AEGIS came home. Assuming she did, of course. If things went really well...or really poorly, I guess, she might not even be back tonight. And I doubted Athan would consider this and give me a call. Made me want to pull my hair out a little. I was in the penthouse suite of a reasonably fancy hotel, which we'd booked for the next couple of days with the intent of throwing a Christmas party in here. We didn't have enough people to book a ballroom or anything, and this suite was actually pretty freaking huge, so it'd suffice for our needs. I was busying myself with decorations, allegedly, and was having a pretty decent time of it before that call. Now the sprigs of holly and adorable little poinsettias seemed so pointless and vain. AEGIS was in trouble out there, potentially, and I was stuck at home like a worried mother. For a while I tried to work anyway, but I wasn't AEGIS, I didn't revel in throwing myself into mindless work, stress just made it harder for me to focus. With a defeated sigh, I gave up on the garland I'd been torturing in my hands instead of hanging up, grabbed a wreath, and hung it on the door as I left. Maybe food would help. There was a little place on the ground floor. When I arrived, the host asked if I wanted to sit at the bar, and I realized I might be in trouble. I gave him my room number and fake ID, and sat down to a nutritionally-balanced meal of a double vodka and the nebulous promise of a pork tips sandwich whenever that was ready. I slammed the first double and then took out my mobile so I'd have something to do other than pulverize my liver. I hadn't been on *Kingdom Blades* in a while, the whole Exhuman experiencing having soured it for me some, but without much else to do, I booted it up. First thing I saw was a few dozen requests and messages from people in my clan. I tapped through most of them, sending off some of my characters to assist people I was pretty close with, and replying to a message or two, feeling reasonably welcomed and missed as I dug through my queue. Finally, I got to the last message, sent last night by AEGIS. A note and a gift. > hey gurl > plan is for me to be with your bro all day tmr so try not to miss me too much found these wizard boots last time i ran 5T from the set i know you were looking for > when i get back lets do some LW runs! > all my love, sexibot > ps thx for all your help with athan and planning i dunno that i could do it without you, sometimes seems like he and karu would just be so much happier with each other but then you root for me anyway dunno what i did to deserve a friend like you but thx for everything I opened the present and it was the boots she'd mentioned. Actually a really rare and valuable piece of gear, and I know she had a wizard who could use them, but she was giving them to me anyway. It was a really nice gesture, but I didn't appreciate it half as much as her postscript. "Another drink miss?" the bartender asked, picking up my used glass. "No, I'm done drinking tonight, thanks," I said. And just as fast as my feelings had turned around the first time, they turned around on me again, and I felt stupid for worrying. Athan might be a dummy, but AEGIS was careful and competent, a meticulous planner and if she was determined to do something, she'd do it. If she wasn't asking me for help, she didn't need it, and it wouldn't do any good to sit here worrying about her, or worse, getting myself wasted so she had even more to worry about. I'd get my food, I'd eat it, and I'd go hang up some freaking Christmas lights. AEGIS would come home whenever she came home and we'd talk until way later than I should go to bed. That was the game plan, and I was gonna stick to it. And...I did. The sandwich was alright. The couple shots I had in me seemed to help me worry a lot less, though another couple more would definitely help, but by the time I finished putting lights and garlands around the walls, I was singing Christmas carols obnoxiously. "Wow, is someone killing a cat in here?" I heard over my own din from behind. "AEGIS!" I turned and ran at her, throwing myself at her in a full-bodied hug that staggered her a couple of steps. "Hey girl. What's with the waterworks? Singing so bad it's making you cry?" "Shut up. I was worried, okay? Stop being a dick." She smiled earnestly and held me as long as I wanted. She was so warm and soft, I never wanted to let her go. She smelled good too. I'd asked about that once, and she said she had no idea, she couldn't smell. Just components from her synthetic skin might have a rubbery or sickly-sweet effusion. She'd actually been surprised she had a smell, it wasn't something she'd ever considered. She was happy it smelled nice though. After a minute of making an embarrassment of myself, I forced us apart and put a smile on. "So! How'd it go!" I asked. Her stupid grin told me everything I needed to know even before she gave me the blow-by-blow of how very nearly every single part of the plan almost failed, but in the end, everything had worked out. She likened it to driving an old tractor which threatened to fall apart but still plowed the field successfully at the end of the day, and I had to wonder just how many tractors this girl drove to come up with that kind of metaphor. But more importantly… "So, did your fields get plowed, at the end of the day?" I asked, with a shit-eating grin. "Okay, this was definitely a bad metaphor," she said with a grin to match my own. I fell onto one of the several couches of the suite and put on my best serious detective face, stroking an imaginary beard. "Someone's blushing and dodging the question." "Just...just a little. After...I guess when we got to dinner, Athan suddenly seemed a lot more into it than the rest of the day. Not like he was miserable-looking all day or anything, but it felt like...like he was trying not to smile, or be happy. Frustrating as fuck. I dunno why he'd do that." "Because he's an idiot, probably." "Well, if we agree on that, we're probably right. But at dinner, something changed, and he just seemed a lot more committed, like instead of just being dragged around, he was taking it seriously. I dunno how specifically to describe it, but fuck if it didn't get me all tingly and bothered." I couldn't not giggle, blushing, despite my brother being part of this equation. "Sometimes, he's just the biggest dumbass in the world, and I just look at him and go, what the hell, why'd I have to fall for this monster of an idiot. But then sometimes, he's just so...confident. So *there*, you know? Like he'd claim he'll fight the whole world for you, and fuck, you know, he fucking would. And he's not stupid, he's just oblivious, some of the things he says or thinks...there's so much passion in him. Just gets me...uh...wet as hell." "Yeah, I don't exactly relate." "Anyway. So...when we...finished dinner...I took another pass at him, asked him if it would be too silly to get two hotel rooms in a day...and to my total surprise, he went with it. Nothing more serious than what we've done before, but I made sure he had a nice time, and I practically had to carry him home, he was so spent--" "AEGIS, ew!" I laughed. "You think that's ew? I need to take a shower. I think I still have some stuff in my hair. And definitely in betwee--" "Ew! Ew! Ew!" I was still laughing even as I got up and covered my ears to get out of the conversation. I was glad they were having fun, but as someone who visualized everything that came to mind, this conversation was rapidly veering out of control. It got a smile out of AEGIS though, who settled for the sympathetic smile instead of torturing me. Once I'd made sure the danger was gone, I came back and faced her squarely. "So tell me about the crash," I said. She frowned. "I don't know. Diagnostics take up most of my system resources so I was going to leave them for tonight." "Athan didn't do anything or anything?" "No, we argued a bit but things didn't really get heated, and I crashed after that anyway. I don't know, and won't until I see what's up." It sounded earnest and plausible but I knew this girl way too well. Something was unsaid. Maybe it was just normal fear. I recognized too well the mask she was putting on, saying everything is okay when you suspect it isn't. If she had anything concrete, she'd tell me, probably, or I might be able to read it off her. But instead, she just had scary, vague guesses. I decided to push my luck. An aggressive attack now when we were just so relaxed together would have a lot of shock value which might get a response out of her. AEGIS was also pretty servile by nature, and couldn't really stand up to a strong demand by someone she liked. Trick was to get the info from her before she stopped liking me. "AEGIS don't bullshit me." "What?" "I'm not stupid enough to fall for that garbage. Now tell me what's really got you worried." She bit her lip and immediately moved to play with her hair. Reluctance and stress. Eyes looking involuntarily around the room, avoiding me. Wanted to end this by escaping somehow. I closed the distance on us and put my hand on her shoulder. Break physical contact barrier, invade personal space, cut off escape. I even chose the side with the pigtail she was stroking, pushing that comfort out of her grasp. I needed her to be more uneasy than reluctant. "Hey, who's to say I didn't say already?" she laughed. Nervous laugh. Trying to diffuse the situation. "I'm not an idiot. Just tell me AEGIS, you know it's better if we're all working on the same page." Maintain authority, but build compassion. Put pressure on that human instinct to want to come clean. If I had an inkling of the truth, I'd dangle it in front of her now, but I had nothing. This was all on her to give up or not. "It's really okay, Lia. I'll just run the diagnostics and see what shakes out. We can talk about it then." Soft no just means yes. "Okay. I was just...really worried about you. I got this phone call, and then Athan just hung up, and I couldn't stop crying just thinking about you." Kick up the guilt. I left out the bar because that would give her some indignation to stand on. Fake a retreat to encourage a pursuit. "Oh, Lia, I'm so sorry." And bingo. "Look, it's really nothing. I'm just...it's a little worrying that it doesn't seem like it's a hardware failure. Rua didn't crash, I did. I don't know why, but that means there's something wrong with my code somewhere. I've got backups of course, but they're not much good except to see what's changed, since I'm not going to go restoring older versions of myself unless I have to." "But you've never crashed like this before? How could it be your code?" "I don't know. Could be anything. Probably just a bizarre complication of small things, like coming down from an argument while worrying about trying to feed Athan while standing in the cold or something, I don't know. But I'll have a look and figure it out, so don't worry, okay?" "Okay. Let me know if I can do anything." "Sure will. Now I'm gonna go find that shower if you don't mind." I let her go. She gave me a wan smile and left for the larger of the two bathrooms. 'Don't worry', she'd said, but it sounded like there was plenty to worry about. Still, I trusted AEGIS absolutely, and she was both aware of her problem and looking into it seriously, and there wasn't much more I could do than that, but from the sound of it, it was possible she could crash like this again. I flopped down on the couch, upside-down, with my toes kneading the air over the back and my head inches from the ground. She hadn't needed a reboot to come back. It wasn't a total system failure, just something had failed. But like AEGIS had said, that could be anything, from something she was thinking or trying, or a combination of events. To be safe, I pulled out the transfer core I had gotten from AEGIS and plugged it into my mobile. I made an image copy to send it over to Athan with instructions on how to make a copy. Before I did, I had a thought and deleted my message and started up a few other programs I usually used for 'work'. This boot driver was a very low-level interface with AEGIS' most fundamental code, I couldn't just send it out carelessly. I encrypted the *sea lion* out of the driver image and put it on a virtual host which would only accept a direct connection from Athan's holo, and would only allow him to stream it directly onto another transfer core without saving it locally, to be decrypted only after the entire transfer was complete. After that, the image I put up would zero itself out. It wasn't flawless, and if Athan wanted to and had the right software, he could capture the image on his holo without too much trouble, though it'd still be encrypted. It wasn't like I was typically in the business of keeping data out of the hands of people I was sending it to, but it might be a disaster if he left his holo lying around and the XPCA decided to go through it or something. In all likelihood, I was just being paranoid and stupid, outsmarting myself again, like when I'd tried to break Saga's compel, but this time there was no downside to it, so what the hell. I realized at some point the shower had stopped and AEGIS had walked past me, probably saw me working and left me alone, or maybe was mad I'd pulled her secrets out of her and was avoiding me. I hoped it was the former and finished up what I was doing. Finally satisfied with the mess I'd made and hoping it would never even be touched or looked at, I double-checked all my work, my toes curling and uncurling in the air, and then sent the file off. Good waste of an hour. It was way too late, and I wasn't putting up any more damn decorations today. I wanted to go talk to AEGIS more about the date, but was also tired. If I didn't sleep now, I'd regret it tomorrow when I would be putting up decorations AND sleepy. But hell, that was future Lia's problem. I went to the little study area which I think served as another bedroom if guests wanted more than one, and found AEGIS sitting at a desk with her mobile and a desktop terminal and the wall holo all plugged into her. She was also 'open', which always kind of freaked me out. Her front casing on her chest was sitting on the floor next to her, like a bloodless, dismembered torso. Instead of soft skin and perky breasts, there was a hole in her, filled with machinery which moved constantly, even while she was still, cycling air and coolant and pressurized gels and oils through her like blood. So many parts with so many purposes, all so tiny and precise. I guess humans were the same way. All of our guts had their own specific purpose. Ours were just a lot messier to look at after you opened us up. "Hey. Need another device?" I asked, holding up my mobile as means of greeting. "No, I'm good. Sorry to leave my tits just hanging out on the floor like this," she grinned. "At least you're wearing shorts. The first time I came in and you were open *and* naked, that was two shocks I didn't need at the same time." "Funny, open and naked I think is just how your brother--" "Okay! Not listening!" I said, humming defiantly with my fingers in my ears. She was laughing, I think, so I let my guard down. "But seriously, how's it going?" "It's going weird. I don't want to get into the specifics because they'll bore you and you won't understand, but the broad strokes are, my code changes constantly as I learn things and pick up new memories which make an impact on me. Not much, but a little. I can also change it myself if I feel the need, but I never do that." She looked at me seriously, which had extra weight considering the machinery exposed under her chin. "But it looks like the code has been changing a lot more recently, and I don't know why. It might be a natural response to a new type of stimulus, or I might just be unnaturally excited the last few days. Not to make you cover your ears again, but I do find your brother very exciting in a lot of ways." "But you've always crushed on him." "Right. Which is why I'm skeptical. Our relationship hasn't changed that much, so I'm skeptical my code would. But I don't know what else would be causing it." I looked closely at the holos and saw nothing but thousands of lines of text flying past. For all the meaning I could get from them, I may as well be deciphering hieroglyphics. "Is there any pattern to the changes?" I asked. It's the first thing I would look for if it wasn't in gobbledygook. "I haven't really checked. I'm just kind of overwhelmed by the fact that I'm sitting here changing so much, even right now. A lot of it seems to be in alert and security protocols, which is stuff I absolutely don't touch, if I'm in a panic situation I don't want to be thinking any differently than I usually do, and rewriting security is just asking for a potential breach." "A breach?" I asked, sitting next to her. "Yeah. Well, I was designed to be running a lot of important stuff, so it only makes sense that I'd have a lot of security to keep myself safe from cyber-attacks. I'm a software like any other, y'know? My mom did a really good job with it though, I thought, pretty damn good code considering how old it is. But now it's changing and I don't know why." "Uh," I felt panic bubbling up inside me and tried to keep my voice calm. "AEGIS? Code changing itself. Opening new security vulnerabilities. Are...you sure...you don't already have a virus?" "No," she sighed, frustrated. "I'm not. That's kind of the unspoken fear right now. If I do, I can't very well go to the 'net and update my virus definitions. I don't run on anything resembling a conventional OS, which means...if I do have a virus, it was written specifically to target me." How she could sound so calm about all of this, I had no idea. I knew panic wouldn't help the situation, but it was a very real possibility at this moment that AEGIS as I knew her was being corrupted from the inside-out. "So what do we do?" I asked. "I don't know. The smart option would be to roll back to an earlier version of me before I was infected." "So do it." "I would, but…" she sighed. "It's like everything that happened to me in the last few days would have never happened. If it were some of those years I was just sitting in the dirt, I could do it in a heartbeat. But these few days...tonight especially...and being with you all in Eryendria, that was one of the coolest experiences of a lifetime. I could--and would--save the memories for me to watch and relive but...it's not the same, you know? It'd be like watching a different version of myself do all these cool things, while I just saw it on the holo." "But...you might die, or worse, if you have a virus." "Yeah." "I don't see how that's a better alternative to losing a few memories, even if they were good ones." "Yeah, I know." I wasn't telling her anything she didn't already know, so I shut up. She reached over and squeezed my hand gently. "I think, before then, I'm going to take a crack at rewriting myself, seriously. I haven't done it, and I'm a little scared, but if it's a virus, that means it's somewhere in there, and if I can wipe it out, it can't wipe me out. I'm not like a human, it's not multiplying inside me, it's just one piece of code running that I need to find and kill." "Isn't that really dangerous?" "Maybe a bit. But I think I have two huge advantages in my favor." "And what are they?" "Well, one, a virus usually only succeeds because the user has to go through their computer to fight it. Users are slow and viruses are fast, and so it winds up being the user versus their own infected computer. That doesn't apply to me. If this thing is gonna beat me, it needs to be better and faster at shutting me down than I am at shutting it down." "That is kind of reassuring. I've seen you code, you look like you're just writing a dictionary from memory when you are." "Damn straight I do." "And what's the second huge advantage?" "I have something worth fighting for. These precious memories, I don't want to let them go. I will kick this virus' fucking ass before I let it take them from me, no matter what."

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMwZGU1ZGNjZDYwNzQzNzA4NGFkYmRlZDJiODFkMDA1">Day 1</p> <p class="cnNiMTdjODkwYzk4MjQ5M2JiZjVjZjUxMDgxM2Q1NTEz">I stared at the air where Daddy had disappeared from for a few seconds before refocusing myself. Something told me it would be bad to continue standing in the middle of the cavern now that he was gone so I started clumsily making my way towards one of the walls. I tripped and fell a few times but I made it without resorting to crawling! Legs it turns out are not very easy to use, but I’m sure they’ll be worth getting the hang off. Maybe it’ll be easier if I get more? No, maybe I got to get used to my current body first? Yeah. <br>I looked down at my body, it was all weird not being spherical anymore, but I still had a spherical core so it wasn’t all bad. The core was in the middle of me, making up the majority of my torso with the rest being a ‘skeleton’ made of some metal, maybe copper? I’ll find out later. I had two legs and two arms – one of them ending in a drill-head made of some other metal I didn’t just ‘know’. But it looked sturdier at least. On the other hand, I had three digits that were pretty flexible with 4 joints each. Handy. Heh. I also had a head with two vertical slits I could see out off – they gave off a soft silvery glow as well making me able to see a few feet out in the darkness, but I figured it also made me easy to spot… That made me uneasy, but I couldn’t do anything about it right now if I wanted to see in any case.<br>At the edge of my vision, there was a small blue blinking dot that tried to get my attention and now that I was done with my self-inspection, I turned my attention to it which rapidly brought up multiple blue screens:</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p class="cnNkZjJjMjJmMWVhODQyOTRiZDg1NGI1N2UyZjE1OGJi">Skill gifted! <strong>World Knowledge, Basic – Epic Skill (Basis Level 1/10)</strong></p> <p class="cnM5YThlOTA0ZThiNDRhM2E4MWVjNmU0NzE4NDc4NDM1">Gives you a basic understanding of the world, no matter where you end up.</p> <p class="cnM3YzNhYjM4MTI0YjQ2NDU4ZmJlYTZmMzAzZjQ2ZmJk"> Range: Universal<br> Cost: Passive</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnM1NDc0NjE5YmRkZDRiMjg5NjZhY2JhYjk0YTNhYzAx"> </p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p class="cnNjMDA4ZDlmN2Y4YTQyYWU4ZTNiOGNmMmJlMjBmODM1">Skill gifted! <strong>Inspect – Common Skill (Basic Level 1/10)</strong></p> <p class="cnNmODA4ZmMwOWNhZjQxYTliYjA3ZmEzODliZWRlN2Y4">Lets you divine information about things you focus on. Can be, detected/felt and resisted. Higher levels will let you divine magical items and higher level creatures.</p> <p class="cnM2MzliN2E1ZWMxNDRiOTg4YTJjOGM0ODMwZTk2MzQ0"> Scrying Range: Creatures up to 'your level + level of skill'<br> Cost: 1 MP</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnM2MjA5MWY2YmExMTRiOWFhYWRkNDVmZDdhYTMyN2M2"> </p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p class="cnNlY2YwMTljODlkOTQ2MmNiZTFmOGY5ZjIzZjZlNDBm">Skill gifted! <strong>Survival Instinct, Uncommon Skill (Basic Level 1/10)</strong></p> <p class="cnNiY2U1MzhhZWY2OTRhNWNiNmE0YTkyNWQ4NzUyOWQ0">You have learned what to do or more commonly what <em>not</em> to do to survive. It has become an instinct at this point. The more you survive and the longer you live the better you get. Gives a chance for your subconscious to warn you in advance and makes you more perceptive to danger.</p> <p class="cnMyYjc4OWNmODE0MzRlZTQ4ZWU0MDk3Yzg5ZjQ4NmQ2"> 1% danger sense chance. +1% perception to danger. <br> Cost: Passive</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnNhODM0NzVkOTYxZjRmZWViNGU2NmVlZTVmNTQyYTRm"> </p> <p class="cnM3MTIyMDk3ODMzZjQ0ZTY5ZjczZTE5NzViNzBiNzE2"> </p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p class="cnM1YTNiMGUwNTYxMDRhYzBiMjA0MzA3ZjA4NjU4MjE0">Skill gifted! <strong>Evolution Instinct, Rare Skill (Basic Level 1/10)</strong></p> <p class="cnNmOWQ3ZmZjNTI5NTQ3OGE5MDYyMDNkNDY4ODIwZDI3">You must grow. You must adapt. You must evolve. Reach for the pinnacle and eclipse it.<br>Your race doesn’t evolve through many generations like many other lesser lifeforms instead you adapt as needed each of you different and each of you more in control of your destiny than anyone else.</p> <p class="cnM4ODczMWQ4ZTdhMTRjYTRiYWMwMTljNzE0ZWM0ZjNm"> 1% more control of mutations. +5% vitality effectivity when forcing adaption.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p class="cnM1ZGU1NmFlZmQzODRmYmViNzI5MjhlNzQyYjg1NjY0">Skill gifted! <strong>Pray, Uncommon Skill (Basic Level 1/10)</strong></p> <p class="cnM3MWQ1Y2U3ODA2ZTQyMGRhMmNjMjcxZjNhNjBhYzJm">Many seek guidance from powers higher than them - you know how to do it right and just maybe have your prayers heard. This skill is specific to Aphiir, god of inspiration.</p> <p class="cnMwMjgzZjViOTgxZjQzMWNhMWM0NGNiM2I4N2ZlYTJi"> Uses: 1/day. <br> Cost: Variable</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnM2YTk2MTE0ODFmZDRlNDliYzMxNDBlZDA0Mzk5NmQw">Oh my that's really so-</p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p class="cnNlYzkyMjRmZjdiMjQ3NGRiNjVmNDRkM2Y1ZDE0YzZm"> </p> <p class="cnM4NjEyMjRjMDdjODRlMDFiMDIzZTFiMzQ4YzU2MTA4">Ability gifted! <strong>Pain</strong></p> <p class="cnM4Njk5ZWRmZmI0ZDQ3MzhiNjU2NDdmNWMwYTQwNmJm"> </p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnNjOWRhNzcyYjc0YzRjYjlhZDU3ZWU4ZjNjYjk0OTUy">Uuuuuuh... With a series of dings, the blue boxes continued.</p> <p class="cnMzNmI5ZmUxY2UxNzQ3Y2ViZWZiOGNmNzZiMjg3YzBl"> </p> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p class="cnNhMmI0YjljYWE1NzQ3ZmJiOGI2NjgxOTExYTQ4Yzc4">Title Gained! "<strong>Born for greatness (+1)"</strong></p> <p class="cnNkZGUyYWZlMjQ3MTQ4NDU5ZDljYmE5Yjc5ZDYzZDg0">Have your first skill be of rarity rare or higher!<br>Each tier over rare adds to bonus <em>and</em> range of effect.<br><br> +20% <em>(10%+10%)</em> learning speed for '<strong>epic</strong>' or lower skills.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <div style="max-width: 100%; overflow:auto"><table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p class="cnNjZTVmY2MyYWY3NDQwMDE5Yzk4NGQyNjAxZGRjOWE1"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Multiple titles unlocked!</strong></span></p> <p class="cnM1OTA1YjU1NjNjNTRhMGQ4NjVjNTgyZjMwMjFlYjNi">Title Gained! "<strong>Bronze Spoon"</strong></p> <p class="cnM3YmQ3OWNlMjY3OTQ4MGRhM2FlOGI1YmE5MzFlYmNj">Have your <em>first</em> skill of common rarity be gifted to you.</p> <p class="cnM1OWQ0NjI0NTYyODQwZDlhZDIzZTIxZGYxNzRmOTNh"> +1 skill point</p> <p class="cnNiM2UxNGY4Y2JkZDQyYzNhZGZhZWUwMzFkY2RlOWMx"> </p> <p class="cnMzYzdhYzVmZDA4YzRmNDlhMTc5YjYxODY4YzM1YjY1">Title Gained! "<strong>Silver Spoon"</strong></p> <p class="cnM1NjBhZTA5YmVjZDQ0ZDViMGQwMjQwYmViZTE4NmVl">Have your <em>first</em> skill of uncommon rarity be gifted to you.</p> <p class="cnM2MTEyYTNmMDQ0MjQ5YTZiM2YwMGNjOTRlMjhmZGQw"> +2 skill points</p> <p class="cnMzNzdhZWQ4OTRjMzQ3NDNhYjEyOTkxYmQ5YzkxM2Zi"><br><br></p> <p class="cnNhMWU5N2M0OWEyMDRhYmI5MjI5Y2Q3MDdmZGIzMDFj">Title Gained! "<strong>Gold Spoon"</strong></p> <p class="cnM3ZjBkMWRmM2VhMjQ5M2I5MjY3ZTNlNWFmNmVkNzY4">Have your <em>first</em> skill of rare rarity be gifted to you.</p> <p class="cnM5OThhODgwOWMzZTRiYjk5MGUyY2YxZGFkMzdiOWFh"> +4 skill points</p> <p class="cnNjMmI0NjEzZjY4ZTRkNzJiNjA4Njk1YTQ2YWEwZTJm"> </p> <p class="cnNjOGJmYzBkNmE0ODRkMGE5MzBiN2Q1MGRlYzJkZTcy">Title Gained! "<strong>Mithril Spoon"</strong></p> <p class="cnNmMWIzNjgxMjJkMDQ5YzU4ZmVlYTRkOGZjNmQzMTg0">Have your <em>first</em> skill of epic rarity be gifted to you.</p> <p class="cnNmMzgzNmQ1ZTYwMzRmZDA4ZTc5NzgxNDRiMDZkZGE5"> +8 skill points</p> <p class="cnM2OTdiNDY2NzFhZjRjNDI5NDczNDA3ZDdiNWIwY2Vh"><br>Title Gained! "<strong>Titled Noble</strong>"<strong><br></strong></p> <p class="cnNiMTVjNTgwNTlhOTQ0MjRiYTkwMTkyNjJjY2NjNzBm">Earn 5 titles.<br><br> +10% charisma when trying to impress and "Titled Noble" is equipped as your primary title.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> <p class="cnM4ZGE0OWFhZTVhNzRiNmU4NjkwYzBmYTBlMjM0OWU4">...Finally, the blue boxes stopped. I waited a few seconds more just to be sure. When no more popped up I read them through, trying to get a hold of what I'd gotten. The skills were what I was most happy about but the rest seemed good too... Maybe not the... <strong>pain</strong> ability though, that I could've lived without. Whatever. I couldn’t be sitting here all day, so I willed the blue boxes to go away and I was once more back in the cavern. It was still empty and I didn’t know where I was, so I decided just to start walking while stabilizing myself against the wall so I didn’t fall as much.</p> <hr> <p class="cnMzZjUyMTJmNzY3YTQ4Njk5NThlZWM3YTEwOTE0NWE3">As I walked through the dark cavern, I sometimes saw things scuttle away from me as I got near. It unnerved me a bit the first time I actually got a glimpse of one of the things, a spider I knew. It had… too many legs. 16 to be exact. A bit overkill maybe? I thought so, but I couldn’t really know I was pretty new to the whole “legs thing”, so maybe it was just showing off. Through my World Knowledge skill I knew that that wasn’t the case, but it still felt slightly mocking to me. I glared at the spider, maybe 10 wobbly steps away and the light I emitted turned a dimmer red. It just looked back at me for a while before scuttling off. Yeah, I thought so you bastard. With that out of the way, I continued on till I found an opening in the wall, maybe a tunnel of some sort. I wonder what’s on the other side? I kind of wanted to know, even though my survival instincts told me that if might be a bad idea to waltz in there. On the other hand, everything had run away from me so far, so I took the chance and stepped in. The tunnel had a slight fall to it which made it surprisingly hard to go down, but I took my time and managed to go the 20 or so meters without falling more than twice. That’s a win in my book. Anyway, the tunnel opened up to a smaller cavern, maybe only 2 meters to the ceiling most places, and it was filled with stalagmites and stalactites. The place was dimly lit up by small glowing rocks that were embedded into the walls and pillars of the place. Most had a brown/grey-ish glow to them but a few had shades of green and there even were a few blue ones in some of the pillars. That was SO interesting! As I stood there and took in the prettiness of the place, I noticed I wasn’t alone anymore, not at all actually. The cavern was filled with life. Small bugs hid under rocks or tittered here and there, a few mice munched on a dead spider and in the other end of the cavern was a long snakey-thing with… hold up… one, two, three, four…. Twenty... maybe 90 legs?! THAT is way too many! The centipede was curled up in a corner and eating a mouse while holding it between some of its too many legs, just to show off, and I decided, right then, that I’d make it pay. Not right now though it’s kinda too big for me, maybe four times longer than me and as wide as I was as well. My spindly golem body isn’t that big. Well, whatever I’ll be back. I slowly began to inch myself into the cave close to a small cluster of glow stones further to the left.</p> </div>

Day 1 I stared at the air where Daddy had disappeared from for a few seconds before refocusing myself. Something told me it would be bad to continue standing in the middle of the cavern now that he was gone so I started clumsily making my way towards one of the walls. I tripped and fell a few times but I made it without resorting to crawling! Legs it turns out are not very easy to use, but I’m sure they’ll be worth getting the hang off. Maybe it’ll be easier if I get more? No, maybe I got to get used to my current body first? Yeah. I looked down at my body, it was all weird not being spherical anymore, but I still had a spherical core so it wasn’t all bad. The core was in the middle of me, making up the majority of my torso with the rest being a ‘skeleton’ made of some metal, maybe copper? I’ll find out later. I had two legs and two arms – one of them ending in a drill-head made of some other metal I didn’t just ‘know’. But it looked sturdier at least. On the other hand, I had three digits that were pretty flexible with 4 joints each. Handy. Heh. I also had a head with two vertical slits I could see out off – they gave off a soft silvery glow as well making me able to see a few feet out in the darkness, but I figured it also made me easy to spot… That made me uneasy, but I couldn’t do anything about it right now if I wanted to see in any case. At the edge of my vision, there was a small blue blinking dot that tried to get my attention and now that I was done with my self-inspection, I turned my attention to it which rapidly brought up multiple blue screens: | Skill gifted! **World Knowledge, Basic – Epic Skill (Basis Level 1/10)** Gives you a basic understanding of the world, no matter where you end up. Range: Universal Cost: Passive | | --- | | Skill gifted! **Inspect – Common Skill (Basic Level 1/10)** Lets you divine information about things you focus on. Can be, detected/felt and resisted. Higher levels will let you divine magical items and higher level creatures. Scrying Range: Creatures up to 'your level + level of skill' Cost: 1 MP | | --- | | Skill gifted! **Survival Instinct, Uncommon Skill (Basic Level 1/10)** You have learned what to do or more commonly what *not* to do to survive. It has become an instinct at this point. The more you survive and the longer you live the better you get. Gives a chance for your subconscious to warn you in advance and makes you more perceptive to danger. 1% danger sense chance. +1% perception to danger. Cost: Passive | | --- | | Skill gifted! **Evolution Instinct, Rare Skill (Basic Level 1/10)** You must grow. You must adapt. You must evolve. Reach for the pinnacle and eclipse it.Your race doesn’t evolve through many generations like many other lesser lifeforms instead you adapt as needed each of you different and each of you more in control of your destiny than anyone else. 1% more control of mutations. +5% vitality effectivity when forcing adaption. | | --- | | Skill gifted! **Pray, Uncommon Skill (Basic Level 1/10)** Many seek guidance from powers higher than them - you know how to do it right and just maybe have your prayers heard. This skill is specific to Aphiir, god of inspiration. Uses: 1/day. Cost: Variable | | --- | Oh my that's really so- | Ability gifted! **Pain** | | --- | Uuuuuuh... With a series of dings, the blue boxes continued. | Title Gained! "**Born for greatness (+1)"** Have your first skill be of rarity rare or higher!Each tier over rare adds to bonus *and* range of effect. +20% *(10%+10%)* learning speed for '**epic**' or lower skills. | | --- | | **Multiple titles unlocked!** Title Gained! "**Bronze Spoon"** Have your *first* skill of common rarity be gifted to you. +1 skill point Title Gained! "**Silver Spoon"** Have your *first* skill of uncommon rarity be gifted to you. +2 skill points Title Gained! "**Gold Spoon"** Have your *first* skill of rare rarity be gifted to you. +4 skill points Title Gained! "**Mithril Spoon"** Have your *first* skill of epic rarity be gifted to you. +8 skill points Title Gained! "**Titled Noble**" Earn 5 titles. +10% charisma when trying to impress and "Titled Noble" is equipped as your primary title. | | --- | ...Finally, the blue boxes stopped. I waited a few seconds more just to be sure. When no more popped up I read them through, trying to get a hold of what I'd gotten. The skills were what I was most happy about but the rest seemed good too... Maybe not the... **pain** ability though, that I could've lived without. Whatever. I couldn’t be sitting here all day, so I willed the blue boxes to go away and I was once more back in the cavern. It was still empty and I didn’t know where I was, so I decided just to start walking while stabilizing myself against the wall so I didn’t fall as much. --- As I walked through the dark cavern, I sometimes saw things scuttle away from me as I got near. It unnerved me a bit the first time I actually got a glimpse of one of the things, a spider I knew. It had… too many legs. 16 to be exact. A bit overkill maybe? I thought so, but I couldn’t really know I was pretty new to the whole “legs thing”, so maybe it was just showing off. Through my World Knowledge skill I knew that that wasn’t the case, but it still felt slightly mocking to me. I glared at the spider, maybe 10 wobbly steps away and the light I emitted turned a dimmer red. It just looked back at me for a while before scuttling off. Yeah, I thought so you bastard. With that out of the way, I continued on till I found an opening in the wall, maybe a tunnel of some sort. I wonder what’s on the other side? I kind of wanted to know, even though my survival instincts told me that if might be a bad idea to waltz in there. On the other hand, everything had run away from me so far, so I took the chance and stepped in. The tunnel had a slight fall to it which made it surprisingly hard to go down, but I took my time and managed to go the 20 or so meters without falling more than twice. That’s a win in my book. Anyway, the tunnel opened up to a smaller cavern, maybe only 2 meters to the ceiling most places, and it was filled with stalagmites and stalactites. The place was dimly lit up by small glowing rocks that were embedded into the walls and pillars of the place. Most had a brown/grey-ish glow to them but a few had shades of green and there even were a few blue ones in some of the pillars. That was SO interesting! As I stood there and took in the prettiness of the place, I noticed I wasn’t alone anymore, not at all actually. The cavern was filled with life. Small bugs hid under rocks or tittered here and there, a few mice munched on a dead spider and in the other end of the cavern was a long snakey-thing with… hold up… one, two, three, four…. Twenty... maybe 90 legs?! THAT is way too many! The centipede was curled up in a corner and eating a mouse while holding it between some of its too many legs, just to show off, and I decided, right then, that I’d make it pay. Not right now though it’s kinda too big for me, maybe four times longer than me and as wide as I was as well. My spindly golem body isn’t that big. Well, whatever I’ll be back. I slowly began to inch myself into the cave close to a small cluster of glow stones further to the left.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNmOThhZjU1YTAzZDQzMzBiMDQ1ODQxYTAyMTlhMWVh">The clear night blue sky shines with bright stars, the blue moon brightens the land it's light. Alice floating in front of the water giant, gazing her eyes onto Poseidon's Stone. The giant claps his arms, directing the impact on to Alice. She spreads her arms, stopping the hands before collapsing onto her.</p> <p class="cnM3ZDRmMDQ1MmE5NDRjMmVhODRhNGZlZTBmYjg4ZTk2">"Do you defy me?" Alice spoke with a grin on her face.</p> <p class="cnM5Njc2NDVhODRlZDQ5YTk5MjU4N2NlOTlmODEyYWZl">The soundless sea giant roars without a voice. The ocean tides rose once again, forming black clouds of raindrops. Alice smashes her fist on to the giant's head, the giant steps backward due to the impact. Again, she controls the wind of the sea, gliding herself around the body, decimating the giant. The giant scattered into liquid, reforming himself with every impact.</p> <p class="cnMxNWQyZDVmZjMwNTQ3OTE5Y2RmMmUyMTU0MTAwZDI3">The giant smashes this hands into Alice, reaching upon her, Alice guards with her hands forming a cross with along her body. Instead of going through her like last time, the fist made of liquid impacted her, blasting her away along with the winds.</p> <p class="cnNlNzUxYjRlMjQ1YzQwZTM5Yzk1ZTY3YTI5ODk0NDlk">"It doesn't have eyes or ears, how can it sense me?" She questions herself as if she would know the answer.</p> <p class="cnM2NTE5M2U3NTQwYjQxNmM4ZWI3YjBmM2MyOTVlOGQw">The giant charges forward on its' two legs, pulling his right arm back as if he was preparing to strike. Alice tempers with the wind, gliding herself, dodging the fist as he moves to it's left.</p> <p class="cnNiYTljYjI2ZjQxZjQ2ZjQ5MTMxNmM4MTg1OTk2OTQ5">- Angel Feathers: Command: Kill - She chanted.</p> <p class="cnNjZWMxNzZjMzBiMDQ5OGZiNzRiODMwNDQ0ZmNkZjdm">A dozen of white feathers appears to her side, scattering across and surrounding the water giant, piercing through its liquid body. Disrupting its movements along with all the other spells from Stephanie's team.</p> <p class="cnM3ZDJjOTJkNWQ0MDQxODViNDY5YTI5NDA2NDNmNjVm">Being physical and magical invulnerable, as the only one who could touch his thing was Alice.</p> <p class="cnMwM2QzMDE2N2ZkMTRiMjRhNjQ2Njk5YjQ3NjA5OGIx">Stephanie standing still on the ground, witnessing every single moment. With an unbelievable expression on her face, she speaks. "What kind of monster is this..." She sighs, as she helps out on her team.</p> <p class="cnM1NWE1MGQwNDU2NTQ2MjBhZThlOWIxNDU3NGQ4ZTA1">"Boss, what should we do?" One of the members speaks as Stephanie reaches them.</p> <p class="cnNjNmJjZmUyNWMzMzQ0YzI4OWM3YmVjMmIzM2QyOTE1">"Leave this to her." She turns her head towards the summit. "We will go over there, I sense an enormous amount of black magic." She directs herself towards the summit.</p> <p class="cnNlNWNiZDk5YTZlYTQ0ZDU5MDg5NjJkNjY1NGRiZWQ5">Alice gliding herself around the sea giant, watching him reform himself. Realizing that brutal force wouldn't be enough to stop the giant.</p> <p class="cnNjYjc3YjBhZjkzNjQzYzA5Mjg3Mjk4OTA2NjMxZmQ3">She has to tap into more of the divine powers, an overwhelming strength that can destroy this beast. Recalling Athena's powers were a blessing and a curse, using Mazu's would be same. Athena and Mazu's powers are different. Athena's powers are awakened, using her powers will lead to consequences. But Mazu is a memory of Athena, calling upon Mazu is only possible because the goddess herself had allowed it. By doing so, Alice has to face the consequences of using another divine's powers. And the more she uses, the more she will lose herself into the path of the queens.</p> <p class="cnM0OWRhNmQ5ZGM0YTQ2NDc5MjEzYWY1MWQwYmY3MjM2">Her expression agitated, as the giant approaches closer to human grounds. Knowing that if she doesn't stop this right here, it would be too late.</p> <p class="cnNkN2U3ZTI4MWVmZTQyYWZhNjNhM2FmYTA0MjNmMTJj">She closes her eyes, connecting with the goddess herself. Ignoring the water giant, the sound of the wind, and the ocean tides. She enters a dimension of freedom and calmness. Instead of white space and glass puzzle pieces like Athena's, she enters a small town.</p> <p class="cnMxZDM1Y2ViMmYxYTQzZjU4ZjhmY2M5OTZhZDM3YTlj">A peaceful village, in her sight, a beautiful lady with a white Chinese dress. Dancing nearby the lake, as her dance moved the waters, charmed the fishes and played with the birds.</p> <p class="cnNhMDZkODdkNTk4YjQxNjVhZGUzNjI5MmRmZDc4ZmMy">"Mazu?" Alice spoke in a gentle manner.</p> <p class="cnM3MzJhZGFjNjk5ODQ5MzJhOTEzODBkMDM2OTFmNzYz">"Yes, my dear." She stops as she turns around with her graceful voice.</p> <p class="cnM1MjUwZGIzMzYxMzQwNzZiZmU3ZWMyMmJjM2VmZWNh">Enchanted by this appearance, giving her similar feelings when she first met Athena. Divine, beautiful and majestic even though she didn't dress like a queen.</p> <p class="cnNlMzNkZmU5MDM5ZDQyMjJhOWQ5ZjYyMzQ1ZTNhNGY2">"The Jewel of the Sea, you want to stop it?" She smiles gently.</p> <p class="cnM1ZWI1NTI4ODk1YzQ0OTQ5NWU5NWU4MjU5YmVkNjg4">"Yes," Alice replied.</p> <p class="cnMyMjIyYjg4YmIyYTRhODhhYTk1ZjkyMWU0OGFlYzg4">"It contains the massive force of Poseidon, if used wrongly, it can cause thousands of innocent lives." She mentions as she guides Alice towards the lodge nearby.</p> <p class="cnMwMTA3OTc1YjAzNDQ1YjU5YTIzYjJjNGZiMmJkMGUy">It is a small lodge, they sit down as they stared into each other's eyes. The ocean green eyes of Mazu felt like the calmness of the sea. As Alice's bright golden eyes shined with bravery.</p> <p class="cnMyOTllMWYxOWU4ZjRjZjhhYmFkMzVmMGQ4ODI4M2Q4">"The Jewel of the Sea has some of my powers as well. To stop it, you must overwhelm the balance." She continued.</p> <p class="cnNjNDQ5M2I0M2I4MTQwNzhhZjhkYzFmNDkxOTI3ZTY2">Alice with a blank face, not understanding her meaning.</p> <p class="cnMyNzFlOGQ4MDY0MDRkYmY4MTI2MWQzNmZkZjI2OWI2">Mazu laughs gently, "let me explain further. The Jewel is made of two powers, Poseidon's and mine. It has the ability to control the oceans, allowing it to be either calm or destructive. Usually, it will balance itself, allowing the oceans to be revolved around these two factors."</p> <p class="cnNhMzNhZmY4ZmMzNDRmMGZhM2MzYWNiNmE4YjExMTc5">Mazu becomes quiet as Alice takes in the information.</p> <p class="cnM2YjQ3NGQ1NWJiMjQzODliYWFlZTYwMGZlYzJlN2U0">"So, at this moment, the Jewel is overwhelmed by Poseidon, therefore, I need to reverse the power balance?" Alice questioned.</p> <p class="cnNiMmQ4YmEyMzAyYjRmM2JhMDZhZTU1M2MxZTc4ZDI1">"Yup, such a smart girl. No wonder Athena likes you." She giggles as she lifts her right hand towards her mouth.</p> <p class="cnNlNTIwNGZlNGU5YjQxYTFhZDQ1YjgwNGJjODBhOWY0">"Right now, someone is creating a disturbance with the world, the ocean has become overly fierce within these days." She continued</p> <p class="cnMwZjRhNTJiYmE2NzRjZTBhOTY4YTYzOTgxZTM1NjRk">"The Spiders?" Alice tilted her head as she questioned.</p> <p class="cnNkY2FlN2Y5ODcwMjRhMzA5NWFhNmE5MTM0Y2UyM2Fh">"No, darling." She laughs gently. "The Spiders are just a small group, in this world, there are many more to discover. There is something, darker, stronger, and eviler." She finishes her sentence with a deep tone.</p> <p class="cnNjNzdmNjQ4M2U1YjQzNzRhODg1NDRhNzJkNGI5Y2Nl">"Alice, listen to me carefully." Her expression becomes tense. "When you connected me using her powers, it gives signals out to Heaven." She continues.</p> <p class="cnNiMjgzZmQyODZlYzQ3YTRiNWZjZWE3ZmUwYTU3ZWRk">Mazu sighs, "It dangerous, if the Heaven discovers that Athena has awakened, she might just be seal once again, but this time, for eternity." Her voice deepens along with her serious eyes.</p> <p class="cnNiY2U3OTI5ZDZiMjRmNmRhNTg5MDEwNTkyM2UxMTFm">"Three thousand years ago was a mistake, you must never let it happen again. Go and face the giant. It would be the last thing I can help you two." She voice disappears as Alice's scenery changes into her reality.</p> <p class="cnNiZTJhZDUzODIwOTQzYjI4NzE5ZTFkYmJhOGEyZjcw">With too many questions in her mind, she only wonders whether she is strong enough to handle it.</p> <p class="cnMwNjZiYzMyZWQ1YTQ1ZmY5OWVhZGYwYjZhYTZjZDk3">Wandering questions running around her head, Athena, Mazu and the Gods. She needs to understand them. Putting those thoughts aside as she faces the giant once again.</p> <p class="cnNhNmY5OTRiZDFjZTQ3OTBiYjg1YmZhYjg1MTU5YTBm">The water giant standing here, rampaging the sea and calling upon destruction.</p> <p class="cnM2NDBlYjc0ZmI2MjQxMzdhYzJmZjdiOGZjNjJkYjll">A gentle voice echoes through her mind. "Alice, let me control your body."</p> <p class="cnM0NGE5MWY3YjM2MDQ2ODI5MzBmNTBkOTk4ZDZlZjUx">"What? How?" Alice replies back to Mazu.</p> <p class="cnNjNTk4NGRmMmUxNTQwMzlhZjFkODY0ZmNkODc0NzZi">"Relax and accept my powers. Right now, you only have a part of them, you are only influenced by me. You won't be able to stop this with the current strength you have." Mazu speaks through her mind.</p> <p class="cnNjNmVlMTk1MzY4NTRlZGNhYzE5ZTgxNTc1NGUwNjk0">"Alice my dear, only you can stop this destructive beast." She continued.</p> <p class="cnNkYzdjZjYyOGRlNjQ4MDQ5NzgxYjA1ZmUyOWJhZTNm">Alice closes her eyes once again letting out a small sigh. Slowly and gently the winds that breezes around her soften. Instead of a strong wind that glides around her, the gentle wind was filled with warmness and it seems to have accepted Alice as its master.</p> <p class="cnNiOTUxM2FjOTkxNDRhMzY4NTg1ZmY4NmM2MWI4Yzlm">The ocean started to calm once again as the clouds faded away, revealing its blue moon.</p> <p class="cnNiYzJiNDkwMTIzZjRhYjhiMmFhZTBjZDM2YmFkZWQ0">Alice opens her eyes, her gold eye shines brightly under the blue light, but her other eye shined with the colour of the sea.</p> <p class="cnM3NGMxMmYzYmIxMzQ5MGRhNzlhMTFmMWJmOTBjNTlj">She grins, as she flies freely across the air. Rasing herself, above the head of the water giant. She smashes her fist into it, the giant crushes into water blocks.</p> <p class="cnMwMmU3NWIwMDhlMjRkYWI4NzJjY2UxYmNlNmQ3OTgx">The giant regenerated itself with the rising tides of the ocean, forming his huge body once again. Alice strikes around fist but this time into its chest, where the heart of the monster lays.</p> <p class="cnM5YTlmNmI4ZGI5NjQ4MzlhNDg3ODlhOTUxMDFjNjQx">Once again, the giant breaks into water blocks, regenerating back around the Jewel of the Sea. Alice notices this, she immediately rushes in, grabbing the jewel before it can fully regenerate back.</p> <p class="cnNlYTY1Yzg1MGYwYzQ2NDU4NzE1OTE4ZGVmMWQ0YzQz">She glides herself farther into the skies while crushing the rising waters. Eventually, the water became calm and the giant falls to rest, dissolving itself into the ocean.</p> <p class="cnMzNThkOWEyZGI4OTRhYjJhZmVlNDdjMDRlNDYxYTlk">She gazes on the Jewel of the Sea. With Mazu's processioning her body, she could tell the jewel has been corrupted. Originally It was a small orb, containing a balance of two powers. But now, the jewel has a small component of dark magic.</p> <p class="cnNjMmYzZTI4Y2U0OTQwNTFiMmVkMTgwZDI2ZDNkMzdk">The more she stares at the jewel, the more she worried. Suddenly the blue sapphire orb started to shine in black, releasing a black energy spreading on to her hand as if it was consuming her. Her arms started to feel a burn without flames, she immediately drops the stone from her hand. Half of her right arm immersed in black energy as she screams in pain. Following the stone, she drops herself into the ocean, into her own kingdom.</p> <p class="cnM3NGY0MDI4ZTgzMjQ5N2I4Yjg3MTQ0YWU5YmU1MTc0">The pain stopped as the black energy fades away into the ocean. She reaches for the stone floating in clear sea water, but she immediately swam away from it as it spreads it darkness, corrupting the green waters.</p> <p class="cnM3MTkyMzg0ZTQyODQ4YTdiODhhNTRjNGM3N2I1YWQ3">The ocean water changing its colours to black, spreading all across, taking over as Alice stares into the Jewel of the Sea.</p> <p class="cnM0YjVkYjUxMDg4MzQyZjRiNWRiNDI4MGFjNTk0ZTU5">Her expression agitated with her eyes becoming depressed. "I'm sorry, my dear." Mazu's voice came out of Alice's mouth.</p> <p class="cnNjODNhZTE2YzA5MzRlZWU5ZGE4NTc1YjhlN2VmMDAz">Breathing under the water was nothing to a divine goddess, not less, talking underneath it. Alice swims towards the black stone, grasping it with her both of her hands.</p> <p class="cnMyZWNhNzgzNjUzOTQxZTliMjBiNWNjMzJkODEzYjRk">She chanted - Aqua Consumption - The darkness retracts, the ocean waters becoming its original colours. But instead of retreating to the stone, it spreads into Alice's body. Becoming a source of black mana entering her soul.</p> <p class="cnM1YzBjMzM5NzRjYzRlZmZiMmJhNDkwMDkzY2ViOTJk">The Jewel of the Sea slowly turning into a crystal white transparent stone. Mana overflows into Alice's body as she Mazu exits her procession while falling asleep into the ocean waters.</p> <p class="cnMwOTczOWI4ZGRlNzQ1NGU5YTE3YTI3NjZhODRlODY0">Her body sinking deep and deeper as her eyes wavered. Her body felt restless, unstable, and weak.</p> <p class="cnM1ZWEyNTNmZDIxMTRlYmQ5NjlmMTIyZDM5OTFmNTUz">Purple particles of matter appear in her sight, forming a human image.</p> <p class="cnNhOWUwOGM3M2I4YTQ2OWE4YjU0YzZiYmQzNjMxMjFm">"Ki...va..." Alice tries to speak, but the water overruns her tongue, making her breathless.</p> <p class="cnNjM2MyYTFmZGMwYjQwZThhODFhZTg5Y2Y0NGIxYjlk">Kiva reaches Alice, places his mouth on to hers giving her air as they both dissolve into purple mass. <br> <br>They arrived in the small den where the group rests. Placing Alice nearby the small fire, keep her warm.</p> <p class="cnNmOTdjZjMyNDFlYjQ5YmQ4N2ViYjg5NzcyODBmOWNl">"Take care of Alice." Kiva's cold voice speaks without any warmth as his expressions enrage.</p> <p class="cnMwODY4YmNiZDNjZTQ2MjZhZWE2ODgzYjdjNGU4MjMw">Again, he becomes purple particles transferring himself to another place.</p> <p class="cnNhMzdkZjhiYjdiMzQ5NGNiOTdlODQwYmVjYmVlMjUy">He reforms himself at the highest place of the Maze. A place where no one could reach and no one could see with the human ability. There stands a tall mysterious figure of plain darkness. A figure of a man.</p> <p class="cnNjNmVjNzk0ZjExZjQ1YjBiNmExZGU2MWNhMDU5Yjcw">Kiva stands there, approaching the man, he spreads his right arm, as his purple glass blades appear to his hand.</p> <p class="cnM0NWY5YWI2ZTFlZTRmZDliNTFjMDZlM2EwZDhhMDQ0">"You have gone too far this time." Kiva's cold voice fills with anger.</p> <p class="cnMxMDc1ZDliOTI5YjQyODBiZDUyZjg3YWNmYjQ4MGYw">The man turns around, with a black spiritual face, he smiles.</p> <p class="cnMzMmY0ZjEyZGFhODRmMmJhMWI5M2NhZWZmMDU4NDk0">"Kiva, I have longed for you to come." His voice was deep and cold but it comes with terror as if it was from hell itself.</p> <p class="cnNmMGQxYjQ4ZmI2NDQzNmNhMTg5Y2ZkOTlmNmM3OWQ2">Kiva slashes with his blades, the spiritual figure fades away, reappearing behind him.</p> <p class="cnNjZTlhYmM2M2M3ZTRlMzE5ZDllYmIzNjY2ZWY1OGQ0">"Someone is anger today." He laughs with his dark voice.</p> <p class="cnNkYTdlODQxYmNlZjQ3MmU4NzZmOTkzZWVmOGYwYjk1">"Was it that girl?" He fades away, reappearing in front of Kiva.</p> <p class="cnMxZTk3ZWRlZjhlNDRiMTBhYzlhNWM5ZDJkOTFiMTdl">"You like her, don't you?" He laughs as Kiva's blade passes through.</p> <p class="cnM5YzhmMmZhOGJiMjQzNTBhNTc0ZDAxN2Q2MzUwZWVk">"Oh stop it. You know it wouldn't work. After all, you are my brother." He laughs again as he floats around Kiva.</p> <p class="cnNhZGNmYzlkNWZjYTQ1YTM4YTc1YzIwZmExMTFiZDEz">"Brother, you had everything. You stole everything from me. Father, mother and that powers of ours. You are living my life, you stole that life from me." He shouted in rage.</p> <p class="cnNmYTJiYjJiZWE5NzRlZmVhOTgxYmE1OWRlZDFmYTA3">"Now, I am going to take that girl from you. She will be my tool for conquest." He laughs again.</p> <p class="cnNiOGIzZWQ0NGY2ODQxYTliZDIzOTYyN2VlNmI4OWY5">"Shut up," Kiva replies with his cold voice.</p> <p class="cnNlNWM4ZmE1MzZjNzQ3OWNhMzE3MDQ3YTE0YzA5ZTQ5">"Join me. Think about it. The powers of Athena, to our commands." He stares at Kiva with his smile.</p> <p class="cnMzZjdhZTUyOTg3ZDQyZjg5YWI2MWQyZTg5ODI4M2Mz">Kiva ignores his words, walking away from him. As his body starts to dissolve into purple mass.</p> <p class="cnMzNzRmYzUwNTlkOTQ3NTg4ZGQ4NjU0MmExNzU5YTk3">"You can't hide her forever. After all, you are a Guardian." He laughs.</p> <p class="cnNhNGU3N2YxZGQ0ODRkM2E4ZGNkY2QyNDI2ZjRjZDMx">"None of your business," Kiva replies as he transfers himself away towards the place where he left King.</p> <p class="cnNjMmM4YzM2NWU3YTQ1NTVhZGE2MmMyYjU1Y2I1Zjkz">He reappears at the summit, only hoping that they can finally get home. With his maze cleared and the mission complete. There was no reason to be here anymore.</p> <p class="cnMyMmI3ZDBmN2RmOTRiOThiNTc0MzVkYWVhYTU1Njlk">King and Stephanie appear to his vision. Bleeding with blood but laughing with joy as Kiva appears.</p> <p class="cnMxMWRlOWJiODg0NzRiYjc5ZTU2YTRiZGMxN2JlMmRl">Crimson sparks emitting on the ground, with thousands of spider corpses laying dead. Stephanie supported King as they walked towards Kiva.</p> <p class="cnMyYWZmYzQyNzU5MDQzZGVhZmJhMTU0Zjk2MzFhMTRh">"Let's just go home." They smiled as their weak voice speaks out.</p> <p class="cnMxMDc4MGZhMjcwZjRmNmY4MDUzODYyYmEzMjY3MjVl">"Yeah, buddy. You did well," Kiva replied with a smile and a small pad on King's shoulders.</p> </div>

The clear night blue sky shines with bright stars, the blue moon brightens the land it's light. Alice floating in front of the water giant, gazing her eyes onto Poseidon's Stone. The giant claps his arms, directing the impact on to Alice. She spreads her arms, stopping the hands before collapsing onto her. "Do you defy me?" Alice spoke with a grin on her face. The soundless sea giant roars without a voice. The ocean tides rose once again, forming black clouds of raindrops. Alice smashes her fist on to the giant's head, the giant steps backward due to the impact. Again, she controls the wind of the sea, gliding herself around the body, decimating the giant. The giant scattered into liquid, reforming himself with every impact. The giant smashes this hands into Alice, reaching upon her, Alice guards with her hands forming a cross with along her body. Instead of going through her like last time, the fist made of liquid impacted her, blasting her away along with the winds. "It doesn't have eyes or ears, how can it sense me?" She questions herself as if she would know the answer. The giant charges forward on its' two legs, pulling his right arm back as if he was preparing to strike. Alice tempers with the wind, gliding herself, dodging the fist as he moves to it's left. - Angel Feathers: Command: Kill - She chanted. A dozen of white feathers appears to her side, scattering across and surrounding the water giant, piercing through its liquid body. Disrupting its movements along with all the other spells from Stephanie's team. Being physical and magical invulnerable, as the only one who could touch his thing was Alice. Stephanie standing still on the ground, witnessing every single moment. With an unbelievable expression on her face, she speaks. "What kind of monster is this..." She sighs, as she helps out on her team. "Boss, what should we do?" One of the members speaks as Stephanie reaches them. "Leave this to her." She turns her head towards the summit. "We will go over there, I sense an enormous amount of black magic." She directs herself towards the summit. Alice gliding herself around the sea giant, watching him reform himself. Realizing that brutal force wouldn't be enough to stop the giant. She has to tap into more of the divine powers, an overwhelming strength that can destroy this beast. Recalling Athena's powers were a blessing and a curse, using Mazu's would be same. Athena and Mazu's powers are different. Athena's powers are awakened, using her powers will lead to consequences. But Mazu is a memory of Athena, calling upon Mazu is only possible because the goddess herself had allowed it. By doing so, Alice has to face the consequences of using another divine's powers. And the more she uses, the more she will lose herself into the path of the queens. Her expression agitated, as the giant approaches closer to human grounds. Knowing that if she doesn't stop this right here, it would be too late. She closes her eyes, connecting with the goddess herself. Ignoring the water giant, the sound of the wind, and the ocean tides. She enters a dimension of freedom and calmness. Instead of white space and glass puzzle pieces like Athena's, she enters a small town. A peaceful village, in her sight, a beautiful lady with a white Chinese dress. Dancing nearby the lake, as her dance moved the waters, charmed the fishes and played with the birds. "Mazu?" Alice spoke in a gentle manner. "Yes, my dear." She stops as she turns around with her graceful voice. Enchanted by this appearance, giving her similar feelings when she first met Athena. Divine, beautiful and majestic even though she didn't dress like a queen. "The Jewel of the Sea, you want to stop it?" She smiles gently. "Yes," Alice replied. "It contains the massive force of Poseidon, if used wrongly, it can cause thousands of innocent lives." She mentions as she guides Alice towards the lodge nearby. It is a small lodge, they sit down as they stared into each other's eyes. The ocean green eyes of Mazu felt like the calmness of the sea. As Alice's bright golden eyes shined with bravery. "The Jewel of the Sea has some of my powers as well. To stop it, you must overwhelm the balance." She continued. Alice with a blank face, not understanding her meaning. Mazu laughs gently, "let me explain further. The Jewel is made of two powers, Poseidon's and mine. It has the ability to control the oceans, allowing it to be either calm or destructive. Usually, it will balance itself, allowing the oceans to be revolved around these two factors." Mazu becomes quiet as Alice takes in the information. "So, at this moment, the Jewel is overwhelmed by Poseidon, therefore, I need to reverse the power balance?" Alice questioned. "Yup, such a smart girl. No wonder Athena likes you." She giggles as she lifts her right hand towards her mouth. "Right now, someone is creating a disturbance with the world, the ocean has become overly fierce within these days." She continued "The Spiders?" Alice tilted her head as she questioned. "No, darling." She laughs gently. "The Spiders are just a small group, in this world, there are many more to discover. There is something, darker, stronger, and eviler." She finishes her sentence with a deep tone. "Alice, listen to me carefully." Her expression becomes tense. "When you connected me using her powers, it gives signals out to Heaven." She continues. Mazu sighs, "It dangerous, if the Heaven discovers that Athena has awakened, she might just be seal once again, but this time, for eternity." Her voice deepens along with her serious eyes. "Three thousand years ago was a mistake, you must never let it happen again. Go and face the giant. It would be the last thing I can help you two." She voice disappears as Alice's scenery changes into her reality. With too many questions in her mind, she only wonders whether she is strong enough to handle it. Wandering questions running around her head, Athena, Mazu and the Gods. She needs to understand them. Putting those thoughts aside as she faces the giant once again. The water giant standing here, rampaging the sea and calling upon destruction. A gentle voice echoes through her mind. "Alice, let me control your body." "What? How?" Alice replies back to Mazu. "Relax and accept my powers. Right now, you only have a part of them, you are only influenced by me. You won't be able to stop this with the current strength you have." Mazu speaks through her mind. "Alice my dear, only you can stop this destructive beast." She continued. Alice closes her eyes once again letting out a small sigh. Slowly and gently the winds that breezes around her soften. Instead of a strong wind that glides around her, the gentle wind was filled with warmness and it seems to have accepted Alice as its master. The ocean started to calm once again as the clouds faded away, revealing its blue moon. Alice opens her eyes, her gold eye shines brightly under the blue light, but her other eye shined with the colour of the sea. She grins, as she flies freely across the air. Rasing herself, above the head of the water giant. She smashes her fist into it, the giant crushes into water blocks. The giant regenerated itself with the rising tides of the ocean, forming his huge body once again. Alice strikes around fist but this time into its chest, where the heart of the monster lays. Once again, the giant breaks into water blocks, regenerating back around the Jewel of the Sea. Alice notices this, she immediately rushes in, grabbing the jewel before it can fully regenerate back. She glides herself farther into the skies while crushing the rising waters. Eventually, the water became calm and the giant falls to rest, dissolving itself into the ocean. She gazes on the Jewel of the Sea. With Mazu's processioning her body, she could tell the jewel has been corrupted. Originally It was a small orb, containing a balance of two powers. But now, the jewel has a small component of dark magic. The more she stares at the jewel, the more she worried. Suddenly the blue sapphire orb started to shine in black, releasing a black energy spreading on to her hand as if it was consuming her. Her arms started to feel a burn without flames, she immediately drops the stone from her hand. Half of her right arm immersed in black energy as she screams in pain. Following the stone, she drops herself into the ocean, into her own kingdom. The pain stopped as the black energy fades away into the ocean. She reaches for the stone floating in clear sea water, but she immediately swam away from it as it spreads it darkness, corrupting the green waters. The ocean water changing its colours to black, spreading all across, taking over as Alice stares into the Jewel of the Sea. Her expression agitated with her eyes becoming depressed. "I'm sorry, my dear." Mazu's voice came out of Alice's mouth. Breathing under the water was nothing to a divine goddess, not less, talking underneath it. Alice swims towards the black stone, grasping it with her both of her hands. She chanted - Aqua Consumption - The darkness retracts, the ocean waters becoming its original colours. But instead of retreating to the stone, it spreads into Alice's body. Becoming a source of black mana entering her soul. The Jewel of the Sea slowly turning into a crystal white transparent stone. Mana overflows into Alice's body as she Mazu exits her procession while falling asleep into the ocean waters. Her body sinking deep and deeper as her eyes wavered. Her body felt restless, unstable, and weak. Purple particles of matter appear in her sight, forming a human image. "Ki...va..." Alice tries to speak, but the water overruns her tongue, making her breathless. Kiva reaches Alice, places his mouth on to hers giving her air as they both dissolve into purple mass. They arrived in the small den where the group rests. Placing Alice nearby the small fire, keep her warm. "Take care of Alice." Kiva's cold voice speaks without any warmth as his expressions enrage. Again, he becomes purple particles transferring himself to another place. He reforms himself at the highest place of the Maze. A place where no one could reach and no one could see with the human ability. There stands a tall mysterious figure of plain darkness. A figure of a man. Kiva stands there, approaching the man, he spreads his right arm, as his purple glass blades appear to his hand. "You have gone too far this time." Kiva's cold voice fills with anger. The man turns around, with a black spiritual face, he smiles. "Kiva, I have longed for you to come." His voice was deep and cold but it comes with terror as if it was from hell itself. Kiva slashes with his blades, the spiritual figure fades away, reappearing behind him. "Someone is anger today." He laughs with his dark voice. "Was it that girl?" He fades away, reappearing in front of Kiva. "You like her, don't you?" He laughs as Kiva's blade passes through. "Oh stop it. You know it wouldn't work. After all, you are my brother." He laughs again as he floats around Kiva. "Brother, you had everything. You stole everything from me. Father, mother and that powers of ours. You are living my life, you stole that life from me." He shouted in rage. "Now, I am going to take that girl from you. She will be my tool for conquest." He laughs again. "Shut up," Kiva replies with his cold voice. "Join me. Think about it. The powers of Athena, to our commands." He stares at Kiva with his smile. Kiva ignores his words, walking away from him. As his body starts to dissolve into purple mass. "You can't hide her forever. After all, you are a Guardian." He laughs. "None of your business," Kiva replies as he transfers himself away towards the place where he left King. He reappears at the summit, only hoping that they can finally get home. With his maze cleared and the mission complete. There was no reason to be here anymore. King and Stephanie appear to his vision. Bleeding with blood but laughing with joy as Kiva appears. Crimson sparks emitting on the ground, with thousands of spider corpses laying dead. Stephanie supported King as they walked towards Kiva. "Let's just go home." They smiled as their weak voice speaks out. "Yeah, buddy. You did well," Kiva replied with a smile and a small pad on King's shoulders.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM1MmEyZDA1NzJkMDRjNDdiMTkxNGExM2IzNzk3YTQw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Hi all, </span></p> <p class="cnM0ZDA1Mzk3ZmEwNTRiODBhYjFjYTcyYjc1Y2IwMzNh"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Just a heads up that Part 4, which starts tomorrow, is the FINAL part of this story and there are only 5 chapters remaining. The end is nigh.</span></p> <p class="cnMwNzY5MmE2NDQ1ZDQyYTViMDdkY2RkYjllNmJiYTRm"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">As I have mentioned before, this is a novel I wrote some time ago and it was always conceived as a piece with a definite end, not an ongoing episodic web fiction.</span></p> <p class="cnMxYjliMTNjMWE1ZDRiMDBiNWEwZTVhNTE0NDQ2YmEz"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">I usually write short stories and even then I struggle to find the time to finish a lot of them, even ones that are just a couple of thousand words or so. To complete a novel like this over a year was a huge personal achievement for me, one which I did not want to ruin with the idea that I may write a sequel or continue it indefinitely. This would almost certainly have resulted in me giving up somewhere along the line, and I think there is great value in your story coming to a point where you are satisfied to mark it as finished forever.</span></p> <p class="cnM2YTY5OGQ0MGVhYTQwYWRhZTZjOWI3YjIxZjFlNmY4"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">I realise this concept could have the potential to go on for longer, and my ending is a little bittersweet, and perhaps even premature, but those are the sorts of endings I enjoy reading and I was happy that my writing came to such a natural conclusion.</span></p> <p class="cnNjYmY1YWU0ZGEwNzRlMGY4OTE3ZGI2YmVlYzE1ZGUx"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">Hope you enjoy the last five chapters. There's still quite a bit of plot to go as one of the chapters is long enough to be its own decent-sized short story, but the countdown has begun.</span></p> <p class="cnNlZTA2NmEzMjllMDQzMmJiNzllMDFiMTM0MmZjNzUw"><span style="font-size: 1.1em">As always, thank you for reading this far 😀</span></p> </div>

Hi all, Just a heads up that Part 4, which starts tomorrow, is the FINAL part of this story and there are only 5 chapters remaining. The end is nigh. As I have mentioned before, this is a novel I wrote some time ago and it was always conceived as a piece with a definite end, not an ongoing episodic web fiction. I usually write short stories and even then I struggle to find the time to finish a lot of them, even ones that are just a couple of thousand words or so. To complete a novel like this over a year was a huge personal achievement for me, one which I did not want to ruin with the idea that I may write a sequel or continue it indefinitely. This would almost certainly have resulted in me giving up somewhere along the line, and I think there is great value in your story coming to a point where you are satisfied to mark it as finished forever. I realise this concept could have the potential to go on for longer, and my ending is a little bittersweet, and perhaps even premature, but those are the sorts of endings I enjoy reading and I was happy that my writing came to such a natural conclusion. Hope you enjoy the last five chapters. There's still quite a bit of plot to go as one of the chapters is long enough to be its own decent-sized short story, but the countdown has begun. As always, thank you for reading this far 😀

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnMwMDMzNGQ3OWMwZTQyNmJiNWM5MjAwMjEyNTViMGE2">I walked along the sandy road towards the large merchant city. My hands fumbled through the new kimono I had been given to wear, searching for the piece of paper I had been given.</p> <p class="cnM4MTRiOTRmZmVmMTRhOTRiZjAyOTBmYTFhZjdjMTY3">After a moment of searching, I finally pulled the note out of the blue and black cloth. The list read a variety of food, horse feed, and other commodities that would be useful for our oncoming hunt.</p> <p class="cnNlZGEzZWUzM2ZhNzRmNmRhY2QzNzgxMzViNjU0NGZl">People were walking along the coast to my right, gazing at the night sky. To my left was a great patch of forest, something I could get lost in, something no one had a chance of finding me in.</p> <p class="cnNkMGI3NmVmZjJmMDQ3ZDdhOGNmYjM5Zjg0YjBiMDEw">I shook my head, there was no more option for escaping. If I were to leave, Hayato would pay the price. Once I had been chained and trapped physically, but now there really was no escape besides completing my task.</p> <p class="cnNiZTQ4ZGJhNTJjNjRmY2NhYjg3ZTIxOTRjNGFmZDM4">My mind wandered back to my surroundings, I had reached the city while I was busy thinking. The merchant city was familiar, the very same city I went to with Asao all those weeks ago. The same Hayato was stationed in.</p> <p class="cnM3ZDQyODNlYWQ5MDQ4MWM5OTAzZWZlZTc3YjI1NGQ3">Unlike others, there were no walls protecting the city, making it easy for me to enter.</p> <p class="cnM1NjY2Zjc5NDBmYTRlMWViZjk3MDE1ZGJkYjY1ZDVj">I merged into the small crowd of people easily. I had almost gotten used to people avoiding me and staring. I enjoyed the fact that I was now clean and presentable.</p> <p class="cnM4YTdhMmQ3NGVkZjQzMDhhNThhMGQxMGI0OTQzY2Vl">A red structure caught my eye as I almost walked past.</p> <p class="cnM0OWMzZWEyODUwMTQ1N2JhNTEzZTk4M2QzYjJlNWZh">I rushed the people around me and moved out of the crowd. On top of the ornamental red structure sat Hayato, his eyes were closed as he concentrated.</p> <p class="cnMwMDY4NDhkOGRmYjRjMmM4NTQ5OTc3OThkMjdjZTli">People emerged from the foggy portal beneath him and pushed past me as I stood against the flow of traffic.</p> <p class="cnNhNDc5ZmU5NDA3MDRjMjliMzhlYjVkNGY0MTFhZGY0">I moved out of the crowd's way and called for the Samurai. "Hayato! Hayato!"</p> <p class="cnM1NWI5MTZkYzgwYjRlN2U4YzhiMjM4MTU0ZDU5N2Qx">Hayato's eyes slowly opened as he looked down at me, the foggy portal deforming into nothingness. "Kenshi?" He moved from his sitting position and climbed down from the structure. "Kenshi, why are you here so soon?"</p> <p class="cnM3ZDBjNjM4ZTJlZTQxZThhNWQ3NTBlZDMyYjEyYjBk">"I'm here to fetch our company supplies, and to notify you of what's happening."</p> <p class="cnM5YWQ3YjA4MzE3OTQzNDU4ZWMyN2I2YmE2NGE4NjFl">His eyebrow raised. "And what might be happening?"</p> <p class="cnMxYjZlNmFkZGUxYzRlODBiZmU5MGZhOGQ5YjQ0YmRj">"The Shogun has ordered our company to hunt a yokai."</p> <p class="cnMyMDg4MTJhYTI4NzRhY2Q4ZGJkYjE5ODMxNTcyMzZk">Hayato paced for a moment, thinking. "Well... Have you spoken to your superior officer?"</p> <p class="cnNkYzBlMzQ0YjMxYzQ4MDdhMDJkNGMxZTg1ZmEwNTRm">"I've tried, but he is more than eager to gain the Shogun's approval..." I had to collect our oddities quickly. If I wasn't back in my allotted amount of time Kohei would suspect that I'd tried to escape. "I must get going, Hayato."</p> <p class="cnM0MWU2MjdmNmQxZTQ2ODE5NWM4NTI1ZDBkOTU2MDFi">He stopped pacing and looked over at me, then to his seat at the large wooden structure. "No one will notice if I've left for only a few moments... Let me assist you with your supplies."</p> <p class="cnNlYjMwNmIwODg2ZTRiMjFhMTdhYzU5NTcwNjk5YzMz">Hayato most likely shouldn't have left his station so abruptly... But if he was willing to leave, I decided I might as well take the company. "Then let us start moving."</p> <p class="cnMyMTFiYzgzMDZlYTRhNjY5YmUwMWViNTdkM2JhNWZm">I turned and Hayato followed. Pulling the list from my kimono once again revealed the materials we needed. "First... We go left from here, towards the sandstones."</p> <p class="cnM0ZjY0MjVlYTk3YzQzOTY4YThjZjA4N2UyOGNjOTkx">We turned to the left at the crossways and started making our way to the small stall. As we walked, I noticed Hayato look down, then back to the path ahead. He spoke. "I've noticed, your leg looks completely healed."</p> <p class="cnMwOTY2ZDcyNDQzMzQ3ZTdiMWI0MmI0ZWIzYzA0Y2I0">I hadn't taken much thought of it, but now that my leg was mentioned, I realized that I walked with no hint of a limp, as I used to. "That's right. I've almost forgotten about my leg."</p> <p class="cnM3YTAxYzUwODJkNjRkZDNiOWQ4Y2M4ZTU5OWE0OTkx">We reached the small shop. The stall owner looked at both Hayato and I, in our military uniforms. He spoke, trusting us to act according to standards. "Just leave brass on the counter, sirs."</p> <p class="cnNlZWEwYTYyNzkzODQ0MDBiM2Q4NjlkZTFlMTIyZWQ3">I took the few sandstones we needed and left the money Kohei gave me on the table.</p> <p class="cnM3Mzg4NjY3ZDJmYjQ1NGU5MDdmNDQxMTgzMGIwMDEx">The stones sat at the bottom of the large sack I was carrying. I pulled out the note once again and read our next object. "It looks like next... We need rice."</p> <p class="cnM0NTY3ZjRhNGQ0NjQwM2ViZGFlNGQ5MWRhNzA3ZDY2">Hayato looked around for a moment and pointed down the path. "The rice stall is that way."</p> <p class="cnNjOTU3NmMzN2MxOTQ1ZDRiYjhlZDQzY2Q5MjAyZjcz">We turned and started making our way down the road.</p> <p class="cnM5MGI2N2U3ODdlZjQwMTViMjJkMDY3NjkwZWRiZGJk">It was my turn to reinvigorate the conversation. I spoke the first question that came to mind. "So... How is your brother, Hayato?"</p> <p class="cnMzMjg3ZDJlZjI3MzQ3OWZhY2VkOWUzZjI3ZWM2ZTQ0">He thought for a moment. "I'm not quite sure. It's been months since last we met."</p> <p class="cnNkY2Y0ZjkyNWVhZjQ0OTNhY2I1ZmM5ZGQ1MTg2ODFl">That was strange. I thought that given their ember, the distance wouldn't matter. "Can you not transport yourself to him?"</p> <p class="cnMxMjQ0ZjAzZmFlZjQzYzY5NDczMGQwNzVmOWJjMjVk">Hayato looked frustrated, like this had been on his mind. "No... We can only make a portal with a vessel and concentration. So the only place I can open the portal is with the pair of gates. And even then, I would be concentrating too much to walk."</p> <p class="cnNlMTEwZGRjYTM0ZDRhODliNjMyMzA3ODgwMDJjMmI0">The rice shop was getting closer, but I still had time to speak. "Have you been training then?" Hayato looked curiously at me. I supposed he'd never tried to use he and his brother's ember abstractly. So I explained further. "To use an ember is an act of will. You have placed these rules in your mind that doesn't even exist. Your mind is holding you back, so you must train it as a muscle and go beyond your limits."</p> <p class="cnM5NDY4NmU5ZTI3NDQwMGU5ODJlMzI5ZGQ5MWEzZjZl">Hayato paused in the road for a moment. "But, I've heard tales of the conception of Embers. And they've said that in the beginning, the old samurai could use their extreme powers with ease."</p> <p class="cnNkNjU3MjNmN2NjYTQxZGFhNjE5OWRhYWFjZTgxYzcz">We reached the rice shop. I looked from the note to the sizes of bags, then proceeded to buy while I spoke. "Embers have evolved over the years..." I handed the coin to the vendor. "The more people granted with Embers, the more people had to refine themselves to use their Embers properly." I looked down at the note again, our list was growing shorter.</p> <p class="cnM2MGFlMTY0ZjczZTQxN2M4MDVkYjI1Y2VmYTljNGVm">Hayato looked very interested in what I said. His world was two dimensional and goal oriented. Since all he had to do was use his Ember how it was, the thought of improving upon it slipped his mind. He spoke after taking it in. "That makes sense. I suppose that's why they say that the first Ember had unspeakable power."</p> <p class="cnM4YzIwMmU5MjVjMTQ4NDg4MDM5Y2QwOGM3MDE2Yjc3">With a nod, I replied. "I want to see improvements by the next time we meet."</p> <p class="cnM4YjM5NWUwZTQ5ZjRhZjFhMWUwNWRkNmRiZTVkMmZk">Hayato reminded me again of how new this all was to him. "How would I improve?"</p> <p class="cnM3NjZjZGFhZTVkNTQwZGVhNzAyODNjNmQ2YzFjY2Fi">I shrugged. "I'm not sure... If I had to suggest a routine..." I thought for a moment. To break barriers created by one's mind, the same mind had to figure out how to destroy them. All I could do was try to push him in the correct direction. "Every time I see you using your Ember, you're always in a tranced state. So try keeping your eyes open. Watch the waves pass by as you work instead of focusing entirely on one task."</p> <p class="cnMyMDYyZGU5OTU0MDQ2MWE5YzdlYTljMzE3NWRmMmQz">Hayato thought for a moment. "Indeed. I'll keep you informed on my progress." He looked around for a moment. "Our next stop?"</p> <p class="cnMxOWIyZWJkZWE5ZDQwNjJiMTQ4MTdhZGMyNDM4ODhm">The list was short, we only had one stop left. I pointed behind us, towards a stall we had managed to miss. "Over there." We walked along the path closer to Hayato's station.</p> <p class="cnNiMDRjMTUwNzZhNTRiMjhhOTkyOGNiYjZkZGU3M2Mz">Something in the corner of my eye caught my attention as we moved forward. Hayato took notice and spoke. "What is it?"</p> <p class="cnMzYzIwNDAwYTMyODQ0M2ZiZjc2NGY4YjBhYmY5NTA4">He wouldn't understand. "Um, nothing." He shrugged it off and we kept walking, but I couldn't let this get away from me. "Hayato..." I fumbled around in my pocket and grabbed the note, along with the last of Kohei's brass. "Take this and buy the last of my supplies, will you?" Without letting Hayato say a word, I handed him the coin and moved on my own path.</p> <p class="cnMyY2QxM2M1NjM2OTRiYzBhMzdkYjg2NzA0M2E4ZjA3">I walked quickly to the small stall. It held dying flowers and dead shrubberies. Except one lonesome lily in a large pot of soil.</p> <p class="cnM5Yjc2ZDJmMmRiMzRjMTZiNTY1NTg3MDhhNTBiNzU2">I grabbed the man's attention as I finally reached the shop. "Sir, is that a sun lily?"</p> <p class="cnNkZWQ2NzRhMWMwNzQ5YzVhZjMxMmZmYTU0ZTRjMTE3">He nodded, pleased that someone finally showed interest. "Yes sir, our last! It's in bloom as well!"</p> <p class="cnMyOTIwYTAwNTkxMDRmMTNhNDgyMWUzODlhMjZjODlm">"That's strange. I thought they only bloom in sunlight?"</p> <p class="cnMxOTVhNzZhYjFlMzQwMWZiM2E5NzdmM2VjODQ0MGZi">"They do. But I suppose this one is an oddity. It perked up only a few hours ago."</p> <p class="cnNkZjEwYmQ5ZmNiMjRiMWY5NzJjN2M5MTJhZWNlZGYx">I picked the small flower from the pot. "I'll take it."</p> <p class="cnM5NjBmZTkxOGJjMTQ5MWJiNjk5NzIxNWIzY2NmMWIx">"Wonderful! That will be-" I picked the last of the coins I had been saving since the sun set. It would be more than enough for a single flower. The man looked at the pile of coins on the table and smiled. "A pleasure to do business with you!"</p> <p class="cnNmODZlNDlkYWI2MzRkNDdiYTBlYTVkYTE0MDgzMDcw">The flower sat carefully and hidden in the pocket of my kimono.</p> <p class="cnM5NWQwZjM1ZmY1MTQ3ZjRhNzg4OWFlMTVmZjllZGZi">Giving a wave to the flower shop owner, I set back to Hayato.</p> <p class="cnM0ZjJmN2FkODBmMTQyNTRhYWVmNjYyZTg3NDg3ZDgx">Hayato was leaning against the stall with supplies in hand, waiting for me to arrive. He stood as he saw me. "You're back."</p> <p class="cnM2ODFmYTgyY2RhZTQ2NGFhZjY4ZDI4M2VkMmVhYWU0">He handed me the objects and I quickly transferred them to the sack I was given. "That's all we need."</p> <p class="cnMxMTlhYjdlY2ZjMzQ3YTViMjAwOGMyMmEyOWQwYjcy">We had spent longer than I had expected in the merchant city. Both Hayato and I would have to hurry if we wanted to keep ourselves from punishment. Hayato looked around. "We better move quickly, I've been away for far too long."</p> <p class="cnM4ZGZkNWE1ODU5MjQ3MmFhMjE3NDhiM2QxZjdmN2M2">I nodded my head in agreement as we started walking along the path once again.</p> <p class="cnM2N2M2ZjkxNjU2YjRhMjQ5OWM3YWQ3MjI3NzVjNzYz">The red structure was close, so we picked up the pace.</p> <p class="cnNkMjc2MDhiYzQzYjRlNGU4NWFmNDdmMTk2Y2RmZjJh">Within a few moments, we had reached the gate.</p> <p class="cnMxM2I0ODdkMDc5ZDRiN2U5MWIzMzI0Nzk0M2I5ZjU2">I talked as Hayato quickly climbed atop it. "I should be back to report in a few days."</p> <p class="cnMyNzg1ZWM4M2M0YzRjOGJhNzgyN2U0YTc1YTIyNzRl">He reached his perch and responded. "I'll be expecting you."</p> <p class="cnM3N2UyYmJiY2YyMDQ0OTk5ZWVlNGIzOTI1MDQyNjU0">We didn't have time for much more conversation, so I left with a nod to keep myself from overextending my stay. As I moved back I saw Hayato frustratingly force his eyes fixed upon the sea as he opened the gate once again, keeping himself from falling into his usual tranced state. He gave after a few moments and reverted to normal, but at least he had tried.</p> <p class="cnM1MjJlNWZiZmJmMTQ1YmQ4ZjY0OWFkOTNmNTM0MjIy">But enough with tutoring, I had to bring the supplies to Kohei. So I set back down the sandy path towards our camp, dreading every moment.</p> <p class="cnNkZTUxYjgxYzEzYjRkYzg5YTU4ZGE1OWNiNGMyZDE3">My anxiety was palpable. A team of powerless miscreants set off to hunt a demon, and I was in the forefront of the fight.</p> <p class="cnMwYWEwN2QwNTcyZjRlZDVhNjVhZTEwY2UzNjU3MTFj">Well, at least I had been able to go shopping beforehand.</p> </div>

I walked along the sandy road towards the large merchant city. My hands fumbled through the new kimono I had been given to wear, searching for the piece of paper I had been given. After a moment of searching, I finally pulled the note out of the blue and black cloth. The list read a variety of food, horse feed, and other commodities that would be useful for our oncoming hunt. People were walking along the coast to my right, gazing at the night sky. To my left was a great patch of forest, something I could get lost in, something no one had a chance of finding me in. I shook my head, there was no more option for escaping. If I were to leave, Hayato would pay the price. Once I had been chained and trapped physically, but now there really was no escape besides completing my task. My mind wandered back to my surroundings, I had reached the city while I was busy thinking. The merchant city was familiar, the very same city I went to with Asao all those weeks ago. The same Hayato was stationed in. Unlike others, there were no walls protecting the city, making it easy for me to enter. I merged into the small crowd of people easily. I had almost gotten used to people avoiding me and staring. I enjoyed the fact that I was now clean and presentable. A red structure caught my eye as I almost walked past. I rushed the people around me and moved out of the crowd. On top of the ornamental red structure sat Hayato, his eyes were closed as he concentrated. People emerged from the foggy portal beneath him and pushed past me as I stood against the flow of traffic. I moved out of the crowd's way and called for the Samurai. "Hayato! Hayato!" Hayato's eyes slowly opened as he looked down at me, the foggy portal deforming into nothingness. "Kenshi?" He moved from his sitting position and climbed down from the structure. "Kenshi, why are you here so soon?" "I'm here to fetch our company supplies, and to notify you of what's happening." His eyebrow raised. "And what might be happening?" "The Shogun has ordered our company to hunt a yokai." Hayato paced for a moment, thinking. "Well... Have you spoken to your superior officer?" "I've tried, but he is more than eager to gain the Shogun's approval..." I had to collect our oddities quickly. If I wasn't back in my allotted amount of time Kohei would suspect that I'd tried to escape. "I must get going, Hayato." He stopped pacing and looked over at me, then to his seat at the large wooden structure. "No one will notice if I've left for only a few moments... Let me assist you with your supplies." Hayato most likely shouldn't have left his station so abruptly... But if he was willing to leave, I decided I might as well take the company. "Then let us start moving." I turned and Hayato followed. Pulling the list from my kimono once again revealed the materials we needed. "First... We go left from here, towards the sandstones." We turned to the left at the crossways and started making our way to the small stall. As we walked, I noticed Hayato look down, then back to the path ahead. He spoke. "I've noticed, your leg looks completely healed." I hadn't taken much thought of it, but now that my leg was mentioned, I realized that I walked with no hint of a limp, as I used to. "That's right. I've almost forgotten about my leg." We reached the small shop. The stall owner looked at both Hayato and I, in our military uniforms. He spoke, trusting us to act according to standards. "Just leave brass on the counter, sirs." I took the few sandstones we needed and left the money Kohei gave me on the table. The stones sat at the bottom of the large sack I was carrying. I pulled out the note once again and read our next object. "It looks like next... We need rice." Hayato looked around for a moment and pointed down the path. "The rice stall is that way." We turned and started making our way down the road. It was my turn to reinvigorate the conversation. I spoke the first question that came to mind. "So... How is your brother, Hayato?" He thought for a moment. "I'm not quite sure. It's been months since last we met." That was strange. I thought that given their ember, the distance wouldn't matter. "Can you not transport yourself to him?" Hayato looked frustrated, like this had been on his mind. "No... We can only make a portal with a vessel and concentration. So the only place I can open the portal is with the pair of gates. And even then, I would be concentrating too much to walk." The rice shop was getting closer, but I still had time to speak. "Have you been training then?" Hayato looked curiously at me. I supposed he'd never tried to use he and his brother's ember abstractly. So I explained further. "To use an ember is an act of will. You have placed these rules in your mind that doesn't even exist. Your mind is holding you back, so you must train it as a muscle and go beyond your limits." Hayato paused in the road for a moment. "But, I've heard tales of the conception of Embers. And they've said that in the beginning, the old samurai could use their extreme powers with ease." We reached the rice shop. I looked from the note to the sizes of bags, then proceeded to buy while I spoke. "Embers have evolved over the years..." I handed the coin to the vendor. "The more people granted with Embers, the more people had to refine themselves to use their Embers properly." I looked down at the note again, our list was growing shorter. Hayato looked very interested in what I said. His world was two dimensional and goal oriented. Since all he had to do was use his Ember how it was, the thought of improving upon it slipped his mind. He spoke after taking it in. "That makes sense. I suppose that's why they say that the first Ember had unspeakable power." With a nod, I replied. "I want to see improvements by the next time we meet." Hayato reminded me again of how new this all was to him. "How would I improve?" I shrugged. "I'm not sure... If I had to suggest a routine..." I thought for a moment. To break barriers created by one's mind, the same mind had to figure out how to destroy them. All I could do was try to push him in the correct direction. "Every time I see you using your Ember, you're always in a tranced state. So try keeping your eyes open. Watch the waves pass by as you work instead of focusing entirely on one task." Hayato thought for a moment. "Indeed. I'll keep you informed on my progress." He looked around for a moment. "Our next stop?" The list was short, we only had one stop left. I pointed behind us, towards a stall we had managed to miss. "Over there." We walked along the path closer to Hayato's station. Something in the corner of my eye caught my attention as we moved forward. Hayato took notice and spoke. "What is it?" He wouldn't understand. "Um, nothing." He shrugged it off and we kept walking, but I couldn't let this get away from me. "Hayato..." I fumbled around in my pocket and grabbed the note, along with the last of Kohei's brass. "Take this and buy the last of my supplies, will you?" Without letting Hayato say a word, I handed him the coin and moved on my own path. I walked quickly to the small stall. It held dying flowers and dead shrubberies. Except one lonesome lily in a large pot of soil. I grabbed the man's attention as I finally reached the shop. "Sir, is that a sun lily?" He nodded, pleased that someone finally showed interest. "Yes sir, our last! It's in bloom as well!" "That's strange. I thought they only bloom in sunlight?" "They do. But I suppose this one is an oddity. It perked up only a few hours ago." I picked the small flower from the pot. "I'll take it." "Wonderful! That will be-" I picked the last of the coins I had been saving since the sun set. It would be more than enough for a single flower. The man looked at the pile of coins on the table and smiled. "A pleasure to do business with you!" The flower sat carefully and hidden in the pocket of my kimono. Giving a wave to the flower shop owner, I set back to Hayato. Hayato was leaning against the stall with supplies in hand, waiting for me to arrive. He stood as he saw me. "You're back." He handed me the objects and I quickly transferred them to the sack I was given. "That's all we need." We had spent longer than I had expected in the merchant city. Both Hayato and I would have to hurry if we wanted to keep ourselves from punishment. Hayato looked around. "We better move quickly, I've been away for far too long." I nodded my head in agreement as we started walking along the path once again. The red structure was close, so we picked up the pace. Within a few moments, we had reached the gate. I talked as Hayato quickly climbed atop it. "I should be back to report in a few days." He reached his perch and responded. "I'll be expecting you." We didn't have time for much more conversation, so I left with a nod to keep myself from overextending my stay. As I moved back I saw Hayato frustratingly force his eyes fixed upon the sea as he opened the gate once again, keeping himself from falling into his usual tranced state. He gave after a few moments and reverted to normal, but at least he had tried. But enough with tutoring, I had to bring the supplies to Kohei. So I set back down the sandy path towards our camp, dreading every moment. My anxiety was palpable. A team of powerless miscreants set off to hunt a demon, and I was in the forefront of the fight. Well, at least I had been able to go shopping beforehand.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNkZWM4NmU2MWIwMjQ2NDZhYWNkMDk3ZjkxMjhiY2Ez">Three days since the train departed from the capital, Qrist, and Robert did not leave his compartment even for a moment after the...*ahem*.</p> <p class="cnNiZWExNjA0ZTFhYjQxMDVhNTQ4ZDc0MTQ5NWUxMGUx">"What's wrong with you? You haven't left the compartment in ages!", Damien inquired of Robert, who was trying his best to meditate. His face turned as red as a ruby.</p> <p class="cnNiNGVmMTRiNzg4ODQyNjViY2EyNDliMTMzZDFlZTRl">"Bobby, are you all right? Your face is getting redder by the second!", a concerned Damien asked. It was fuel to the fire.</p> <p class="cnM5Nzk4YzJjYzExMjRiZjhhN2Q3MzdiMmZkNGQyNmIy">"Shut it !!! Leave me be! You go do some work of your own; good for nothing idiot!"</p> <p class="cnNkNTgxNWRhNGFlMzRlNWVhY2RmZTQxMWU2ZTk4NDc5">"Okay, okay. I'll leave. Crazy guy, shouting unnecessarily. Hmph!"</p> <p class="cnM4MzNkYjBjMTY4NDRlZmE5ODc5YmIxZTExYWEyOTQw">Robert struggled yet again to focus for his thoughts flowed freely to embarrassing corners and crevices. The result of the interruption was that now his body twitched from head to toe, rather uncontrollably.</p> <p class="cnMxYjUyNzRhZWNhNTQyMDJhMmQ0ODAzMTFmMjFjNzhk">In her compartment, Katherine was looking out of the window and enjoying the beauty of the forest outside. It reminded her of her mighty husband and she felt the feeling of sorrow take over.</p> <p class="cnM4MWM3Njk5NzU0YTQyMGQ5MTVmYmM1NWQ5MTdkODEw">(O: lonely mommy lol R: kys)</p> <p class="cnNlZjNjNmRiNGJjMTQ1YTZiOTM4NTI5ZWI2NTBjZGYz">"Oh, Lawrence. Why must you test my patience all the time..."</p> <p class="cnMzY2MwNTZlZmEyOTQ5OGU5YjM4OWU4Y2I4NDdjM2E1">There was a knock on the door.</p> <p class="cnNmNWZjMGEwZjQxYjQ1Y2FiMzhlNmFkMWU4N2Q2YmU1">"Mother, it is Damien. May I enter?"</p> <p class="cnM5NDhlMGYxNjBhMDQ4NzNhNDQ2MTExODIwZWRmOWEx">"Come in, my love."</p> <p class="cnMxY2NlMjNjMjBjNTQzZGQ4NWRmYjlhYzY5ZjFiMjY0">The door slid open to reveal a boy dressed in blue overalls. His hair was ruffled, and it seemed that he had just woken up from a satisfying sleep. The appearance of this young boy was medicine to Katherine's pierced heart. As she looked at him, she was overcome with motherly love.</p> <p class="cnNjNjZlNjVlMGY1NDQzMjU4MzIzYzhhZWIwYjc1NmE5">"Good evening mother!"</p> <p class="cnM2YzBhZjUyN2IwYzQ4ZGQ5OTkwM2Q1MzVjODNmZTFh">"Good evening Damien, did you sleep well last night ?"</p> <p class="cnNmMjA2OTI0MGU1MzQ3YjQ5N2Q1YWEzMWEwM2E3MDhm">"I did, although I think Robert is not... He seems to be worried about something."</p> <p class="cnM4MWRkZWRmOTc5MTQ5YzdhNGRjYTYyN2I1OGQ1MDgx">"Don't worry. Had it been something that pestered him, he would have told me already. Nevertheless, we shall arrive at the Citadel in 4 days' time. Until then, you may roam around and explore the train as much as you like."</p> <p class="cnM1YzA5ZDM1NDczNzQ4NGViMjAyZDU3YzZhZWM1MTk1">"I did, Mother. In fact, there is a Count's daughter in the compartment next to mine. Emily told me that her father serves the Marquis of Arenhal, and she is visiting her grandmother who lives in the Citadel. She also said that she wishes to become a scholar."</p> <p class="cnNlYTIwZTI5ZDRmOTRmMGE4YWJmOWZhODg1ZTM5OGE4">"My little boy is making friends already! If you require anything, just ask me and I shall get it arranged."</p> <p class="cnMyMTYzMDlhZjk1NDRlYmQ4MDUxNjNiYzk5NWMxNmQz">"Yes, mother!"</p> <p class="cnMwN2Y4NDAyODUxZDRlOTJiMGUwNjVmYjU5NTViZDZj">***</p> <p class="cnMyMmI1ZTQ5MjczYzRkNzY5ZjE4MDcwZWMxNTg3NDBl">A day later in Damien's coach.</p> <p class="cnM4ZTc2OWRkNjdkOTQ3YzU5ODIxNDc4MWYxZDlhNjM1">"Robert! What are you doing in the washroom? Emily and her sister have come to meet us!"</p> <p class="cnM1Nzk4NzhmYjcxOTQzMDk4MGY4YzEyMWU2Y2IzMjA1">Damien knocked again at the washroom's door.</p> <p class="cnMxNGVlNWIwODRlODQzNjliNDA0YmYxMGZkMWIwNTdh">"Umm, I have a bad stomach. I will stay here for a while.", Robert replied from the washroom.</p> <p class="cnM3NmQ2YmQyYjg5MzQ1YjNhNDA2NjMwODVhYzA0Y2Vl">"So that's what you were hiding!", Damien said, laughing.</p> <p class="cnNkNTQ1OTFiNjNkMzRiMWNiYTUzNjllZTViOTkzNzg0">"Will Master Damien join us now?", asked Emily while looking in Damien's direction.</p> <p class="cnM1YzNlMzIyMWIyYzQ4MGNiYzUwMDMyNzhhYWY4ZTJk">"Oh, sure..." Damien sat down with two girls. "Hmm? Erza are you a Herald?" Damien looked at the taller of the two. The sisters looked quite alike, except that Erza was a few inches taller and had long hair that went down to her waist.</p> <p class="cnNiYzJjYmE4YzY0ZTQ4OTQ5MDc4YWY2ZWY4MDFhYmRi">"Y-Yeah I just advanced recently... it has been a week to be exact," Erza said and looked towards Damien. Her cheeks revealed a light blush in them.</p> <p class="cnM3MDY0NWQ4YTFmZTRlZmI4MDRmMGYyMzU3ZjNiZmU2">(O: Damien has got some class R: which you don't)</p> <p class="cnM3YTcxYzY2ZWVmNzQ1ZDE4MmYxOTVjY2E0Y2U1Njhi">"Ah! I could feel a higher concentration of mana from you.", Damien said, unknowingly. He picked up his cup of tea.</p> <p class="cnM2Yjg4MGY1ZDllNjRmYTU5ZTg4NDI3YmJmNjA1NGE1">"So are you going to give the mage exams?" asked Damien.</p> <p class="cnNhZmE5MjJlNGQ0NjQ4YzVhMmYwOWIxN2Y4ZDY3OWEz">"Yes, indeed, I wish to become a battle mage one day," Erza replied.</p> <p class="cnMzMjdlNjYyN2MwMjQwMWE4MWY5ODk0NTlmMTAwOTU5">"I am sure that you will serve under Master Damien, won't you Erza?", Emily said, teasing.</p> <p class="cnNiMDI2N2YxNmYzNzRlMjZiZGU3NzYyZTc1MDI0MGU2">"No need for 'Master'. Just call me by my name. And yes, I too wish to enlist in the army and serve my country!"</p> <p class="cnNhNmRjMjUzZGFhYzQ1ZjM5Nzk3ZGQ0MGY5Njk5ODA4">"I see. And what about Master Robert? Is he unwell?"</p> <p class="cnM0MDYyM2ZjMWExYzQ4ZDRiMzc5ZDk4NmZjYzMzMmI2">"He... H-He is taking a bath.", stammered Damien.</p> <p class="cnM2YjEyYjYwOGYxZDQwZDA5ODMxMDA3OGMyZTEwOGU0">"But, I thought that the bathroom was over there." Emily pointed at the door in front of the washroom in which Robert was hiding.</p> <p class="cnNkOTljZjViNTEzYjQ5MjdiZmFmYzQxMTYzNTQzZjY5">"Yeah- I mean no, that door is umm... It is that-", Damien flustered. The two sisters looked at Damien with a suspicious eye. Damien had never been a man of the moment. He was thinking to himself...</p> <p class="cnM3NTJmYmI1OWE0MTQ0NGI5YTU4ZWRkODBiMDdkODUx">'What should I say to them?! What?!..... What?!?!' Suddenly, a light bulb flickered open in his head...</p> <p class="cnNiNWM4MjViMjNjZjRmNmJhMTUwOTdkYmQxOGUyYjYw">"Let me check. He was feeling sleepy today, so I guess he slept in the washroom!" Damien smiled, and gave a sigh of relief, while Emily burst out laughing, and Erza giggled.</p> <p class="cnM5ZTkzNTU5NmEzMjQwN2FiMjg5MTJhNWQyZWVkNDZk">'Was that too stupid of an explanation? Mother is gonna kill me when she hears about this.', Damien thought, scratching his head as he stood up.</p> <p class="cnMwNWI3OTk2M2E2ZjQ2NTQ4MDE4MGNiMWUxMTkyZGNj">(D: Damien...smh)</p> <p class="cnNmNjZkZWU5OTQxOTQ4YTZiMmVkMDUwM2U3NzhmZWI0">"I am not sleeping!" The door opened, and out came Robert, smiling his widest.</p> <p class="cnM5ZGZjNmI2ODIwODQ1NmM4Yjc2YzJjZDZlNGYyMTA1">'This Damien will drown my reputation in their tears of laughter.', Robert had thought to himself and it was on an impulse that he had barged out of the washroom.</p> <p class="cnMxMmYyYTA0ZjkyZjQ2ZDA4MzU3NzcxNmM1NGE2OTgx">"Oh, Robert you are out! Well, I- oww!"</p> <p class="cnM2ODliNTVjZGYyZjQxN2FhNDU1NzgyN2E3MjQ0YTIw">"Forgive my Brother; he is a little eccentric at times.", Robert said, and smacked Damien on his head.</p> <p class="cnNhNjYyOWNiOWUyYTRmNDJiMTM0NTYyY2Q1YTRhN2I4">"Sorry for keeping you ladies waiting!"</p> <p class="cnM5NTY4NjI0YzAxZDQyOWNhMjY1MDI1NWEzZTUwNTJh">"It is nothing, Master Robert.", chuckled Emily. Robert looked at Erza and his mind went blank. Scenes from that fateful night replayed in his head.</p> <p class="cnMxYzI2NzU3YzRhZTQ0NDI5MmQxNzNkMzRhYjg0Y2Rk">'ROBERT CONTROL!', he bellowed in his heart.</p> <p class="cnMxN2QzZjYzZjc0NjQzMzU4NmIwZjNlNjhlZjZhODRj">Emily and Erza excused themselves after some time. Robert, whose face was still coloured faint red, looked outside the window and noticed that the night sky was filled with the cosmic entities. He began to feel sleepy.</p> <p class="cnM0NTU1ODkzMmEzZjRhMmRiZTMwNzkzYWM2ZjMwMjM5">"Danny I'm going to sleep now, good night."</p> <p class="cnM0MTllMDI5NjE2ZjQ4MzRhMjNjOWJiMmUzNGE3Y2Ey">"Okay, good night. I'll sleep sometime later."</p> <p class="cnM1NmFjMTU4OTE5NjQyYjZhY2NhZWU5NTQ4MWNiMTRj">Damien sat on the couch and picked up the book he had been gifted by Katherine, which described the Citadel and the mage exams.</p> <p class="cnM0ZmEyYTg1NmQ4MzRjYzQ4YjliYTVlYmJjZDJjMDgz">It said that the Citadel was the largest territory in Triston, which was also the capital for commerce. The mage exams took place in the Holy Draconic Association of Magical Arts, the primary institution of the empire and it was a necessity for young mages to be certified by the association.</p> <p class="cnM2NDhjOWI0YzAyMDQ4MDFiZWEzMjZkMjI1NmNiZWY3">The association was created by Emperor Maximus' wife to show respect and build a pseudo-church for the Dragon Emperor, which later transformed into an organization which acted as the legislature of the empire, working under the King. The leader of the sect is the Supreme Pontiff, currently held by His Holiness Jaden Àmidari, who resides in the empire's capital Eden.</p> <p class="cnM0YTdjZTI4NjVmNjQzZjlhODUyMzhjOTUzMjhhM2Zk">The other priests - Hallowmen - are the supreme pontiffs of the territorial capitals. They are second in the hierarchy. Under them are the priests, service mages and the rest of the clergy. Damien closed his eyes to take it all in and slept then and there.<br> <br>The last few days passed by in a similar manner. Damien finished reading the book, and Robert was hesitant to talk to Emily and avoided her as much as he could. When they finally reached Citadel, Robert was the first to leave for their residence. On Damien's insistence, Katherine took him to see the association grounds.</p> <p class="cnM4OGZjY2E2ZjE2YTQyMDFhNDgyYzI4ZTdhYTUzZGUy">"Now remember, we are to only see and then we shall return. Your exam isn't until the day after, so we will rest after this. Tomorrow you can roam around the city."</p> <p class="cnM1YTFmMDc0ZjFiMDRkNjg5NjliYTJlMTc2MThkYzUy">Damien nodded in agreement.</p> <p class="cnNmMGQ1MjVjMzMwYTQzNGI5NmQzMmM4ZWEyZTMwY2Ri">The carriage arrived at the sect and Damien walked out to see the majestic site. In front of him stood one of the oldest monuments in the empire - the great Aestas Exedra - which literally translated to the great summer hall.</p> <p class="cnNjNDUzMjczOWMyYTRiNjQ4NGYyMGUyMGQ1OTM0MmEz">The names of all the association grounds in the country were the same, except for the one in the capital, which was known as the Ecclesia Draconis.</p> <p class="cnMxMzZlNTYyNTA3ZTQ1MmU5ZmU3ZmI0ODczZTFlNTgw">Damien saw the holy sanctum, made from black iron and bricks. It was a black beauty, but the oddity was that it had no dragon sculptures. On it, instead, was something written in the ancient draconic language, which nobody except the emperor had the ability to translate.</p> <p class="cnM2ZjIzY2JlNGQ3NjQ3NzI5N2UxNDdlYzBkMThmYTll">It was said that the church formed by the association's members did not have an image of their God, but of this draconic inscription, which was the Dragon Emperor's will. High above Damien in the sanctum, was a black pagoda with golden poles over it, signifying communication with the heavens. As Damien entered the Church, he saw that there were candles everywhere, lighting up the section. The stained glass windows allowed only faint rays to light up the long corridor, at the end of which was a stone, carrying words that made Damien's head swirl. He averted his gaze and slowly went to the first floor.</p> <p class="cnNmYzc5YjkyZWZkOTRlNjVhZDQzMjU1ODRhZGI4Yjc1">The room appeared old and archaic, filled with antiques on display. Here, Damien found were the artefacts of the great heroes of Triston, including his father's gauntlet. As a token of respect to the sect, all great personalities had given one of their weapons. It told everyone that they stood united.</p> <p class="cnM4ZWY2MDJmNzE4MzQ5Y2ZiYzY3OWNmZjRhYzc2NDNh">In one corner of the room, a stage had been constructed. On the pedestal right in its centre, a circular magic formation was craved about 2 feet in diameter. Above the magic formation, a black ball floated. Occasionally, ripples were formed on the ball, making it look like a floating blob of dark liquid.</p> <p class="cnNjNzg0Y2QwMDk1ZjRmNWVhMTA3NDQ3NjBjOWY4NzE3">"Mother, what is that?", asked Damien. She had been following Damien at a leisurely pace, taking pleasure in watching Damien's reactions.</p> <p class="cnNkYWNjMzFhMDA0MzQyZmZiZDQ5ZWFjZmNkZWIxOTFl">"That is the place where your elemental affinity test and spirit aptitude will take place and your innate ability test will take place on the second floor, where only Heralds are allowed.", said Katherine. "However, right now, the Hallowmen are arranging the apparatus for ability testing; we can not go there."</p> <p class="cnMyMzY2OTE4YzQ3YzQ4MmI4N2ZjYjZiZjVkNjYzY2M4">Damien, the ever obedient child, nodded. He, with Katherine, returned to their residence after some more inspection of the grounds.</p> <p class="cnNjZDI0MDI3NDI5ZjQxZGFiMDBkNjUwZmVhM2E3OTk5">After a while, Katherine said, "And also, nowadays they have combined the elemental affinity test and sprit aptitude test. I don't how but that is what I have been told."</p> <p class="cnMyZWJlNGU2NTkyNTRiMTE4M2JlOTViNDIyYjM2NTc2">Two days later.</p> <p class="cnNjNzJiOWUzYzZiYjQzYmU4YTkzMTAwZTQzMjIxYWJi">"So the day is finally here, eh?"</p> <p class="cnM2ZDMxMzZiMWEwNTRmNWY4ODM4MWIyZTNiYzViOGFm">"Yeah, Danny. We are going to be certified Heralds now!"</p> <p class="cnNiNjAzZjk2ZmU4ZDQyYmViNjRhYTg4MjhjYTBkNzFl">"You two, do not make noises. No chitchat; be more poised, and, for the sake of heavens, act like noble-borns."</p> <p class="cnNmM2FjYTY1ZmU4MTQzYzQ4ZWU3YTVmYjNhYzg2MGZk">An hour later, the troop reached the association grounds. Damien had told Robert all about his visit, so Robert's blue eyes were darting all around; narration and first-hand experience always had their differences.</p> <p class="cnNmNzJkY2NmM2Q1MTQ0YTg4NWUzOTc5NDIyYmYzNjUy">"Nice..." Robert seemed to be amazed by the architecture. Unaware to Katherine, what Robert was thinking was, 'Woah! Assassins will have a hard time hiding over here. And there, there is the blind spot!' As for Damien, he was too nervous to say anything. A lot of people were gathered here, but all stepped aside when they saw the royal family come forward; the guards did not come since they were forbidden on the association grounds.</p> <p class="cnMzY2VkYjg1YzI2YTQwZGZhYjQ4NmJjMzk2MGQ2OTM5">(D: Robert finding more places to hide lol)</p> <p class="cnM1ZmU4YmRjNGZiNDQzYjhhZDRhYjRhYjExYzhkNTk0">"Good Morning, Lady Katherine.", a man in white silk robes said and bowed as he moved in front of Lady Katherine.</p> <p class="cnMwOGZkYTcyZGUzZDQ5MmVhOWFhMDNlMzA0Mzk1Nzcx">"Good Morning, Hallowman Gregor!" Katherine readdressed the man. "Would you mind leading us to the first floor?"</p> <p class="cnM5ZmI3MGY1ODM1NTRjMGRiMzRhNmVhNjVhMDNkNjE5">"Not at all milady. I see young masters are already Heralds! They must surely have some talent. However, if my memory does not fail me, they are thirteen years old, aren't they?", he asked.</p> <p class="cnNlYzUxNDgzYTI1MzQxMmQ4MTNjZjgwYjZhOWY4M2M3">"Indeed, but this year in the month of Nix, they turn fourteen.", Katherine smiled.</p> <p class="cnM5YzQwOTU2ZWZjNzRkOGJhMWIxOGZmMTM3OTFmZjNl">"Ho! Then there is no problem.", assured, the hallowman smiled, and turned.</p> <p class="cnNiNTFiYWY1NThkNzQ0NzFiY2VhZjA5OTRjNjEwY2Fk">The Royals were led to the very same hall which Damien had discovered the first time he had come to the grounds. On seeing Katherine enter, all present bowed in respect. Despite the infamous Earl Lawrence's absolute disregard for formalities and traditions, he was quite popular among his subjects. Needless to say, his kin were to receive the same respect.</p> <p class="cnNmNWM3NTljMWE0ZjQ0NmFhNzJkM2VhNGM2MzA3ZjBm">"So, Master Damien, Master Robert, which one of you would like to present first?" Gregor asked.</p> <p class="cnM0M2JlYTBiNDY3NDQyNDhhYjNhZTM1M2ZiZDBkYTBh">"I think Robert you should try it first.", Damien said, with a tremor in his voice. He was trying his best to sound as casual as possible, resulting in a moment evidently awkward for everyone present around. Robert broke through it with overconfidence.</p> <p class="cnNlNmFlMGMyNjAwMzQ5YTdiNzlhOWJiNjdiMzljZmFh">"Fine then. Hallowman Gregor, please instruct me towards my actions," said Robert. He could be the most formal if he wanted to.</p> <p class="cnNmOWU0ZGIzZTgzZDRhNmRiZGM4MTA2NDM4ZTg4MTE2">"Ho ho! What a bold young child!", Gregor exclaimed with surprise. He gestured Robert to follow him to the pedestal.</p> <p class="cnMwNjlkMjFlMTc3MzRkNTZiMDQ5OGYyNjNhNjQ1MmE0">A white flame burned in the air above the magic formation. The flame, about the size of one's fist, flickered irregularly. The magic formation glowed and emitted blue light, while the black ball floated over the flame in a leisurely manner.</p> <p class="cnM1NGFkZjU3ODBjYzQwMWFhODI3ODhmZWViYzFiNDcx">"Now, Master Robert, what you have to do is: touch the magic formation with your hand, and release all the mana in your body," Gregor said, pointing towards the circle on the stage.</p> <p class="cnNmNzg1ODk0MmJkMjQwMzZhOTEzMTc1NWE1NTI1YjU3">Robert nodded and bent down. When, after taking a deep breath, Robert touched the formation with the tips of his fingers, he felt a slight suction force. He took another deep breath and forced all the mana in his body into the formation. The formation released intense light while the floating white flame turned golden yellow, with brown and green hues twinkling in it. The flames grew higher and licked the black ball.</p> <p class="cnMwYjA1NTQ5NGY5MzQyMzdiYmNhNzAzMjdkZWQ2MjZj">The black ball distorted and twisted with huge ripples continuously changing its shape. Its top-half tuned golden, while the bottom changed to brown; a thick green strip occupied the middle.</p> <p class="cnM4NDg1ZWMxNzMxMzQ4ZjJiNjJiZmYwOGMxMzk4MjFl">"By God! His divine elemental affinity! The order of its ratio is greater than his both of his basic affinities combined! He can become a Paladin!", exclaimed Gregor with amazement.</p> <p class="cnM1NDFjM2ZkMDVjNzQ3OTFhYmI0MzIxNGRlMzEwYmM3">The entire hall went abuzz with gasps and murmurs. Katherine's eyes were shining as they had never before; she was thinking, 'I knew it, Robert! My son! You would make your parents proud one day!' She noticed the awe and admiration that radiated from Damien's face; she smiled, and asked him in her thoughts, 'Will you follow your father's footsteps too?'</p> <p class="cnM5ZmM1ZDkxNWRkYTQ3NTNiYTIyZTdmM2MwNzNlMzg4">"A Paladin, eh?", Robert said as he got up. The ball was still shining. 'Sounds boring', he thought.</p> <p class="cnMyYjI5MTk3OTM3NTQ1OWU5YmY3YjExMWJjMjI4ODQ1">&nbsp;</p> </div>

Three days since the train departed from the capital, Qrist, and Robert did not leave his compartment even for a moment after the...*ahem*. "What's wrong with you? You haven't left the compartment in ages!", Damien inquired of Robert, who was trying his best to meditate. His face turned as red as a ruby. "Bobby, are you all right? Your face is getting redder by the second!", a concerned Damien asked. It was fuel to the fire. "Shut it !!! Leave me be! You go do some work of your own; good for nothing idiot!" "Okay, okay. I'll leave. Crazy guy, shouting unnecessarily. Hmph!" Robert struggled yet again to focus for his thoughts flowed freely to embarrassing corners and crevices. The result of the interruption was that now his body twitched from head to toe, rather uncontrollably. In her compartment, Katherine was looking out of the window and enjoying the beauty of the forest outside. It reminded her of her mighty husband and she felt the feeling of sorrow take over. (O: lonely mommy lol R: kys) "Oh, Lawrence. Why must you test my patience all the time..." There was a knock on the door. "Mother, it is Damien. May I enter?" "Come in, my love." The door slid open to reveal a boy dressed in blue overalls. His hair was ruffled, and it seemed that he had just woken up from a satisfying sleep. The appearance of this young boy was medicine to Katherine's pierced heart. As she looked at him, she was overcome with motherly love. "Good evening mother!" "Good evening Damien, did you sleep well last night ?" "I did, although I think Robert is not... He seems to be worried about something." "Don't worry. Had it been something that pestered him, he would have told me already. Nevertheless, we shall arrive at the Citadel in 4 days' time. Until then, you may roam around and explore the train as much as you like." "I did, Mother. In fact, there is a Count's daughter in the compartment next to mine. Emily told me that her father serves the Marquis of Arenhal, and she is visiting her grandmother who lives in the Citadel. She also said that she wishes to become a scholar." "My little boy is making friends already! If you require anything, just ask me and I shall get it arranged." "Yes, mother!" *** A day later in Damien's coach. "Robert! What are you doing in the washroom? Emily and her sister have come to meet us!" Damien knocked again at the washroom's door. "Umm, I have a bad stomach. I will stay here for a while.", Robert replied from the washroom. "So that's what you were hiding!", Damien said, laughing. "Will Master Damien join us now?", asked Emily while looking in Damien's direction. "Oh, sure..." Damien sat down with two girls. "Hmm? Erza are you a Herald?" Damien looked at the taller of the two. The sisters looked quite alike, except that Erza was a few inches taller and had long hair that went down to her waist. "Y-Yeah I just advanced recently... it has been a week to be exact," Erza said and looked towards Damien. Her cheeks revealed a light blush in them. (O: Damien has got some class R: which you don't) "Ah! I could feel a higher concentration of mana from you.", Damien said, unknowingly. He picked up his cup of tea. "So are you going to give the mage exams?" asked Damien. "Yes, indeed, I wish to become a battle mage one day," Erza replied. "I am sure that you will serve under Master Damien, won't you Erza?", Emily said, teasing. "No need for 'Master'. Just call me by my name. And yes, I too wish to enlist in the army and serve my country!" "I see. And what about Master Robert? Is he unwell?" "He... H-He is taking a bath.", stammered Damien. "But, I thought that the bathroom was over there." Emily pointed at the door in front of the washroom in which Robert was hiding. "Yeah- I mean no, that door is umm... It is that-", Damien flustered. The two sisters looked at Damien with a suspicious eye. Damien had never been a man of the moment. He was thinking to himself... 'What should I say to them?! What?!..... What?!?!' Suddenly, a light bulb flickered open in his head... "Let me check. He was feeling sleepy today, so I guess he slept in the washroom!" Damien smiled, and gave a sigh of relief, while Emily burst out laughing, and Erza giggled. 'Was that too stupid of an explanation? Mother is gonna kill me when she hears about this.', Damien thought, scratching his head as he stood up. (D: Damien...smh) "I am not sleeping!" The door opened, and out came Robert, smiling his widest. 'This Damien will drown my reputation in their tears of laughter.', Robert had thought to himself and it was on an impulse that he had barged out of the washroom. "Oh, Robert you are out! Well, I- oww!" "Forgive my Brother; he is a little eccentric at times.", Robert said, and smacked Damien on his head. "Sorry for keeping you ladies waiting!" "It is nothing, Master Robert.", chuckled Emily. Robert looked at Erza and his mind went blank. Scenes from that fateful night replayed in his head. 'ROBERT CONTROL!', he bellowed in his heart. Emily and Erza excused themselves after some time. Robert, whose face was still coloured faint red, looked outside the window and noticed that the night sky was filled with the cosmic entities. He began to feel sleepy. "Danny I'm going to sleep now, good night." "Okay, good night. I'll sleep sometime later." Damien sat on the couch and picked up the book he had been gifted by Katherine, which described the Citadel and the mage exams. It said that the Citadel was the largest territory in Triston, which was also the capital for commerce. The mage exams took place in the Holy Draconic Association of Magical Arts, the primary institution of the empire and it was a necessity for young mages to be certified by the association. The association was created by Emperor Maximus' wife to show respect and build a pseudo-church for the Dragon Emperor, which later transformed into an organization which acted as the legislature of the empire, working under the King. The leader of the sect is the Supreme Pontiff, currently held by His Holiness Jaden Àmidari, who resides in the empire's capital Eden. The other priests - Hallowmen - are the supreme pontiffs of the territorial capitals. They are second in the hierarchy. Under them are the priests, service mages and the rest of the clergy. Damien closed his eyes to take it all in and slept then and there. The last few days passed by in a similar manner. Damien finished reading the book, and Robert was hesitant to talk to Emily and avoided her as much as he could. When they finally reached Citadel, Robert was the first to leave for their residence. On Damien's insistence, Katherine took him to see the association grounds. "Now remember, we are to only see and then we shall return. Your exam isn't until the day after, so we will rest after this. Tomorrow you can roam around the city." Damien nodded in agreement. The carriage arrived at the sect and Damien walked out to see the majestic site. In front of him stood one of the oldest monuments in the empire - the great Aestas Exedra - which literally translated to the great summer hall. The names of all the association grounds in the country were the same, except for the one in the capital, which was known as the Ecclesia Draconis. Damien saw the holy sanctum, made from black iron and bricks. It was a black beauty, but the oddity was that it had no dragon sculptures. On it, instead, was something written in the ancient draconic language, which nobody except the emperor had the ability to translate. It was said that the church formed by the association's members did not have an image of their God, but of this draconic inscription, which was the Dragon Emperor's will. High above Damien in the sanctum, was a black pagoda with golden poles over it, signifying communication with the heavens. As Damien entered the Church, he saw that there were candles everywhere, lighting up the section. The stained glass windows allowed only faint rays to light up the long corridor, at the end of which was a stone, carrying words that made Damien's head swirl. He averted his gaze and slowly went to the first floor. The room appeared old and archaic, filled with antiques on display. Here, Damien found were the artefacts of the great heroes of Triston, including his father's gauntlet. As a token of respect to the sect, all great personalities had given one of their weapons. It told everyone that they stood united. In one corner of the room, a stage had been constructed. On the pedestal right in its centre, a circular magic formation was craved about 2 feet in diameter. Above the magic formation, a black ball floated. Occasionally, ripples were formed on the ball, making it look like a floating blob of dark liquid. "Mother, what is that?", asked Damien. She had been following Damien at a leisurely pace, taking pleasure in watching Damien's reactions. "That is the place where your elemental affinity test and spirit aptitude will take place and your innate ability test will take place on the second floor, where only Heralds are allowed.", said Katherine. "However, right now, the Hallowmen are arranging the apparatus for ability testing; we can not go there." Damien, the ever obedient child, nodded. He, with Katherine, returned to their residence after some more inspection of the grounds. After a while, Katherine said, "And also, nowadays they have combined the elemental affinity test and sprit aptitude test. I don't how but that is what I have been told." Two days later. "So the day is finally here, eh?" "Yeah, Danny. We are going to be certified Heralds now!" "You two, do not make noises. No chitchat; be more poised, and, for the sake of heavens, act like noble-borns." An hour later, the troop reached the association grounds. Damien had told Robert all about his visit, so Robert's blue eyes were darting all around; narration and first-hand experience always had their differences. "Nice..." Robert seemed to be amazed by the architecture. Unaware to Katherine, what Robert was thinking was, 'Woah! Assassins will have a hard time hiding over here. And there, there is the blind spot!' As for Damien, he was too nervous to say anything. A lot of people were gathered here, but all stepped aside when they saw the royal family come forward; the guards did not come since they were forbidden on the association grounds. (D: Robert finding more places to hide lol) "Good Morning, Lady Katherine.", a man in white silk robes said and bowed as he moved in front of Lady Katherine. "Good Morning, Hallowman Gregor!" Katherine readdressed the man. "Would you mind leading us to the first floor?" "Not at all milady. I see young masters are already Heralds! They must surely have some talent. However, if my memory does not fail me, they are thirteen years old, aren't they?", he asked. "Indeed, but this year in the month of Nix, they turn fourteen.", Katherine smiled. "Ho! Then there is no problem.", assured, the hallowman smiled, and turned. The Royals were led to the very same hall which Damien had discovered the first time he had come to the grounds. On seeing Katherine enter, all present bowed in respect. Despite the infamous Earl Lawrence's absolute disregard for formalities and traditions, he was quite popular among his subjects. Needless to say, his kin were to receive the same respect. "So, Master Damien, Master Robert, which one of you would like to present first?" Gregor asked. "I think Robert you should try it first.", Damien said, with a tremor in his voice. He was trying his best to sound as casual as possible, resulting in a moment evidently awkward for everyone present around. Robert broke through it with overconfidence. "Fine then. Hallowman Gregor, please instruct me towards my actions," said Robert. He could be the most formal if he wanted to. "Ho ho! What a bold young child!", Gregor exclaimed with surprise. He gestured Robert to follow him to the pedestal. A white flame burned in the air above the magic formation. The flame, about the size of one's fist, flickered irregularly. The magic formation glowed and emitted blue light, while the black ball floated over the flame in a leisurely manner. "Now, Master Robert, what you have to do is: touch the magic formation with your hand, and release all the mana in your body," Gregor said, pointing towards the circle on the stage. Robert nodded and bent down. When, after taking a deep breath, Robert touched the formation with the tips of his fingers, he felt a slight suction force. He took another deep breath and forced all the mana in his body into the formation. The formation released intense light while the floating white flame turned golden yellow, with brown and green hues twinkling in it. The flames grew higher and licked the black ball. The black ball distorted and twisted with huge ripples continuously changing its shape. Its top-half tuned golden, while the bottom changed to brown; a thick green strip occupied the middle. "By God! His divine elemental affinity! The order of its ratio is greater than his both of his basic affinities combined! He can become a Paladin!", exclaimed Gregor with amazement. The entire hall went abuzz with gasps and murmurs. Katherine's eyes were shining as they had never before; she was thinking, 'I knew it, Robert! My son! You would make your parents proud one day!' She noticed the awe and admiration that radiated from Damien's face; she smiled, and asked him in her thoughts, 'Will you follow your father's footsteps too?' "A Paladin, eh?", Robert said as he got up. The ball was still shining. 'Sounds boring', he thought.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNmZmYwZjRkMWRhNzRiZDliNjRlNjk1NDUxNWU1M2M5">A meteor the size of a pickup truck is rushing towards me at tremendous speed. I jump away and fiddle with my Portal Gun, it’s approaching and it’s going to vaporize everything in its wake!</p> <p class="cnNjNzA2M2EwMGY4ZjQ1NmFhMDFiNjlmYWYyOGVhNGU0">I teleport back home just before the asteroid impacts with the mountain, I’m certain that I felt the cosmic deflagration on my back just as I stepped through the blue portal.</p> <p class="cnMxOTg1MDAzZDJiMzQwYWY5ZDMxZWZmMTYwNDg3ZTky">But I’m safe now, and I won’t lie and say that I’m not curious about the consequences of the impact that I just narrowly escaped. But the effects are ultimately not my problems, and I have more urgent matters to worry about.</p> <p class="cnNlZmRlZGE4NjQ0ZTQ4ZTVhNzkzZWE0YzdiNDI4MTZl">The spell jammer is something that comes to my mind, and while it’s important the survival of my newly acquired bunch of cultists is also high on the priority list. Looking around reveals that the compound is still bustling with activity, and it’s hasn’t been reduced to a smoldering crater.</p> <p class="cnM1MTkzMjU0ZWU5MjQ2YmNhNjAwZTUwMzFhMjFjM2Q3">Terrence also didn’t call me, so I can only assume that nobody attacked us while I was off planet. But I can’t relax while that massive bounty on my head still exists, and a quick glance at the website shows that the amount of Credits has already increased by a couple of millions since I last checked it out.</p> <p class="cnNiNjEwNzFhNTQ2MjQ4ZGNhOTIyY2I3Zjg5MWNiZjkx"><em>This is worrying, so I need to act quickly.</em></p> <p class="cnMwNmQ4ZDNhMTVkZTQ5MWRiYmVjNTRkNzU4NTJiYzE3">I take a deep breath and sink into the ground to emerge in front of an unappealing shop that looks like a long-abandoned ruin.</p> <p class="cnNhNDIwNjJhYWUzODQ5ZDc4ZWViNzI3YjU4MTI4MWEz">The Goblin turns his head towards me when I step inside, and his business smile freezes for a second when he recognizes me.</p> <p class="cnM4NmNkN2Q1ZDA3YzQwM2I4OWVhNjlkODA3OTVmY2I3">“Boy, you’re still alive! How is your search doing, did you-”</p> <p class="cnMzZGQ0NzMwNTBmMzQ1ZTQ4MjRhYmRlMDNiOTg0OTAy">“I have what you asked for," I say before leaning against the counter. “Acquiring those materials wasn’t easy…" I activate my robes for a second before continuing, "So I hope you’ll honor your part of the deal.”</p> <p class="cnNkZjRjNDRmYTM2ZTQzZjY4NjM1YWVlYmM4MzZhODhk">This may seem excessive, but I need to make sure that Krognar will not try to swindle me. The survival of the Order and humanity at large is at stake.</p> <p class="cnM5YjczMDMyZmI1MjRiZGNhYmYyZWI1ZjM4ZTJkMDkz">He gulps and nods before beckoning me towards the secure backroom where he activates his security measures.</p> <p class="cnM2MmNhZTdiNGI3YTQ0NmJiMjhmODUwMDA5YzA5YjE5">"Show me," he says while pointing towards the containers, so I drop the large cylinders on the table and open them.</p> <p class="cnNlYjQxYzYzNThhZjQxYzg5ZDY0Yzg3NTEyM2NlMzUw">“I can’t believe it…” Krognar mumbles as he eyes the piles of Starmetal with child-like wonder. “And I thought I would never see this again!”</p> <p class="cnM5NzNkNjA2YmMzYzQ1YjhiN2JmMzkxYjJkZDllZGQ2">He cackles like a maniac, and I take him out of his trance with a quick burst of golden fire.</p> <p class="cnNmNjE5MTdjOWViMjRhNmU4NDNkMjBjOTVkMDYxYmRi">"Boy, I don't know how you did it, but if my theory is correct then today is a historic day!" he says with a big genuine smile.</p> <p class="cnMyYjI4Njc5NjkzNDQ0NWJiZDhjOGY3YTM2NDJhOGY2">The Goblin then unscrews his metallic little finger before sliding it into a secret compartment near his mechanical elbow.</p> <p class="cnNiODM0OWQ0ODVhYjQyNjRhNjA1YjE2YjYyZGQ0OWVj">A large slab of stone slides off the ground and reveals a long and dark staircase. The Goblin grabs a couple of containers and I pick up the rest before following him into the narrow staircase.</p> <p class="cnMwNDhiNTNlOWE2NzRjYmU5NWIyNDU2MDUyY2JkY2Mx">We walk in silence until we reach a large metallic blast door made with what looks like a reinforced version of Krognar’s secret alloy. It’s covered with a staggering amount of runes; they are so small and detailed that I wouldn’t be surprised if he told me that he engraved them on a molecular level.</p> <p class="cnM0ZTg1ZmU1YTViYjQ5NjRhMzVhZjgyZTk4MDljNWE1">He presses both of his palms onto dedicated slots in the middle of the massive slab of metal, and it comes to life after a few seconds.</p> <p class="cnM5NDkzMjAzNThlNTQ3MjJhM2EyZjQyYzhlMDVjNjVm">The door is then covered by hundreds, if not thousands of multicolored strands of light that flows into the intricate patterns covering the blast door. Various clicking noises echos into the staircase and it slowly slides open.</p> <p class="cnM0YWMxNDdhY2FmZDQ2ZWJhOWE3YzcxZGY3YTI1ODY0">My jaw drops when I realize that the door is nearly ten feet thick!</p> <p class="cnNkYjAwNjY5NWJhZDQ2ZTI5ZGRiZTIwNzk5OGFhNGVm">But my surprise doesn’t end when I see what’s on the other side; it’s very similar to a crude Victorian-era elevator.</p> <p class="cnM5YWRiYTU5MmI2OTRiZTU5OWFiYWViZDljYmNkMjQ4">“I know you were probably expecting a Gate or some sort of teleporting circle, but these aren’t secure enough. Even with all the defenses around this place, someone who really wants to intercept the spell might find a way to get in. That's why I'm using this rather unconventional method of travel." he explains before stepping into the elevator.</p> <p class="cnM2MDY5Y2NiN2EzZjQ2YjBiNDQwYzZkYWQwY2ZmMDM4">I follow behind him, it’s a bit cramped but I’ll manage.</p> <p class="cnNmMmE4MjMxNGMxYjQxYzE5ZWRjMDAwMjg3ODJhNmE0">The Goblin pushes a button and the doors close behind me, “A word of warning, it’s quite a bumpy ride so brace yourself!”</p> <p class="cnNhYjBjMDhmOWJjMzQ4NWRhZDJiNjM4OGNkY2YwZjcx">I realize how right he is when the elevator rumbles to life and goes… backward.</p> <p class="cnMwYTJjZTY0YjQ2NzQxZDM4ZDgwZWI2OTlmMzBjMWIz">The ground opens in front of us and closes behind the small cabin as it zips around in seemingly random directions at supersonic speeds.</p> <p class="cnM0OGFjNDQ2YjRkOTQwMTE4NjZkM2JlNGFhODM5ZDRm">I’m almost thrown off my feet each time the cabin abruptly changes directions, but the ride finally comes to an end and we arrive in a room that’s identical to the one where we boarded this infernal contraption.</p> <p class="cnNhNzU0OWE3MThjNzQxZTI5ZDE5NDA1MzJmOTIyMTQ5">Krognar opens the massive blast door, and it reveals a large circular room with an unusually high ceiling. However, the drab room made of some sort of concrete isn’t what catches my attention. Instead, it’s the large machine standing in the middle of the room.</p> <p class="cnNlOTI1MmNjMTg1MDQzMGY4NDZkNDc3NzU3MTM2NjA1">A large pedestal made of brushed steel is surrounded by four rune-covered silver needles that are almost as long as my arm. They are all pointing towards the center of the slightly concave metal plate.</p> <p class="cnNiYzAzMzVlMzM5YjRlNDI5MWNmZDc4NDFjOTkwZTQ4">This construct is then surrounded by a massive set of spherical panels linked to gears protruding out of the walls, various pipes are leading towards a console covered in gauges and multicolored buttons. The Goblin first walk towards a set of cylindrical containers, similar to the ones I’m carrying around, linked to the piping system.</p> <p class="cnM2ZmMyYjVlYzVhYTQyMWFiYWRlNDE3MWNmYzU0YTIy">He pulls a lever and the twenty chambers open at the same time with a puff of smoke.</p> <p class="cnNlYTEzNzZmOTE3MTRlZTBiZjYzOTk3NzE1NGVhZGNm">“These are for the Frostcrystal Roses,” he explains before carefully putting a flower in each container where they hover with a slight bob. I notice that he’s only touching them with his metallic arm since it's now coated in frost.</p> <p class="cnM0NWU5MDVkNTA4MDQ5NDRiMTA5YjY4YmZhNDhkNDgy">“I never had the opportunity to actually test this, so I have no clue how safe it’s going to be.” Krognar declares as he dumps the Starmetal onto the pedestal.</p> <p class="cnMzMDBmZjI2MGZiOTRjNGY5MzJmODA4NWZkZWE0Mjcy">Great, that’s very reassuring. I just hope his machine is secure, or we'll become a target for the entire Underworld. Not to mention how bad it will be if Enforcers learns about our little transgression.</p> <p class="cnNjN2Q3ZTU3NjViYTQ5NzdiZWE4NjY2ZTIzNGM5YmY2">I bury those thoughts to the back of my head and imitate him before walking towards the console where the Goblin is already fiddling with various knobs and levers.</p> <p class="cnM2MmYwMTE5MzMyYzQyOGE4NzU0ZWFjOTQyODZjYmEw">The machine soon rumbles to life, and the containers light up while the gears start to turn, causing the panels to rotate all around the pedestal while moving around in complicated patterns.</p> <p class="cnNlMjkzMTFhMmRkZDQ2NTJiNmUzOTBjMWEwZWUwOTll">“So what are we doing here? I think I deserve an explanation.” I ask. This doesn’t look like anything I ever saw before, and learning the Goblin’s secret is vital if I want my Fabricators to be able to replicate this.</p> <p class="cnMwZmE0YjdhYTVkODRiMDc5N2JmNzMxY2ViNTAwNTE4">“To put it simply, the Starmetal has very interesting properties under very specific conditions. Think of spells as a delicate assembly of mana in certain wavelengths and certain shapes. If my theory is correct, then this design of mine should be able to generate a field of frenzied mana that would shatter any spell it would come across.”</p> <p class="cnNhY2NjMzlkNThiMTQwNzI5ZTRiMTI5ZjNmMmYxNzhk">I nod despite not having a clue about what the Goblin is talking about.</p> <p class="cnNjMjA0Y2U5M2I4MzRmYTQ5ODM1NjBiOGQ4YWNmZjNl">“So this machine is needed to make this happen?” I ask while briefly glancing towards the mechanical monstrosity behind me.</p> <p class="cnNjMmYyNTQxYzcwZjQ0Njc4ZTYwODg4MTNkMjIzOWIw">Krognar shakes his head, “No, this is just a way to shape the Starmetal. This material has many amazing properties, but it’s impossible to work within any meaningful capacity.”</p> <p class="cnNjMzU5MjlhNzU0NzQ5NTM4NGM3ZGZlOTY5M2QyOWU2">Images of the village chief with his crude equipment flash through my mind, but it also makes me wonder about the mysterious artifacts I stole from their vault. What could they possibly be?</p> <p class="cnMyZTY2MTE3MDZmNjQyZTg5Y2Y5N2JlMWY4ZTEzNWU3">“I did a lot of research, and theorized that I could shape the Starmetal, but only if I can temporarily freeze it. Of course, regular freezing wouldn’t be enough, it has to be frost that goes beyond the physical level and that is capable of affecting mana directly. My years of research led me to the Frostcrystal Roses, which are rumored to be able to freeze an active volcano if you could somehow draw onto its full power. But I never heard of anyone being able to do it, and even this contraption that took years to make can barely draw a fraction of the Roses…” Krognar briefly glances towards the machine before focusing back onto the wildly jumping gauges of the console.</p> <p class="cnM5YjA1ZDAzYWMzZTQ4MzM5Njk0NjFjYWZlNGQxMjll">I hope this is a good thing, because if this thing exploded in this cramped room then we’re going to have a bad time.</p> <p class="cnM2M2JiMWE0ZTVmMDQxZTJhODBiMjM4NWUxNThmYWRj">"Boy, this is a historical moment…" Krognar mumbles and I can barely hear him over the cacophony that the machine is now producing.</p> <p class="cnM4ODBiYTNlYmYyODRhZjBhNmFlOWE3ZDg3ZjRjNGE0">The Goblin pulls a big red lever and the machine almost jump in place when a thin stream of blue energy with hints of purple seep out of the panels moving at record speeds.</p> <p class="cnM4OWU3NjZiZmIxNjQzNWE5MjJhYzU1NWM4NzIwMjVk">It soon forms a dome over the pedestal, and I can barely see the needles coming to life as they carve up the Starmetal at a tremendous speed.</p> <p class="cnMwOThiYTNlYWNiMzQ1YjY4MGYwNTJiNzE0N2ExZmQx">Krognar is focused on the gauges, and move with surprising dexterity as he constantly adjusts a knob or pulls on a lever.</p> <p class="cnMzMjVkYTg2MmVkMzQ3OGRhZGFjYTJhMTIzZDM0YTRm">This looks impractical, but I think the guy with something strapped to his arm with zip ties can’t really criticize anyone on their skills…</p> <p class="cnNkMWYyMGI0NWEyNjRkYmY5NGZiZjQ2NzVjNjFhMzVk">The needles continue to carve out large chunks of Starmetal and fusing them together, it’s not long before the deafening process finally comes to an end. The cylinders containing the Roses open, and the now dead plants fall onto the ground.</p> <p class="cnNlMWViNWY5MWUzMTRkMTU4MjZmZmYxMjI5ZDk2YWM2">The machine slows down to a standstill, and the remaining mysterious blue energy soon dissipates into the air, revealing a set of three quarter spheres held together by a long rod.</p> <p class="cnNlOThhNWVhOWExZjQ0OTlhMzdlYWU2MGJlMGNlZjNi">“I can’t believe it…It worked!” Krognar jumps around and eyes the contraption that's about his size with wonder and amazement.</p> <p class="cnNhZmQ3OGZmZTRlMjRmNWQ5MWMzZTEzOTllMTY1OGE1">I’ll be honest; I was expecting something smaller and flashier.</p> <p class="cnM3NzI2NjlmMDgyYzQ3Y2RhZDg4YjIwMjdhODMyOGQz">“… How does it work?” I ask the Goblin, who still needs a few seconds to calm down.</p> <p class="cnNiNDAyZWRhNWQxNzQ0YTFiZjM1ZDUwYzI2ZDE2OTY5">“The fact that the fabrication process worked is already amazing, but if my theory is correct then rotating this thing at tremendous speed should be enough to disturb any kind of spell for a thirty yards radius around the object. After that, the effects should gradually weaken. Of course, this is just based on theory…” The Goblin can hardly contain his excitement, and I can’t blame him. If his theory is correct, then I could render the fearsome Strategic Spells of the Enforcers completely harmless.</p> <p class="cnNmNGJiNTQxNTYyYzQ2MzRiOWU5NzE1NTljYWU1MGZh">“What are we waiting for?” I ask the Goblin, who smiles.</p> <p class="cnNhNTliMmQyM2Q4ZjRmNmM5Y2U3MjBlMjQ5MGI3MTdm">“I have just the thing….” He says before opening a hidden compartment in the wall, revealing a contraption covered by a dusty cloth that’s about half my size. “I made this when I was young, back when I thought that I could obtain the materials," he says with a hint of bitterness before revealing the construct.</p> <p class="cnMxZDMwZTI4NWZjMjQwOTk5YTYzZDFlZWUyNGY4NzA2">It looks like a small Greek column made with his secret alloy, the surface of the construct is flawless and polished save for an area where an absorption rune resides.</p> <p class="cnM1NjllZmE2Nzc0MTQ5MGNhNTczMGQ1ZDk0YzlhMWM1">“Help me put this thing on.” He says while pointing towards the Starmetal construct still on the pedestal.</p> <p class="cnNkNDRjODBiNzRlYTRjNjU5NDQ5MmE1ZDE0YmQ2ZjA5">I nod and grab the item; it’s surprisingly heavy and makes the short walk between the machine and the pillar more grueling than it has any rights to.</p> <p class="cnMzMDBmNTg5MjViNzQ3ZTA5NGZjN2FhMTQ4OTU4MzMw">Krognar screws the item onto the pillar and takes a step back to admire his handiwork. It doesn’t look like much, but this unwieldy contraption could be the key to securing a future for humanity.</p> <p class="cnNiNjY0NGQzODg1MTQyMTQ4YTQ2MzBlYjU5MjI1OGYx">At least if it works.</p> <p class="cnMwNzdjOGJjZjhhNzRlNmM5MmYyOGJmZTA1MjIwYzc0">“Ready?” the Goblin asks, and I nod. He presses the rune, and the artifact makes a faint humming sound before the Starmetal object starts to spin so fast that my eyes cannot keep up with it. "As I predicted, it doesn't affect enchanted items..." he mumbles.</p> <p class="cnM5YzFjMjc1OTY1MzRjYjJhMGQ0ZThjZTVjMTAzODY0">Krognar takes a deep breath and raises an index, magic circles form around his wrinkled finger-</p> <p class="cnNkYTIyNGJmMzUxNjRjNmM4NjQyNDU0YjE4YWRiODEz">The circles shatter into nothingness in the next instant!</p> <p class="cnNmM2ViZjAzOTcwODQzNmRiNDcwODQwZjJlZWI2OTI1">Silence falls, this test revealed the significance of what we accomplished today.</p> <p class="cnM2OTNjNmJiOWFmYzQzMWQ5YzQ1YjkyYzVmNmRkZTAx">We made a working Spell Jammer!</p> <p class="cnNjZDY5MzQwMTMyNjRlZGQ5MzcyNmE4MjNjNDMyYjUx">My happiness is soon replaced by doubt and wariness. How will the Goblin react, and what will he do with this discovery?</p> <p class="cnNmYmMwYzUxMTM1OTQyYjk4MDM0ODc0NDg0YmJiMTgz"><strong><em>We nEeD to AcT!</em></strong></p> <p class="cnMzMTkwZjAwNWM5MzRlNzM5NWMyMzkzM2U3M2IxZDVm">My hand slowly inches towards my Pistol; removing Krognar from the equation seems like the reasonable option. I simply can't take the risk of him selling the technology to others, and the risk of it falling into the hands of Enforcers is way too high.</p> <p class="cnMzMTU4MDA4YTA4NDQwYWZhZTJhOTkxNDBhOWJiOGIw">It’s true that I have no idea how to operate that machine of his. I could Rewind until I learned how it worked, but then I’ll probably have to contend with hundreds of hidden security measures.</p> <p class="cnNhNzcwNGM4OWIwZjQxNWJhZTUxMTNlYmUwYzg3Zjdl">However, I’m sure the Fabricators can figure something out. We have access to Power Stones and the essence of frost, so I bet we’ll be able to make something similar to the Goblin’s cooling machine.</p> <p class="cnM4NmUxMmE2YjliMDQ3YjZiYzhhOGFiY2ZkZWFmMjQ3">“So… What do we do now?” I ask after pulling out my Pistol. Krognar was a valuable source of information and equipment, but letting him live might be too much of a risk. On the other hand, letting him live might be beneficial in the future since his help could be invaluable.</p> <p class="cnNmNjAzOTkxOTQxNjQ1ODk4YTZlYWZiMGIwMWFhYzNk">“I… I don’t know.” the Goblin eyes me up and sighs.”I do believe you didn’t do this from the goodness of your heart, especially considering how much you spent on this venture.”</p> <p class="cnMwM2M2ZjM2MjlmOTRhYjU4MWU0ZjdmNGFjY2E0ZDBh">He’s not wrong, so I nod in silence. Krognar’s next sentence might be what decides his fate, so I don’t add anything and observe him.</p> <p class="cnMwOTMxMDNlZjY4ODRkYTg5NmYyZTI4N2I5OGIxZjE3">“I thought this was impossible for so long and that it would remain as a theory for the remainder of my life. But you made it possible, and I’m glad that I got to witness it… But I doubt you’ll let me keep it, wouldn’t you?”</p> <p class="cnMyZGI3OTk0MjY4YjRkMzZiMTc3OWEzOGZmNTI4NmE0">That much is obvious, especially when considering how taboo a Spell Jammer apparently is.</p> <p class="cnM2MDA5YjBiMDUxODRiMmJiM2JkMWZiODRhYTgwMWRm">“After all, I doubt you would let me keep the Jammer. And I have no interest in fighting you since the outcome would be obvious.” The Goblin continues his monologue. “From what I can assume, I’m almost certain that you’re going against the Enforcers on your world, right?”</p> <p class="cnMwOWJkNTM2ZjA4NTQzMTQ4NmNmZjM5YWUwODQ0ZDYx">“You’re right. Their tyranny has to come to an end.” I don’t know how the Enforcers act on other worlds, and I hope they aren’t as bad as the ones on Earth.</p> <p class="cnNiNGRkMTY5MzFkODQyMzg5MDE0ZDhjZWFjZjljNGNl">Another thing that puzzles me is why they seem to exist in every civilized world. Is it because the translator translates the word that way, or because they are the same organization?</p> <p class="cnNlMjdiNTM0OThjMTRjM2ZhNmY2MTdmMTFhYTkzNGM5">“I see… I was like that when I was younger. A powerful Goblin once lived on my home planet, and he happened to be drunk while meeting someone very important to me. He blasted her in his drunken stupor, and he only got a slap on the wrist because of his status… So I had to act.” Krognar clenches his fists.</p> <p class="cnM0ZTU0OTAyZWIxYjQxNDlhZDY2ZWJlMzIyZDFhYTI5">“The Rules of my homeworld were pretty strict: Just having rebellious thought was enough to warrant your execution, and they also killed your immediate family to make sure that no one dared to go against them. So I faked my death to protect them and went after that person. I somehow killed him but it made me a pariah and a wanted criminal, so I went into hiding since that fateful day.”</p> <p class="cnM0NTBhNjZlYzM2NjQwNjc5MDg1OTNiMTdiNzM2ZDll">Wow. In hindsight, there must’ve been a reason why the Goblin was living in a place like this. I guess this is where I’ll end up if my rebellion fails.</p> <p class="cnM2NTU4NTVhMWMzNzQzYmY5ZGE1ZjY3ZTI3OTk1OGFh">That’s a sobering thought.</p> <p class="cnNiMjQ5N2FlNmFlZTRmMzJhMjQ3YjQ4MWI1MjBjMzEx">But I have to try as hard as I can, the situation on Earth is bad and it can only get worse. So I have to succeed, no matter how many Rewinds it’ll take, or how many I’ll have to kill. Maybe that's why I stumbled upon the Rewinder. Maybe I was fated to save humanity.</p> <p class="cnM4YjYyM2E3Nzg5ZjQ4YmNhNTU4ZDAyZWUwYzcxZDQ2">I’m starting to sound like Terrence. The Order’s blind faith might be affecting my judgment, so I have to remind myself that fate doesn’t exist. Everything that happened was a string of coincidences and being at the wrong place at the wrong time.</p> <p class="cnNlNjBlOGM2Yjk3NDQwMjg4ZmJjN2MyNjdjYWVmZjFk">“I know that going against the Enforcers might be seen as a foolish endeavor, but I’m not motivated by personal gain.”</p> <p class="cnMyMjg0YmNhNThlOTQ4YWZiYjRiYjUyOTkwODFlZGQ4">At least not anymore. I'll admit that the whole Scalebound thing was entirely fueled by hatred and revenge, and maybe a bit of rebellious thought. But everything changed since the battle against the demon.</p> <p class="cnMxZDVhYjExOTNiZjRkNDc4NmMxNmQ1MWJjZDE3Y2Nh">I’m convinced that the greed and pettiness of the Enforcers will inevitably lead to the next mass extinction event, especially considering all the hellish relics they are hiding in their vaults.</p> <p class="cnNhMzA1ZmQwMDRkMTRjODJiNWE5OTA4MmE1YTM4ZTcw">“I’m the only real hope my species has of freeing itself, so I can't back down," I reply, causing the Goblin to sigh.</p> <p class="cnM5MTgzZjU0YzlmMDRhYTQ4MDFmNTQ0MDA5ZThjZDIx">“We all have our circumstances, and I can only hope that you’ll succeed. Just make sure that this technology doesn’t fall into the wrong hands, okay? I’m getting old, and I don’t have much time left. My secrets are going to die with me and this place will be disintegrated, so you don’t have to worry about me leaking anything. I would rather die than helping oppressors.”</p> <p class="cnM2MTNhOGQxYzVhMzQ1N2ViNmMzZjU3YzBiYzVmN2Nm">What should I do?</p> <p class="cnM3MjY1NGUyOGQxMjQyN2Y4MWNjOWQ1ODJkNDkzYWI2">Krognar’s story seems believable and I don’t want to shoot him now, even the voice in my head calmed down.</p> <p class="cnM5OTAyYjY0MzZkYTQyZDBhNzJlODdlZjczM2EyNDc3">His story might be a lie designed to tug at my heartstrings, but my gut tells me that it was the truth.</p> <p class="cnM0M2U4MGJmMzM1NTQ0N2ZiOGNkZTVkM2Q0NmM0M2Ni">I holster my gun and sigh, I hope that letting the old Goblin live will not bite me in the ass later.</p> </div>

A meteor the size of a pickup truck is rushing towards me at tremendous speed. I jump away and fiddle with my Portal Gun, it’s approaching and it’s going to vaporize everything in its wake! I teleport back home just before the asteroid impacts with the mountain, I’m certain that I felt the cosmic deflagration on my back just as I stepped through the blue portal. But I’m safe now, and I won’t lie and say that I’m not curious about the consequences of the impact that I just narrowly escaped. But the effects are ultimately not my problems, and I have more urgent matters to worry about. The spell jammer is something that comes to my mind, and while it’s important the survival of my newly acquired bunch of cultists is also high on the priority list. Looking around reveals that the compound is still bustling with activity, and it’s hasn’t been reduced to a smoldering crater. Terrence also didn’t call me, so I can only assume that nobody attacked us while I was off planet. But I can’t relax while that massive bounty on my head still exists, and a quick glance at the website shows that the amount of Credits has already increased by a couple of millions since I last checked it out. *This is worrying, so I need to act quickly.* I take a deep breath and sink into the ground to emerge in front of an unappealing shop that looks like a long-abandoned ruin. The Goblin turns his head towards me when I step inside, and his business smile freezes for a second when he recognizes me. “Boy, you’re still alive! How is your search doing, did you-” “I have what you asked for," I say before leaning against the counter. “Acquiring those materials wasn’t easy…" I activate my robes for a second before continuing, "So I hope you’ll honor your part of the deal.” This may seem excessive, but I need to make sure that Krognar will not try to swindle me. The survival of the Order and humanity at large is at stake. He gulps and nods before beckoning me towards the secure backroom where he activates his security measures. "Show me," he says while pointing towards the containers, so I drop the large cylinders on the table and open them. “I can’t believe it…” Krognar mumbles as he eyes the piles of Starmetal with child-like wonder. “And I thought I would never see this again!” He cackles like a maniac, and I take him out of his trance with a quick burst of golden fire. "Boy, I don't know how you did it, but if my theory is correct then today is a historic day!" he says with a big genuine smile. The Goblin then unscrews his metallic little finger before sliding it into a secret compartment near his mechanical elbow. A large slab of stone slides off the ground and reveals a long and dark staircase. The Goblin grabs a couple of containers and I pick up the rest before following him into the narrow staircase. We walk in silence until we reach a large metallic blast door made with what looks like a reinforced version of Krognar’s secret alloy. It’s covered with a staggering amount of runes; they are so small and detailed that I wouldn’t be surprised if he told me that he engraved them on a molecular level. He presses both of his palms onto dedicated slots in the middle of the massive slab of metal, and it comes to life after a few seconds. The door is then covered by hundreds, if not thousands of multicolored strands of light that flows into the intricate patterns covering the blast door. Various clicking noises echos into the staircase and it slowly slides open. My jaw drops when I realize that the door is nearly ten feet thick! But my surprise doesn’t end when I see what’s on the other side; it’s very similar to a crude Victorian-era elevator. “I know you were probably expecting a Gate or some sort of teleporting circle, but these aren’t secure enough. Even with all the defenses around this place, someone who really wants to intercept the spell might find a way to get in. That's why I'm using this rather unconventional method of travel." he explains before stepping into the elevator. I follow behind him, it’s a bit cramped but I’ll manage. The Goblin pushes a button and the doors close behind me, “A word of warning, it’s quite a bumpy ride so brace yourself!” I realize how right he is when the elevator rumbles to life and goes… backward. The ground opens in front of us and closes behind the small cabin as it zips around in seemingly random directions at supersonic speeds. I’m almost thrown off my feet each time the cabin abruptly changes directions, but the ride finally comes to an end and we arrive in a room that’s identical to the one where we boarded this infernal contraption. Krognar opens the massive blast door, and it reveals a large circular room with an unusually high ceiling. However, the drab room made of some sort of concrete isn’t what catches my attention. Instead, it’s the large machine standing in the middle of the room. A large pedestal made of brushed steel is surrounded by four rune-covered silver needles that are almost as long as my arm. They are all pointing towards the center of the slightly concave metal plate. This construct is then surrounded by a massive set of spherical panels linked to gears protruding out of the walls, various pipes are leading towards a console covered in gauges and multicolored buttons. The Goblin first walk towards a set of cylindrical containers, similar to the ones I’m carrying around, linked to the piping system. He pulls a lever and the twenty chambers open at the same time with a puff of smoke. “These are for the Frostcrystal Roses,” he explains before carefully putting a flower in each container where they hover with a slight bob. I notice that he’s only touching them with his metallic arm since it's now coated in frost. “I never had the opportunity to actually test this, so I have no clue how safe it’s going to be.” Krognar declares as he dumps the Starmetal onto the pedestal. Great, that’s very reassuring. I just hope his machine is secure, or we'll become a target for the entire Underworld. Not to mention how bad it will be if Enforcers learns about our little transgression. I bury those thoughts to the back of my head and imitate him before walking towards the console where the Goblin is already fiddling with various knobs and levers. The machine soon rumbles to life, and the containers light up while the gears start to turn, causing the panels to rotate all around the pedestal while moving around in complicated patterns. “So what are we doing here? I think I deserve an explanation.” I ask. This doesn’t look like anything I ever saw before, and learning the Goblin’s secret is vital if I want my Fabricators to be able to replicate this. “To put it simply, the Starmetal has very interesting properties under very specific conditions. Think of spells as a delicate assembly of mana in certain wavelengths and certain shapes. If my theory is correct, then this design of mine should be able to generate a field of frenzied mana that would shatter any spell it would come across.” I nod despite not having a clue about what the Goblin is talking about. “So this machine is needed to make this happen?” I ask while briefly glancing towards the mechanical monstrosity behind me. Krognar shakes his head, “No, this is just a way to shape the Starmetal. This material has many amazing properties, but it’s impossible to work within any meaningful capacity.” Images of the village chief with his crude equipment flash through my mind, but it also makes me wonder about the mysterious artifacts I stole from their vault. What could they possibly be? “I did a lot of research, and theorized that I could shape the Starmetal, but only if I can temporarily freeze it. Of course, regular freezing wouldn’t be enough, it has to be frost that goes beyond the physical level and that is capable of affecting mana directly. My years of research led me to the Frostcrystal Roses, which are rumored to be able to freeze an active volcano if you could somehow draw onto its full power. But I never heard of anyone being able to do it, and even this contraption that took years to make can barely draw a fraction of the Roses…” Krognar briefly glances towards the machine before focusing back onto the wildly jumping gauges of the console. I hope this is a good thing, because if this thing exploded in this cramped room then we’re going to have a bad time. "Boy, this is a historical moment…" Krognar mumbles and I can barely hear him over the cacophony that the machine is now producing. The Goblin pulls a big red lever and the machine almost jump in place when a thin stream of blue energy with hints of purple seep out of the panels moving at record speeds. It soon forms a dome over the pedestal, and I can barely see the needles coming to life as they carve up the Starmetal at a tremendous speed. Krognar is focused on the gauges, and move with surprising dexterity as he constantly adjusts a knob or pulls on a lever. This looks impractical, but I think the guy with something strapped to his arm with zip ties can’t really criticize anyone on their skills… The needles continue to carve out large chunks of Starmetal and fusing them together, it’s not long before the deafening process finally comes to an end. The cylinders containing the Roses open, and the now dead plants fall onto the ground. The machine slows down to a standstill, and the remaining mysterious blue energy soon dissipates into the air, revealing a set of three quarter spheres held together by a long rod. “I can’t believe it…It worked!” Krognar jumps around and eyes the contraption that's about his size with wonder and amazement. I’ll be honest; I was expecting something smaller and flashier. “… How does it work?” I ask the Goblin, who still needs a few seconds to calm down. “The fact that the fabrication process worked is already amazing, but if my theory is correct then rotating this thing at tremendous speed should be enough to disturb any kind of spell for a thirty yards radius around the object. After that, the effects should gradually weaken. Of course, this is just based on theory…” The Goblin can hardly contain his excitement, and I can’t blame him. If his theory is correct, then I could render the fearsome Strategic Spells of the Enforcers completely harmless. “What are we waiting for?” I ask the Goblin, who smiles. “I have just the thing….” He says before opening a hidden compartment in the wall, revealing a contraption covered by a dusty cloth that’s about half my size. “I made this when I was young, back when I thought that I could obtain the materials," he says with a hint of bitterness before revealing the construct. It looks like a small Greek column made with his secret alloy, the surface of the construct is flawless and polished save for an area where an absorption rune resides. “Help me put this thing on.” He says while pointing towards the Starmetal construct still on the pedestal. I nod and grab the item; it’s surprisingly heavy and makes the short walk between the machine and the pillar more grueling than it has any rights to. Krognar screws the item onto the pillar and takes a step back to admire his handiwork. It doesn’t look like much, but this unwieldy contraption could be the key to securing a future for humanity. At least if it works. “Ready?” the Goblin asks, and I nod. He presses the rune, and the artifact makes a faint humming sound before the Starmetal object starts to spin so fast that my eyes cannot keep up with it. "As I predicted, it doesn't affect enchanted items..." he mumbles. Krognar takes a deep breath and raises an index, magic circles form around his wrinkled finger- The circles shatter into nothingness in the next instant! Silence falls, this test revealed the significance of what we accomplished today. We made a working Spell Jammer! My happiness is soon replaced by doubt and wariness. How will the Goblin react, and what will he do with this discovery? ***We nEeD to AcT!*** My hand slowly inches towards my Pistol; removing Krognar from the equation seems like the reasonable option. I simply can't take the risk of him selling the technology to others, and the risk of it falling into the hands of Enforcers is way too high. It’s true that I have no idea how to operate that machine of his. I could Rewind until I learned how it worked, but then I’ll probably have to contend with hundreds of hidden security measures. However, I’m sure the Fabricators can figure something out. We have access to Power Stones and the essence of frost, so I bet we’ll be able to make something similar to the Goblin’s cooling machine. “So… What do we do now?” I ask after pulling out my Pistol. Krognar was a valuable source of information and equipment, but letting him live might be too much of a risk. On the other hand, letting him live might be beneficial in the future since his help could be invaluable. “I… I don’t know.” the Goblin eyes me up and sighs.”I do believe you didn’t do this from the goodness of your heart, especially considering how much you spent on this venture.” He’s not wrong, so I nod in silence. Krognar’s next sentence might be what decides his fate, so I don’t add anything and observe him. “I thought this was impossible for so long and that it would remain as a theory for the remainder of my life. But you made it possible, and I’m glad that I got to witness it… But I doubt you’ll let me keep it, wouldn’t you?” That much is obvious, especially when considering how taboo a Spell Jammer apparently is. “After all, I doubt you would let me keep the Jammer. And I have no interest in fighting you since the outcome would be obvious.” The Goblin continues his monologue. “From what I can assume, I’m almost certain that you’re going against the Enforcers on your world, right?” “You’re right. Their tyranny has to come to an end.” I don’t know how the Enforcers act on other worlds, and I hope they aren’t as bad as the ones on Earth. Another thing that puzzles me is why they seem to exist in every civilized world. Is it because the translator translates the word that way, or because they are the same organization? “I see… I was like that when I was younger. A powerful Goblin once lived on my home planet, and he happened to be drunk while meeting someone very important to me. He blasted her in his drunken stupor, and he only got a slap on the wrist because of his status… So I had to act.” Krognar clenches his fists. “The Rules of my homeworld were pretty strict: Just having rebellious thought was enough to warrant your execution, and they also killed your immediate family to make sure that no one dared to go against them. So I faked my death to protect them and went after that person. I somehow killed him but it made me a pariah and a wanted criminal, so I went into hiding since that fateful day.” Wow. In hindsight, there must’ve been a reason why the Goblin was living in a place like this. I guess this is where I’ll end up if my rebellion fails. That’s a sobering thought. But I have to try as hard as I can, the situation on Earth is bad and it can only get worse. So I have to succeed, no matter how many Rewinds it’ll take, or how many I’ll have to kill. Maybe that's why I stumbled upon the Rewinder. Maybe I was fated to save humanity. I’m starting to sound like Terrence. The Order’s blind faith might be affecting my judgment, so I have to remind myself that fate doesn’t exist. Everything that happened was a string of coincidences and being at the wrong place at the wrong time. “I know that going against the Enforcers might be seen as a foolish endeavor, but I’m not motivated by personal gain.” At least not anymore. I'll admit that the whole Scalebound thing was entirely fueled by hatred and revenge, and maybe a bit of rebellious thought. But everything changed since the battle against the demon. I’m convinced that the greed and pettiness of the Enforcers will inevitably lead to the next mass extinction event, especially considering all the hellish relics they are hiding in their vaults. “I’m the only real hope my species has of freeing itself, so I can't back down," I reply, causing the Goblin to sigh. “We all have our circumstances, and I can only hope that you’ll succeed. Just make sure that this technology doesn’t fall into the wrong hands, okay? I’m getting old, and I don’t have much time left. My secrets are going to die with me and this place will be disintegrated, so you don’t have to worry about me leaking anything. I would rather die than helping oppressors.” What should I do? Krognar’s story seems believable and I don’t want to shoot him now, even the voice in my head calmed down. His story might be a lie designed to tug at my heartstrings, but my gut tells me that it was the truth. I holster my gun and sigh, I hope that letting the old Goblin live will not bite me in the ass later.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNjMWJhZmFmZWY5YjQxZDVhOTg4NjhkYmZjZjgzZmZi" dir="ltr">I grabbed several bones from the collection we’d amassed through our kills. Mostly it was just the twice dead remains of my own skeletons but we also had the skeleton of the kobold Kaylee had been perhaps too overzealous executing. Her necrotic mana had so thoroughly consumed him it left little but bone remaining.</p> <p class="cnNlNjRlOWVkODQxMDQzYmViOGVkNmExM2FkYzljYTI0" dir="ltr">“Come here,” I told Kaylee.</p> <p class="cnM1ODNmNGNiYjNlYjQyMDFiNjczZjUwNmVlNjZjY2My" dir="ltr">She walked over and after taking a glance at her face I handed her the smaller of two carving knives I grabbed from a pouch.</p> <p class="cnMyODFkN2MwYmUzMDRkMTE4MTJkNzEyNGRlYzI0YjUz" dir="ltr">“When mota are close, they pull on one another in many directions. If you release the containment while they are in that state it will rapidly expand and fly off everywhere. If however, your careful, they’ll reach equilibrium and the pull on the bonds will be equal in all directions. Such a stable state will allow you to release the containment and they will stay bound. This is what happens in your core. Watch,” I told her.</p> <p class="cnNlN2U1NzM2MDMwYjRlMTFhNDFkMmRkNzI2NWY5ZWQz" dir="ltr">I nicked the top of my hand and poured mana into two bones. The mana first corrupted what remained of life mana inside before filling it with concentrated necrotic mana. A small chain of mana linked both bones together at the top and bottom respectively creating a joint.</p> <p class="cnNiMTg2N2RiNDBiYzQ4NmNiNWQ1NWVjOTA2YzdiOTRl" dir="ltr">“Mana will naturally settle into a balanced state if one is possible. Your job is to feed and compress that mana until you have the right ratio to achieve stability.” I stated as I tossed her a small finger bone.</p> <p class="cnMyYzBkY2U4YTc1YjQ0OTA5MWZjMTk2ZTU5MjRlOGEx" dir="ltr">She fed mana in while compressing it tighter. The pressure must have been too much for her and the containment suddenly collapsed causing the bone itself to try to hold the rapidly expanding cloud of mana in. A hairline crack left over from some injury rapidly fractured further and the top half of the bone flew into the air as the bone splintered in half from the pressure.</p> <p class="cnNjMzI0Yjg0ZWE1ODRhZmFhYTk3ZGFhNTQyOTNjMTBk" dir="ltr">I grabbed two more medium bones and cut the top and bottoms off before cleaning out the marrow from the middle. I handed her one.</p> <p class="cnM0Mjg3NDE0NWQxNjQwODdhYThhMWQyMjY0ZDdmM2E1" dir="ltr">“Take this, you’ll need it later,” I said, “Then practice more.”</p> <p class="cnM3M2RhMmRlMDBkZDRiMzg5NDFlNTc5MzcxMGYzZjg3" dir="ltr">I went off to train myself. Most mages focused on ever increasing their core density but there are actually two important base skills. The ability to condense mana of course but also the speed at which you could do it. I practiced my speed, starting with a basic defensive barrier, I quickly stabilized it using just enough mana to protect against an arrow or simple spell. Then I continued moving up in density doing it as&nbsp;rapidly as possible until I reached the strongest density I could manage, a death touch spell.</p> <p class="cnNkZjI1ZWMxODBlMzQ1ZDBiZTI1ODc5MmIzNTQwYjVj" dir="ltr">After several hours spent training and meditating and&nbsp;then training once more the sun began setting and&nbsp;we readied to leave.</p> <p class="cnMzNzU0MWFjNzFiNDQ1MjRhMWRjNDBjMGI2MjcyN2Iw" dir="ltr">We moved out for the edge of the Kobold camp after dark. That ensured we could get relatively close without being spotted by any posted sentries.</p> <p class="cnNlMTBkYmQ5NWY3YjQ2MWI4M2Q3MzI5ZGZiNjc1ZjIz" dir="ltr">As we walked, I kept a careful eye on Kaylee through my skeletons, which is how I noticed her drawing closer suddenly.</p> <p class="cnM0MTJmZjc2ZTI4ZTQwOTdiYjYzMjQ3ZTMwZmI2MTAy" dir="ltr">“Yes, Kaylee?” I said as I turned.</p> <p class="cnNmYmVkMzc5NDdiNDRiODc4YTJkMjAxNDQ4ZjllYmY0" dir="ltr">She pulled up short surprised by my action. The two skeletons behind her grabbed onto her shoulders and wrists and pinned her&nbsp;in place.</p> <p class="cnNmYzRiMWFhZDQ2YzRlYmZiYzhlMGM3MmUyYTYwYWYy" dir="ltr">It&nbsp;appears getting to have an insecure virgin is way more fun in your imagination than in practice.</p> <p class="cnM2N2U2MTc5MmZhODRlMDE4ZjA5MGQwODllY2Y0MzVj" dir="ltr">Perhaps a little fear would temper her anger.&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnMzMGJjMTYwY2Y4ZDQyZDhiMzVmY2UyOTVkOGVjM2Y3" dir="ltr">The skeletons shifted their hands slightly lower down the front of her shoulder.</p> <p class="cnNiYmRjMDUzMzZkNzQzNGZhNTRhODMxY2QyNWViYTQ5" dir="ltr">“I’d hate to share you, princess,” I told her.</p> <p class="cnNiNTZmYjViM2QxYjQ5MzNiYWQ4NzIzOTljODMwNGYx" dir="ltr"><br class="kix-line-break">I could see a moment of fear cross her face as the realization of what I’d just said hit her.</p> <p class="cnNiOTk0MDFhNTk1NzQwNmNiYzQwZmM3OGI0NjFlZTU4" dir="ltr">“I- I wasn’t trying to kill you!” she stuttered. “I just wanted to know what the plan was.”</p> <p class="cnNjYmI4Mzg0OWRjMTRhYjBhZTVhZmZjMDU4N2VmNTZl" dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial">“Hmm, perhaps..” I said as I trailed off into details. </span></p> <p class="cnMyMDVjM2M1MDhjYjQ3MzZhNzRmNWRlMWNlZjUwY2E0" dir="ltr">We finally reached a small trail in the desert after several hours of walking. The trail was walked often enough it was visible even in the ever-shifting sands. I’d scouted out this location several days ago when we were still a raiding party and knew the Kobolds used the path every morning and evening to get water from the small oasis at the end of the path.</p> <p class="cnMzMWEyZjZkZjA0YjRkOTdiM2Q1Y2RkYmQ4N2MxNjVk" dir="ltr">They did not camp at the water or even leave a guard. I suspected it was due to the number of desert creatures which frequented it every day. That meant we could refill our water skins and make preparations through the night.</p> <p class="cnM1ZjNmY2FjZjY2NDQwZDE4NDI3MTZkMzFkNGYyZmE3" dir="ltr">As I listened, I could hear what had to be another dozen of the enemy approaching the water’s edge. With nothing in view, they seemed unconcerned as they filled up containers.</p> <p class="cnNiMzg1OGFlMTI3YTQ3NmZiYzFjNTg3NTNlZmI1Zjc1" dir="ltr">One kobold I could sense peering closely into the muddy water but he was already too late. Four spears shot out from skeletal hands laying on the waters bed and impaled two of the kobolds before dragging them into the water and holding them submerged until the last bubbles died.</p> <p class="cnM1YWI0OGQyNTJhZjRiYjJiYjcyMTY5NTkwNjFiNjQ1" dir="ltr">The other three filling water shrieked in alarm and backed up as my minions stood up and walked out from the water’s edge. They’d apparently not even bothered bringing weapons and hid behind five guards with the apparent leader.</p> <p class="cnNjYmU5NTVkMmIxNzQ0MDFiYzFiZDEzYWYzM2FlZTgw">&nbsp;</p> <p class="cnM5OTA1YTVhYWEyMDRhNGY4ODM4NTc5OGI4MGU1ZTBl" dir="ltr">The leader shrieked at one of the unarmed kobolds and he took off down the path towards the camp. He made it less than thirty feet before my hand came free of the sand in the path where I had been buried by the skeletons and it closed around his ankle tripping him up and triggering my death’s touch.</p> <p class="cnMwODg4MGU4M2UzMTRmZjNhM2ExOWZjYjM3MDBkMDVj" dir="ltr">Death’s touch is an exception to the rule you can’t directly harm someone with necrotic mana like you can with other types. By directly touching a target a concentrated blade of necrotic mana can overwhelm the dense life mana in the skin and then rush through the gap to spread corruption inside a target.</p> <p class="cnM0YzVmYTc1ODFkZDRiOTI4MGY2NWY1NzdhYWJkNThl" dir="ltr">Scale and skin tried and failed to resist the onslaught of necrotic mana. His face barely had time to register shock as it liquified his insides.</p> <p class="cnMyZDRlNWRhMzAxMTRiMTJiNGRjNDUyNmVkN2U1ZjAx" dir="ltr">Kaylee rose beside me and I saw the predatory grin on her face as we both watched the unarmed kobolds look desperately for an escape that didn’t exist.</p> <p class="cnNiMzY0YjNkYTg3ZjQ4OTZhMmRjNWE5ZjUzNDUzZmJk" dir="ltr">That face looked a little too interested in a slaughter.</p> <p class="cnM1ZTVmODc3ODlkODRkODQ4N2YwNmRmZTllNmEwZGFl" dir="ltr">“Keep to the plan,” I reminded her.</p> <p class="cnM4NDZiOTUxYzM3ODQ4ZTRhYmQ3NWJhNDFlYzIxYWM5" dir="ltr">The five guards reorganized into a circle to protect the three ones without weapons and we closed.</p> <p class="cnM2Y2U0NmM2ZWY3YzRjZGI4ZWM5NWY5Nzc3NjMyY2Zj" dir="ltr">Kaylee struck first, biting her own cheek before sucking on the wound and spitting at a kobolds face. The blood pulled up short, going from a ball to a thin sheet and hung in the air blocking the kobolds view, growing bigger as more blood streamed in from her wound.</p> <p class="cnM4ZDI2NmM1YmFlYzQ1Zjg5MzlkMjJhY2NmYzJmMWY3" dir="ltr">The kobold barely had time to notice the blood dispersing as my shield charged through it, the center boss smashing into his face and leaving him exposed to a follow-up strike. A sword disappeared into his stomach and I twisted on the way out. He looked briefly down at the remains of his intestines he now held in his hands before falling to his knees and then collapsing altogether.</p> <p class="cnM5NGEzZjg3YjJmNTRjODQ4M2VhNTFmYjk2NDIwYjNm" dir="ltr">Three armed kobolds faced me and Kaylee while the last two stood against my skeleton warriors.</p> <p class="cnM5YTc5ODQyNjViNzQwZmE4ZTdiOTE4N2Q4YWZjOGZk" dir="ltr">Two club armed skeletons tied up the enemy while I directed the last two with spears to stab through their ally’s empty chest and into the kobold, piercing his&nbsp;stomach and thigh. He howled as they withdrew to stab again, quickly taking him down.</p> <p class="cnNmMTk0ODBkMzY3OTRhMWY4YWFiZDFmMzA1OWMzZTM0" dir="ltr">The second went down with barely an effort outnumbered and surrounded.</p> <p class="cnM1MGQ5YzY4MzViODQ3YWQ4MTE1ZTc4NjI0YjkxMDg0" dir="ltr">Kaylee flung the now reformed wall of blood at another enemy charging her, wrapping his head in blood that filled his nostrils and blinded him such that she simply stepped aside and tripped him as he charged past. She leaped onto his back and drove her dagger in severing the spine. But she was so engrossed in her work she missed the second kobold rushing her.</p> <p class="cnM3MmY4ZDI2YWJhMDQ4Yzc4MzZjYWUzMjEzYmM3YzAz" dir="ltr">“I think your friend wants a chance to be on top now Kaylee,” I yelled.</p> <p class="cnM0NzQ1OGRlMjhlOTQ3MWI5Njc1NDM5NDNiZmFmYjNi" dir="ltr">I poured mana into now dead kobold beneath her and took pleasure in seeing the brief look of shock cross her face as it grabbed hold of her and threw her to the side just before the charging sword came down. The blade buried into the zombie and I forced it to roll away from Kaylee with the blade still pinned in it. The kobolds blade flexed as it held the handle fast. Then in a sign of the cheap quality of the metal, it snapped near the guard and he held a one-inch long sword.</p> <p class="cnNlNmE2MTQyNjUzODQ2MzZhOGZiNTQ2MzljMTM3MWJk" dir="ltr">Kaylee recovered enough to see him with his broken sword and&nbsp;having so nearly died must have made her wild again, she giggled before saying: “I didn’t know they made them that tiny.”</p> <p class="cnM5ZGFiNTZjMWEwMjRlNjNhOTRjYjZiNmJhN2RmNzNj" dir="ltr">Then her hand reached up and grabbed his sack. She buried her fingernails into him deep enough to draw blood and yanked down. I actually gulped as a few moments later as his decayed balls came off.</p> <p class="cnNjNjg0Nzg0MTI1YzRlNDZiMmRkM2VkMDNhMTVlZTZk" dir="ltr">He stabbed uselessly then leaped for her trying to claw and bite. The dagger in her hand embedded in his neck and he gurgled blood.</p> <p class="cnMyNjIwMWE0NjU3MzQxODZiMjcxNjYwZjc4YTcwMDNm" dir="ltr">It then flowed up into a sheet and wrapped itself around the head of the final kobold. He died clawing at his face to extract the blood as it wormed into his nose and ears.</p> <p class="cnM2ZjEwYWE2MDcxMzQ4Nzk5MTNhMjMyOWEyYzJkODdl" dir="ltr">That left only the three unarmed kobolds.</p> </div>

I grabbed several bones from the collection we’d amassed through our kills. Mostly it was just the twice dead remains of my own skeletons but we also had the skeleton of the kobold Kaylee had been perhaps too overzealous executing. Her necrotic mana had so thoroughly consumed him it left little but bone remaining. “Come here,” I told Kaylee. She walked over and after taking a glance at her face I handed her the smaller of two carving knives I grabbed from a pouch. “When mota are close, they pull on one another in many directions. If you release the containment while they are in that state it will rapidly expand and fly off everywhere. If however, your careful, they’ll reach equilibrium and the pull on the bonds will be equal in all directions. Such a stable state will allow you to release the containment and they will stay bound. This is what happens in your core. Watch,” I told her. I nicked the top of my hand and poured mana into two bones. The mana first corrupted what remained of life mana inside before filling it with concentrated necrotic mana. A small chain of mana linked both bones together at the top and bottom respectively creating a joint. “Mana will naturally settle into a balanced state if one is possible. Your job is to feed and compress that mana until you have the right ratio to achieve stability.” I stated as I tossed her a small finger bone. She fed mana in while compressing it tighter. The pressure must have been too much for her and the containment suddenly collapsed causing the bone itself to try to hold the rapidly expanding cloud of mana in. A hairline crack left over from some injury rapidly fractured further and the top half of the bone flew into the air as the bone splintered in half from the pressure. I grabbed two more medium bones and cut the top and bottoms off before cleaning out the marrow from the middle. I handed her one. “Take this, you’ll need it later,” I said, “Then practice more.” I went off to train myself. Most mages focused on ever increasing their core density but there are actually two important base skills. The ability to condense mana of course but also the speed at which you could do it. I practiced my speed, starting with a basic defensive barrier, I quickly stabilized it using just enough mana to protect against an arrow or simple spell. Then I continued moving up in density doing it as rapidly as possible until I reached the strongest density I could manage, a death touch spell. After several hours spent training and meditating and then training once more the sun began setting and we readied to leave. We moved out for the edge of the Kobold camp after dark. That ensured we could get relatively close without being spotted by any posted sentries. As we walked, I kept a careful eye on Kaylee through my skeletons, which is how I noticed her drawing closer suddenly. “Yes, Kaylee?” I said as I turned. She pulled up short surprised by my action. The two skeletons behind her grabbed onto her shoulders and wrists and pinned her in place. It appears getting to have an insecure virgin is way more fun in your imagination than in practice. Perhaps a little fear would temper her anger.  The skeletons shifted their hands slightly lower down the front of her shoulder. “I’d hate to share you, princess,” I told her. I could see a moment of fear cross her face as the realization of what I’d just said hit her. “I- I wasn’t trying to kill you!” she stuttered. “I just wanted to know what the plan was.” “Hmm, perhaps..” I said as I trailed off into details. We finally reached a small trail in the desert after several hours of walking. The trail was walked often enough it was visible even in the ever-shifting sands. I’d scouted out this location several days ago when we were still a raiding party and knew the Kobolds used the path every morning and evening to get water from the small oasis at the end of the path. They did not camp at the water or even leave a guard. I suspected it was due to the number of desert creatures which frequented it every day. That meant we could refill our water skins and make preparations through the night. As I listened, I could hear what had to be another dozen of the enemy approaching the water’s edge. With nothing in view, they seemed unconcerned as they filled up containers. One kobold I could sense peering closely into the muddy water but he was already too late. Four spears shot out from skeletal hands laying on the waters bed and impaled two of the kobolds before dragging them into the water and holding them submerged until the last bubbles died. The other three filling water shrieked in alarm and backed up as my minions stood up and walked out from the water’s edge. They’d apparently not even bothered bringing weapons and hid behind five guards with the apparent leader.   The leader shrieked at one of the unarmed kobolds and he took off down the path towards the camp. He made it less than thirty feet before my hand came free of the sand in the path where I had been buried by the skeletons and it closed around his ankle tripping him up and triggering my death’s touch. Death’s touch is an exception to the rule you can’t directly harm someone with necrotic mana like you can with other types. By directly touching a target a concentrated blade of necrotic mana can overwhelm the dense life mana in the skin and then rush through the gap to spread corruption inside a target. Scale and skin tried and failed to resist the onslaught of necrotic mana. His face barely had time to register shock as it liquified his insides. Kaylee rose beside me and I saw the predatory grin on her face as we both watched the unarmed kobolds look desperately for an escape that didn’t exist. That face looked a little too interested in a slaughter. “Keep to the plan,” I reminded her. The five guards reorganized into a circle to protect the three ones without weapons and we closed. Kaylee struck first, biting her own cheek before sucking on the wound and spitting at a kobolds face. The blood pulled up short, going from a ball to a thin sheet and hung in the air blocking the kobolds view, growing bigger as more blood streamed in from her wound. The kobold barely had time to notice the blood dispersing as my shield charged through it, the center boss smashing into his face and leaving him exposed to a follow-up strike. A sword disappeared into his stomach and I twisted on the way out. He looked briefly down at the remains of his intestines he now held in his hands before falling to his knees and then collapsing altogether. Three armed kobolds faced me and Kaylee while the last two stood against my skeleton warriors. Two club armed skeletons tied up the enemy while I directed the last two with spears to stab through their ally’s empty chest and into the kobold, piercing his stomach and thigh. He howled as they withdrew to stab again, quickly taking him down. The second went down with barely an effort outnumbered and surrounded. Kaylee flung the now reformed wall of blood at another enemy charging her, wrapping his head in blood that filled his nostrils and blinded him such that she simply stepped aside and tripped him as he charged past. She leaped onto his back and drove her dagger in severing the spine. But she was so engrossed in her work she missed the second kobold rushing her. “I think your friend wants a chance to be on top now Kaylee,” I yelled. I poured mana into now dead kobold beneath her and took pleasure in seeing the brief look of shock cross her face as it grabbed hold of her and threw her to the side just before the charging sword came down. The blade buried into the zombie and I forced it to roll away from Kaylee with the blade still pinned in it. The kobolds blade flexed as it held the handle fast. Then in a sign of the cheap quality of the metal, it snapped near the guard and he held a one-inch long sword. Kaylee recovered enough to see him with his broken sword and having so nearly died must have made her wild again, she giggled before saying: “I didn’t know they made them that tiny.” Then her hand reached up and grabbed his sack. She buried her fingernails into him deep enough to draw blood and yanked down. I actually gulped as a few moments later as his decayed balls came off. He stabbed uselessly then leaped for her trying to claw and bite. The dagger in her hand embedded in his neck and he gurgled blood. It then flowed up into a sheet and wrapped itself around the head of the final kobold. He died clawing at his face to extract the blood as it wormed into his nose and ears. That left only the three unarmed kobolds.

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnM1MjBlZTM2YjY2ZTRlZTQ4Y2NlZWE3ODE3OTY4N2Uy">I have finished posting the updated chapters.</p> <p class="cnM2ZDJkZmM0YTE1NDQ4YWI5ODZkY2IzOThjODE0OGU2">  XX. Chaptername - Edited xx-xx-xxxx</p> <p class="cnM3ZGIyNTY0OWEyMzQ4MmZiYzVhYjdjMzFiYmZlYTYz">  new text new text new text</p> <p class="cnM0OGRkODQ0Yjk1MjQ3NmVhZjNmODJlYTQ5ZTM2MmUz">  new paragraphs</p> <p class="cnMyNzM2NjBmZGE4YjQ0MGM4N2U1ZTE5MTg3OWE1NjZm">  XX. Chaptername - Original</p> <p class="cnMxNTk0OGJjZDk5OTQwYjViOTU3OThkMWMyMzVmYjUy">  old text old text old text</p> <p class="cnMzNWFkMThjZGRhOTRjNWU4YWE5ODY1NmY2N2Y3ZWEx">  old paragraphs</p> <p class="cnNmZGRmODUxZGE0NzRlMGI4NjMzOWEyNjM0MDg5ZTY3">Is the format the chapters are in now.</p> <p class="cnNhNDY5MjMxNGUyNTQ2OWI5ZjFmYjVhZGQyY2Y0ZWZm">I have to read this all once more and correct any blinding irregularities that are in the book that come from writing a chapter here and there, then five in one night as I polish off a bottle of port.</p> <p class="cnM1YmViZTljZGIxNzRjZTA5NWFiYzdhNTIzZjg1MmM4">As you can imagine, that does not always lead to the most congruous of tales. Once that is done I am shipping it off to the editor. I am still in the process of cleaning up the "AI Speak" so when Neith, Observer (and all the others) are speaking to Jax internally there is clear delineation of who is speaking. You will see that in the edits posted, but as I was in a rush I know I didn't get them all.</p> <p class="cnM0NjI5MjZlY2RhNDQzMzNiNzAyMjUxMmM1Njk1MGYz"> </p> <p class="cnMwMzdlNjFjMDgzNjQ2MzBhZmMzZmJiYjYxNzRiNzNk">Some have mentioned that I should change the title of the book as it has little to do with actually building a home. This is because the story got away from me. In the third chapter. I could never get any of my characters to cooperate with me and get back to it, either. As such, the story will still be called "Building Home" but book 1 will be The Lost Ark instead of the series being that. So essentially I am swapping the name of the series for the book.</p> <p class="cnNhNGEzZmJlZGZjMzQyYTI4NmMwMzI1ODFkYzllMzFl">And now, a sneak peak at my first page written for book 2: Building Home - Rescue<br></p><p></p> <p class="cnM1NDBlZTRiMjM4ZTRjODk4NzA2NmRkMTU2Zjc3MGQ5">“Launch!” I shouted through the comms. It had been almost a month since we had any word on the fate of the Crew of Ark-9, and we were about to get some answers.</p> <p class="cnMxNDYyOTVkMTk5OTQ4ZjM5YmQ3NTFmZGY1Zjk5YWI1">The drop pod which I was in echoed with the sound of the thrusters pushing me out. On my Helmet Visor, I had full telemetry data for my team, as well as all of our “coffins.” I had the brilliant idea of creating a combination quick assault lander and lifeboat that, if shot down, wouldn’t kill everyone. This was the result. A chamber that was three meters tall two meters wide and one and a half deep. It slotted into a cargo bay on one of the newly redesigned assault ships, and when launched, a whole lot of chaff was launched with it. There were minimal guidance and thrusters. I needed to work on that bit some more as they weren’t exactly stealthy.</p> <p class="cnNhY2MyMzQyZGY0NjQ4N2M5NjQyMGE3NWQ3ZDhiODhi">We plummeted towards the Escort craft that matched the visual records that we had been able to pull from the shell of Ark-9. It was currently docked with a smaller vessel, which we had decided to call cargo haulers, or “Haulers” for short. This was the second that our sensors had detected that connected with them, the first was still attached.</p> <p class="cnNjYmQ1MDY4M2Q1MTRmOTNiZTVlMWEzNzA2MTFhNDUy">Surprisingly, the designs did not look similar. They looked as if they had been built by two completely separate species with different aesthetics and engineering methods.</p> <p class="cnNjZGYyMDNkOThmMzQwNTdhYWJkM2QyNjE3ODExN2Ez"><em>Observer, this looks like a different race.</em></p> <p class="cnNlMWYzMGMxMzE0NTQ0YjZhYTkwOTE3NGNiMTg1ZWY1"><em>:I<strong>t</strong><strong> is.:</strong></em></p> <p class="cnMyZjk1NDIzNjlkZTQ0MjNhNTMwNjRiMTA2OTExZGQ1"><em>What can you tell me about them?</em></p> <p class="cnNkODEyNDJlNDU5MTQ0MjI4Yzc3MjNhNzk3ODc0OTYy"><strong><em>:Closest Earth analog is a mixture between a slug, a scorpion, and Nessie:</em></strong></p> <p class="cnNmM2UzZTYxMTM5YjRjMTQ5ZjczMTEwODY4YzZlY2M2"><em>How big?</em> The first two didn’t sound terrible, but if it Observer was also bringing attention to its by using a mythological giant monster, then I there was cause for concern.</p> <p class="cnNmZjcwMmFjZDIwODQ1YTRiNGE5ZWY2NmM3ZmY2ZTUz"><strong><em>:Two of your meters:</em></strong></p> <p class="cnNlMjNlZmMzZjRiNjRiODk5NmRmNmM5OTM1OGMzYjNl"><em>That doesn’t sound too bad.</em></p> <p class="cnMwMWFjZTIwNGI3ZDRjMTlhMDJlNTE5MzJhMTEzOTFj"><strong><em>:Tall. Ten long:</em></strong></p> <p class="cnNhYzE5ZTM5ODQ1YzQ0OWE4ZjFjMzc3NzY2OWY5MDQz">Shit. I had brought Observer along for his knowledge. He was still in the proverbial “dog house” for the lies he had told to get our help for his people. It was understandable why he lied, which is the only reason he was seen as anything other than a prisoner.</p> <p class="cnNlYjMwZTgwNjY2ZjQxZGNiODRhM2NlMDM5Yjc2MTRl">I waited in the pod, counting down for the impact. We had designed the pods with minimal life support and a wicked spike at the tip, that should at the minimum stick into the ships armor. Then we would be walking across the hull to find an entrance. With us, in each pod, was a portable air lock so that if we could find an external hatch, we could enter while maintaining pressure so as to not sound any alarms from pressure change for the airlocks cycling. Granted, the spikes holding marines that would pierce the hull plating would probably send out an alarm.</p> <p class="cnM2MzA5ZDY2YmI2MzRkMDFiYzRmM2JjYTNkMDk5Zjlj"> </p> <p class="cnM4YzQxZDg3NGU3NjQ1ZTlhY2Q4ODY5YThhZmJmYWU1">Expect more soon!</p> </div>

I have finished posting the updated chapters.   XX. Chaptername - Edited xx-xx-xxxx   new text new text new text   new paragraphs   XX. Chaptername - Original   old text old text old text   old paragraphs Is the format the chapters are in now. I have to read this all once more and correct any blinding irregularities that are in the book that come from writing a chapter here and there, then five in one night as I polish off a bottle of port. As you can imagine, that does not always lead to the most congruous of tales. Once that is done I am shipping it off to the editor. I am still in the process of cleaning up the "AI Speak" so when Neith, Observer (and all the others) are speaking to Jax internally there is clear delineation of who is speaking. You will see that in the edits posted, but as I was in a rush I know I didn't get them all. Some have mentioned that I should change the title of the book as it has little to do with actually building a home. This is because the story got away from me. In the third chapter. I could never get any of my characters to cooperate with me and get back to it, either. As such, the story will still be called "Building Home" but book 1 will be The Lost Ark instead of the series being that. So essentially I am swapping the name of the series for the book. And now, a sneak peak at my first page written for book 2: Building Home - Rescue “Launch!” I shouted through the comms. It had been almost a month since we had any word on the fate of the Crew of Ark-9, and we were about to get some answers. The drop pod which I was in echoed with the sound of the thrusters pushing me out. On my Helmet Visor, I had full telemetry data for my team, as well as all of our “coffins.” I had the brilliant idea of creating a combination quick assault lander and lifeboat that, if shot down, wouldn’t kill everyone. This was the result. A chamber that was three meters tall two meters wide and one and a half deep. It slotted into a cargo bay on one of the newly redesigned assault ships, and when launched, a whole lot of chaff was launched with it. There were minimal guidance and thrusters. I needed to work on that bit some more as they weren’t exactly stealthy. We plummeted towards the Escort craft that matched the visual records that we had been able to pull from the shell of Ark-9. It was currently docked with a smaller vessel, which we had decided to call cargo haulers, or “Haulers” for short. This was the second that our sensors had detected that connected with them, the first was still attached. Surprisingly, the designs did not look similar. They looked as if they had been built by two completely separate species with different aesthetics and engineering methods. *Observer, this looks like a different race.* *:I**t** **is.:*** *What can you tell me about them?* ***:Closest Earth analog is a mixture between a slug, a scorpion, and Nessie:*** *How big?* The first two didn’t sound terrible, but if it Observer was also bringing attention to its by using a mythological giant monster, then I there was cause for concern. ***:Two of your meters:*** *That doesn’t sound too bad.* ***:Tall. Ten long:*** Shit. I had brought Observer along for his knowledge. He was still in the proverbial “dog house” for the lies he had told to get our help for his people. It was understandable why he lied, which is the only reason he was seen as anything other than a prisoner. I waited in the pod, counting down for the impact. We had designed the pods with minimal life support and a wicked spike at the tip, that should at the minimum stick into the ships armor. Then we would be walking across the hull to find an entrance. With us, in each pod, was a portable air lock so that if we could find an external hatch, we could enter while maintaining pressure so as to not sound any alarms from pressure change for the airlocks cycling. Granted, the spikes holding marines that would pierce the hull plating would probably send out an alarm. Expect more soon!

<div class="chapter-inner chapter-content"> <p class="cnNmM2FmMDQyMjQ4ZDQwOTM4YmJmNzZmZjdlYTVkZTdi">The stares were the worst. Alyssa couldn’t remember a single point in her life where she had been more nervous. Not even her home being robbed and her killing those two men had rattled her quite so much—she had been pumped so full of adrenaline that she hadn’t really had the wherewithal to be nervous. Here, walking down the streets of Lyria, it was all she could do to put one foot in front of the other over and over again. And that was even with most of the stares directed behind her.</p> <p class="cnNjOGE1ZTE1NTEzOTQwZTM4ZDk4N2MyNTFiM2QyYmI5">Four monsters followed just behind Alyssa in pairs, pulled along by a rope. On Kasita’s suggestion, they had looped a rope through the chains of each of the girls. Just to reinforce the impression that none of them were being towed along willingly. Not that Alyssa was too worried about that. Enrique had actually broken down in tears when they reattached her one manacle and she hadn’t stopped crying since, even with the keys tucked under her… clothes, if they could be called that. All the monsters were wearing what looked like burlap potato sacks.</p> <p class="cnMzNDkwMDU1NDNlYjQ0NGNhZjZkYzMxOWIyNzgwZGY2">Thankfully, they didn’t have far to go. With the Waterhole being close to the eastern edge of the city, Alyssa had feared that they would have to march through the entire thing just to get back to the southern entrance that she had used. Enrique presented an alternate exit. There was more than one way into and out of the city. Because of course there was. Even if it had a wall around it, they would have multiple gates. When Enrique had been first brought to the Waterhole, her captors had used an entrance not far away. Kasita and Pho had been brought in using a covered wagon, so neither had much of a directional reference.</p> <p class="cnNlZjFmYzMxNzBmYTQ4YTM4MmJkNTU2M2Q2MjY0YjEz">But just because the entrance was close didn’t mean that they weren’t passing by dozens of people. Every single one of whom could not keep their eyes to themselves. None had run off screaming for guards so far, so she might be worried for nothing. The looks they gave her weren’t kindly. After passing by the first few people, she had thought a mob might form.</p> <p class="cnM2NGI1Y2FlYzliZDRjMDQ5OWU5NjcyOTA4Zjk4NmU1">“Just act natural,” Kasita whispered. “Take it from a master of blending in, no one thinks twice if you look like you know what you’re doing.”</p> <p class="cnNjMDk0MDVjOTEzMDQwNGNhNjlmMWZmMTY4OGIyNTE1">“I know that,” Alyssa hissed back. She had used that principle plenty of times since arriving in this world. The problem wasn’t that. It was that even if she was a native to this world actually selling slaves, she might still get herself stabbed in the streets along with the monsters. “Where does the hostility come from? What did monsters and humans do to each other?”</p> <p class="cnNjZDI0NzdmZTI1MjQ1MTA4YWIxOGU1NTIzN2Q5ZjJi">Alyssa kept walking for a moment, but Kasita didn’t respond. Was someone watching them a little too closely? The street wasn’t even a quarter as populated as the street around the Observatorium had been. Both here and there combined wouldn’t be able to match the amount of people in the market just beyond the city gates that she had passed through on her first day. Nobody was close. The nearest person at the moment was leaning against a wall, chewing on something black and tar-like as he eyed them. With her walking straight down the middle of the street, there was a fair distance between them. Kasita could easily whisper without being overheard. Chancing a glance around just to see if someone was following them, she just about tripped over her own legs as she found all four of the monsters staring at her. Even Rizk.</p> <p class="cnM3NzYwNGUzZmMzMzQ5MDhiMTM0N2FhYzQxMTk1MDY5">“What? What is it?” Alyssa said after walking forward another dozen steps.</p> <p class="cnNhNzAzZjMwOTJjNzQxZDQ5NzMzOTNiYTk3MTI3ZDc4">“Con. Fused. Not. Know?”</p> <p class="cnM1ZDQyNjMwODYxYzQ0ZTU4ZjNmNzNmZTNkYWRjODE2">“Ufu~ And here I thought you were some sympathizer, but you’re truly naive, aren’t you.”</p> <p class="cnM2MDI1NzQwMGE5ZDRmYjFhNTgzYjkxMWVkYjBkMGQw">“I’m not from around this area, alright?”</p> <p class="cnMyNzMxZjA3MDNmNzQyZWNhMGQ5ZmQ4NjM1OGY4MDNl">“Just how large is ‘this area’ to you?”</p> <p class="cnM4ZjU3NjJhMGNmMTRlMTY5NTBhMTk2NTA0Y2E4YjRk">“Let me put it this way, until two weeks ago, I had never heard of Lyria. Since it’s apparently the largest and most beautiful city around, that should tell you something.”</p> <p class="cnNlMjA1ODg0OGY1MDQ1ZDM5ZmY1MjJiNGQ5NGM4MzNk">“Ufufu~” Kasita’s giggle was really starting to grind. “There used to be far more grandiose human cities. You’ve at least heard of the Fortress of Pandora, have you not?”</p> <p class="cnNkMmU4OWQ3ZGY1ODQ1ZTBiNTM1NjY3MjVlYjczYTAw">“Again, not before two weeks ago.”</p> <p class="cnMyMDk4MWRkZjI5ZjQyNzQ5ZjE2NmUwNTRjZmEwMmRh">“Really? Just where did you come from, I wonder.”</p> <p class="cnM1OTAzZjViY2MzOTRlMmM5NDAyMDMwYzI5ZmYzYjc0">Alyssa pressed her lips together, but didn’t say anything. A small group of people, staring at them, were seated just outside a rundown shack. Each one had a wooden tankard. Alcohol? Most likely. They were a bit red in the faces. One of them stood. Alyssa tensed, gripping her fully reloaded shotgun tight in her grip. Using it, however, would not be much of an option. Killing a man in the basement of a whorehouse with no one but criminals around was one thing. Doing the same on an open street to a random drunk would almost surely see her arrested.</p> <p class="cnNmY2FmNDhmODMxNjQzYzA4MDMzYjEwNzNlYzFjZWEx">The man walked… or rather, the man staggered right up to Alyssa. But he didn’t stop there. He wobbled right past and stopped in front of Rizk. “I know you,” he said with a definite slur in his voice. Drunk for sure. His lips split into a grin missing a few teeth, but with still better dental care than Cid had. “Hows about we head inside? Have a little fun?” He reached out. The poor lizard girl flinched back as if she were about to be struck, but he just grabbed hold of her chest.</p> <p class="cnNkNTRjZGQ5NTc3NTRkMmNhYWI4NTk3NWYwMmJlZTkz">Barely believing what she was seeing, in broad daylight no less, Alyssa slung her shotgun over her shoulder. She gripped the man’s wrist, pinned his arm behind his back, and forced him to his knees. “Do not touch my property again.”</p> <p class="cnM2ZGFmMmI5MzlmNTQzMzZhMjY0OWMxYjFmOTg1Mjdj">He didn’t have much to say in response except a muttered, “Ouch, ouch, ouch.” She wasn’t even pinning him back all that hard. Upon releasing him, he fell face first into the hard dirt road. Alyssa shuddered. The way he just laid there, unmoving… but no, he was breathing. His neck wasn’t broken. He was just drunk. It wasn’t even nighttime, though it was getting close, yet people were already drinking too much.</p> <p class="cnM2ZWVjMGEyMGNhMTQ3ZmNhNDY5YTEyN2FkYzc4YWQx">Turning around, Alyssa set her face into a deep scowl. The other two men had gotten to their feet. Right. Because of course his buddies would come to his defense. Rather than draw her gun, which wouldn’t do anything to scare them off, she reached back to one of the pockets of her backpack and pulled out a card. A spell card. Which spell, she didn’t know. They were all together in the same pocket. Probably a light spell as they were the most numerous cards she had from Aziz’s collection. Whatever it was didn’t matter. Holding it between her fingers, she flashed just enough of the front toward the two men for them to see that there was a design on the front but not long enough for them to know for sure what that design was. It helped that they were drunk and probably weren’t knowledgeable about magic in the first place.</p> <p class="cnNhNmMzNWUwZWM1YTRjMjVhOTAyYWMzZGQ0ODkwMDdk">It worked. Both stopped in their tracks. “Pick up your friend,” she said through grit teeth. “Get out of here and do something productive with your lives.”</p> <p class="cnMyN2M0ZmFiNDNkODQyZGU4MWUwOGY1MzI4ZWIzYWMz">They didn’t move. Neither to their friend nor to assault her, the latter of which Alyssa was not complaining about. Giving them a cocky smirk, she slowly lowered the spell card. Once sure that they weren’t going to make a move at her, Alyssa gave a light tug on the rope. “Let’s go,” she said to the monsters. Not a one said a word, though Enrique did make a few whimpers. Alyssa wanted to apologize to her, but a proper slave owner would probably berate her crying. In the end, she stayed silent.</p> <p class="cnMxNmVhYzk5ODZiNzQ4YjZiMDhiMGFkYWY5Yzg4NTdm">Continuing on, Alyssa walked in a solemn sort of silence. She didn’t like this. This whole world. What did the Pharaoh do all day? Even discounting the monsters, should he not be protecting his citizens? Why was it even possible for someone to be accosted and potentially kidnapped not ten minutes after entering the city? Why were there girls who were abused and wanted to stay in that abuse just to continue living? A ruler was supposed to protect their people from both external and internal threats.</p> <p class="cnM2MTEyMDM4ZjJmOTQ1ODU5ZWE5MWNmNzBlNDNhYjAy">Sure, maybe Earth wasn’t perfect. It’s history had probably been a lot like this. Monsters excepted. But reading about ancient history and actually experiencing it were two different things entirely. She was a modern woman from a first world country. Culture shock. That’s what it was. Maybe, if she actually cultivated a friendship with Irulon, she could suggest a few policies to implement. What policies? Who knew. That would be far off in all likelihood and wasn’t really related to her immediate goals. She would think about it if anything actually happened.</p> <p class="cnNhYzllYTkzNzA0ZjQ5NjhiMWIyMzQ1MmRmMThjOGU2">“The Fortress of Pandora is set on a narrow strip of land separating the human lands from a large desert.”</p> <p class="cnNmMWQ4NDY3ZTkzZjRiODE5ZWZiOWRjODg2NWY0MDcy">Alyssa blinked, glancing back at Kasita, but the mimic wasn’t even looking at her. She was staring up at the sky. Maybe at the rings. Maybe at the off-color moon barely visible in the light of day. She almost asked what the monster was talking about, only to realize that it must be an answer to her earlier question about monster-human relations. Continuing to walk, she remained quiet and listened.</p> <p class="cnM4NTk4ZjBkZDliMzQ2YzZiMDE4NTQ2YTk3MWIzYWE0">“That desert wasn’t always as it is now. Humans used to live there in cities far larger and far grander than Lyria, surrounded by lush green forests, plains, rivers, mountains, jungles, and so on and so forth. Roughly two thousand years ago, monsters started appearing there. I don’t know how it was when the monsters first appeared, but it soon developed into a full-scale conflict between them and the humans.</p> <p class="cnNhZjNjYjAzODM0ZjQ5MDlhYTEwNWRmYWZlMDRmNzdm">“The humans call them the Monster Lords. A bit of a silly name, in my opinion, but that’s what has entered into the collective unconscious. <span style="font-style: italic">We</span> don’t really have a term for them. They’re just monsters. The original monsters were far more powerful and scary than monsters today. There were hundreds of them. Now? There are only four left.”</p> <p class="cnMwMjM5ZTFhM2U2ZDRkOGY4MWExYmVlYjYzZDZhZjI0">“Monsters live for two thousand years?” Alyssa asked, hating herself for interrupting, but it seemed a pertinent question.</p> <p class="cnMyNGVjZWQwNWUyMDQxMzE4MzU4MDlmYzgyYmFlYjJk">“Some do,” Kasita said with a chain rattling shrug. “Enrique here will live about as long as a human. Rizk? She might see two centuries before dying of old age. But the Monster Lords… well… Occasional rumors will pop up about other survivors than just the four, but none have ever been confirmed.”</p> <p class="cnMyNzRmZGM5OTgxZTQ0NjdhOTA3MjkyMzVlOTlkMzk5">“What happened?” Alyssa asked after Kasita fell silent for a moment.</p> <p class="cnM4OGUwNzEzN2QzODRjNDhiMDhjNDA3NmI1ODZhYTlh">“The human king made a choice. He feared that the monsters would destroy the rest of humanity after ravaging his kingdom. When the Monster Lords marched on The First City—his city—they found the streets devoid of life. There were a handful of guards that tried to slow them down. Beyond that, everyone was dead. Killed by a single thin blade through the heart. A city with at least the population of Lyria, slaughtered. <span style="font-style: italic">Sacrificed</span>. They found the king seated on his throne, visage ragged and maniacal, holding a jewel encrusted dagger. Without a single word, he plunged it into his own chest.</p> <p class="cnM5YTcyYjgxNWFkNTRkYWRiN2MwMzY1Y2Q0NDhmMDQ4">“It destroyed the entire country. Monsters. Humans. Plants. Animals. <span style="font-style: italic">Mountains</span>. Whatever magic he unleashed rendered the land uninhabitable for a millennium. It has begun to recover, but the fact that the majority of the land is still a desert should tell you just how bad it was. Of course, monsters blame the humans and humans blame the monsters. Really, it was probably everyone’s fault, even if the king actually performed the magic in the end. Then again, I have a bit of a different perspective than most monsters because I can blend in so easily. I’ve lived in human towns just for fun and curiosity.”</p> <p class="cnMzY2Y1ZWEwMzE3OTQwYjg4YmVjMDk5NWNkMzg5MTRm">Alyssa didn’t know what to say. A king killed and then effectively nuked his own people? Maybe even larger than a nuke. The bombs dropped in Japan had destroyed a city each, both of which had been rebuilt in the following years without too much trouble. Relatively speaking anyway. This king’s bomb turned a country into a desert for two thousand years? And the monsters… He couldn’t have done that lightly or without thought. He must have felt backed into a corner. Could they not have made peace? Kasita, at the very least, was highly intelligent. As far as she could tell, the same extended to Enrique and even Pho. Surely some of these Monster Lords were smart enough that they could have brokered for a ceasefire.</p> <p class="cnM5MTVjZjRmYzc0MTRmOTZiZDRmMWE5ZjlhZTkxNTM0">What had been Tenebrael’s role in it all? Surely the angel had known what was going on. Had she tried to stop it? Doubtful. She enjoyed eating souls too much. A genocide like that would have been a feast for her. But… then again… she had that book. A book that, as far as Alyssa understood it, foretold everyone’s exact time of death. It was a book that she had apparently never been able to change no matter what she did up until Alyssa came along. So had those people been destined to die anyway?</p> <p class="cnNmZmZlYzQ0MDYyNDQyNDA4NjkxOWRkYzUxNWJjNzk0">Maybe Alyssa would have to ask the next time the angel showed up.</p> <p class="cnNmMWEyYzdkNGIwMzRhYWNiNWU3YzQyNmUxMzA5MWZj">But the monsters and humans… that had been two thousand years ago. Even with the genocide on both sides, it seemed like a long time to hold a grudge. Or… maybe it wasn’t such a long time. Alyssa deliberately kept herself from glancing back at Enrique. In Tolkien’s books, elves were effectively immortal. Apparently she wasn’t, but there could be plenty of monsters that had lengthy lifespans. Those Monster Lords, for instance.</p> <p class="cnNhZDkzNjNhOGQyMTRiMzdiYzMwY2U1MWNjZGJkMjY5">“We’re almost there,” the elf said, her voice soft and slow.</p> <p class="cnNjMGNjMWYyYjQwMTQ1MWM4MGI2YTg3MjM5YWVhYjY4">Alyssa blinked. She hadn’t been paying proper attention to her surroundings. Sure enough, Enrique was right. They were now walking along the wall that surrounded the city. Only a few dozen paces ahead was a gate. Much smaller than the main gate she had used to get into the city. That one could have fit a pair of cars side by side. This one could maybe fit one, but it would be a tight squeeze for anything that wasn’t a compact car. Like the front gate, there were guards. Unlike the front, there was only one guy on the ground and one archer up on the wall. If this entrance got attacked, there was no way they could defend long enough for reinforcements to come along.</p> <p class="cnM4ZmM5NTE3ZjBlZTRmMGY5ZmU2NTM0NDc1YjE2YTAw">Who would attack? Monsters? Most of them would be south of the Fortress of Pandora, presumably. Other humans? Were there other nations? Alyssa needed to add geography lessons to her list of things to do. There was a desert north or the city. Not <span style="font-style: italic">the</span> desert. Just a desert. Beyond that? She didn’t even know if these people knew. Aziz’s map hadn’t extended that far north.</p> <p class="cnM4YTY5OTk3YjYyZTRiYWM4NDVlMTZjMGVhZWM5Yzg1">“Look… depressed. Or something. More depressed. You’re not free of this until we’re outside the city and the guards are out of sight.”</p> <p class="cnM2N2M2NTcxYTk3NDRjNDI5ZjYxMWY0YjIxMTQwMGYy">Alyssa pressed her lips together and set her face in stone, considering this hurdle. Hopefully the guards wouldn’t question her. They would. Almost assuredly. It was their job. In that case, she needed to look pissed off, irritated that she had to leave the city to sell these mangy monsters. With that in mind, she furrowed her brow just a bit and shifted her walk to be more… angry. Heavier footsteps.</p> <p class="cnNlZjNjNjJiODE2YjRhMjE4N2YyYjEzNGJjODgyMGQx">Even though he was watching the other side of the wall, it didn’t take long for the archer guard to notice them walking up. He put his fingers to his lips and gave a sharp, high-pitched whistle. The lower guard, who looked like he was taking a nap as he leaned against the wall, shoved off and actually drew his sword. Looking outside the wall, he didn’t even spot Alyssa until the upper guard shouted down at him. The relief on his face was plain to see. Apparently there were enemies that worried the guards.</p> <p class="cnNlNGNlMDJkZmRjMDQ2N2E4YTU1ZDM2ZGYyMDJkYWYx">While the guard did let out a sigh upon seeing that the gate wasn’t being invaded, he did distinctly narrow his eyes as Alyssa and the monsters approached. His lips curled into a scowl. As soon as they were close enough for him to be heard without shouting, he said, “Just where do you think you’re going?”</p> <p class="cnM4ZGRkYjM2NzgyZDRmY2U4ZmEwNDFhMDc4YzE2ZTBk">“Selling these useless wastes of space.” <span style="font-style: italic">Sorry everyone</span>. “I’d appreciate if you didn’t hold me up longer than necessary. I’m already running late.”</p> <p class="cnNhZTNiMTBhOTVhOTRmMDFiODQ1MzZjZDZkZjliYjYw">“Wouldn’t it be better if you set off in the morning? It’s nearly dark.” As he spoke, he turned from Alyssa to look over the monsters. His eyes lingered on Enrique long enough to make the elf shift where she stood.</p> <p class="cnM1NWM5MDM4NzMxYTQzNGJiOGZhMjIwZTk3NzcwODVl">A chill tingled at Alyssa’s toes. Remembering the encounter on the way here, she realized that this guard could easily recognize three of the four monsters. After a long day standing out in the hot sun on a boring job, spending the evening in the company of women, drugs, food, and alcohol… He could visit the Waterhole every single night if he didn’t care about any illegalities going on. That was assuming that prostitution was illegal, which Alyssa somehow doubted.</p> <p class="cnNkMDlkOTY1YjBmMjQ3YTBiNjViOGFhYmJkMDg3NGIy">Letting out a loud huff to draw attention back to her, Alyssa shook her head. “Don’t have far to go. Only an hour’s trip. Maybe two if these slaves slow me down. I just have to meet with a creepy old man a bit out of the city. Said his name was… Dumbledore.” <span style="font-style: italic">Sorry J. K. Rowling</span>. She leaned in close and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I don’t have much pity for monsters, but this guy was really disgusting. I shudder to think what ‘experiments’ he has planned for them.”</p> <p class="cnNkMThmZGE4NjA1NzQyMDRiODU1ZGFiZTEwMjgwZTVm">The guard just hummed. It seemed like there wasn’t a problem leaving the city to sell slaves. For which Alyssa was grateful. At least, he hadn’t called for the other guards and, while his sword was still drawn, he held it in a loose grip at his side. But she didn’t like the way he was acting. Like the front gate guards, his helmet’s face plate was less of a plate and more of a wire mask. As such, it was plain to see that his eyes kept wandering over Alyssa’s shoulder to Enrique.</p> <p class="cnM4YTY0MjM5ZTEwNDQyYjFiY2Q2ZTA2NTBlMWRjMTk4">“How much?”</p> <p class="cnM2YjU1NjI4YTNiNTQ0ZDk5MzU3Mjk2YjczNWNmYjBk">“I’m sorry?”</p> <p class="cnNjOTY2MzNhMTAwZjQ5ODc4MTc1YzA4YzJiYTVlMjUw">“How much are you selling them for?”</p> <p class="cnM1ZTEzY2EzNzI5ZjRiYTE4OGU3ZjAxODZkMjUxZGZh">Alyssa mentally grimaced. Money matters. Her greatest weakness. A bit of porridge and bread could be purchased for one to three prav. A meal with meat was a medi with maybe a few prav thrown in depending on exactly what the meal was. The tailor who had lost his sheep to harpies in Teneville wanted one full altus for a wool cloak even though they were normally only around seven to ten medi. With six prav to a medi and eighteen medi to an altus… how much would a slave be worth? She had no other reference to monetary costs.</p> <p class="cnNlNzliOTZhMTVlMjQ4Yzk4YzVhMjI2MjRkOWYxMjA4">The answer came to her in only a moment of thought. “I’m not selling them to you, if that’s what you’re asking. Dumbledore already paid me twenty altus. I’ll be getting the rest on delivery. If I show up with less than he paid for, or don’t show up at all because you bought all four, then I’ll have to deal with him far more than I want. I already told you that this guy is disgusting and I will be minimizing contact as much as possible.” She glared for a moment before huffing and turning her head. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. I’d like to get there and back before it gets too late.”</p> <p class="cnMzOGQ2ZGMyNDkxNDQ3M2VhZGRiZWVmNTc4ZjVhZDk3">With a light tug on the rope, she started walking again. The guard let her go this time without another word. Thankfully. If he tried to detain her, she didn’t know what she would have done. Killing a guard or even attacking one seemed like a surefire way to never be allowed back in, assuming she got away and wasn’t put to death. Running away with an overweight backpack on, even from a knight in heavy armor, didn’t seem feasible either. Not having to worry about it was the best option. A bit anti-climactic, but she had already had an exciting enough day as it was.</p> <p class="cnNhMzQ3ZTQ1YjMwMDQ5NmFhZWI1Y2M4NDIxZDEzNTE1">This exit from Lyria looked to be on the northern side. Fields of some kind of food continued out for a long distance, but it slowly faded out with a bend in the river that ran through the city. Desert extended further outward. Not the sand and dunes type of desert. There was plantlife out there. Sagebrush, mostly. Pulling out her binoculars, she scanned it over. There were actually a few buildings out there too. Nothing large. Single shacks. Residential homes? It didn’t seem like it, but they were too small to be guard watchposts.</p> <p class="cnNhNDQ4OTY5OGZmYzQ3ZmFiMzc0MDJmNjcyMjEwODkz">A large dustcloud had kicked up into the air far on the horizon. Without her binoculars, she might have thought it was a mirage or other illusion. A sandstorm? Hopefully it was far enough off that it wouldn’t come her way before she got back into the city.</p> <p class="cnMyNjhkMDdhZmIwMDQyYjk4ZTE2OTIxNzc0YTM3NDI2">“Well,” Alyssa said, pocketing her binoculars. “We’re out. Sorry for anything I said that was rude. Have to keep up the facade.”</p> <p class="cnNjOGIzMTg3MmUyZDRmMTZiNzJmNWY0M2I3NjliYjJh">“Words. Un. Import. Ant… Out. Doors… Happy.”</p> <p class="cnM4MjliZTIyOGIzMDQwZjc5MjJmMmQwYmY0MGQ0NDBj">“Can we take off these things yet?” Enrique said, rattling her chains. “I just really want them off.”</p> <p class="cnM3NjllMDMzZmE0ODQyOWM4OWQwOTIzOGY2NjAzZTYz">Glancing back, Alyssa frowned. They were still in sight of the city walls. She didn’t know if they had binoculars or some magic to replicate them. If she were a guard, she would definitely be keeping an eye on four of humanity’s enemies as they left the city. “Better wait until we’re completely out of sight. Just in case.”</p> <p class="cnNhZDc1MGQ0NDI0MTQ0ZmQ4OTJmMGMyM2FmMDQxNDk1">Enrique nodded with a hefty sigh, but smiled. The first time Alyssa had seen her smile since taking her manacles off back in Svotty’s office. It was an alright smile, but really didn’t look like she had much practice with doing so. There was a strain in her lips that normal people didn’t possess. And judging by her words, Pho was happy as well.</p> <p class="cnM5MmY5YzdjYzRiNTQzMDg5NWJlNGRhZmY0NWIyMDJi">It was a good feeling. Between killing four people, being thrust into another world, not understanding anything, and literal angels following her around, something as simple as helping people was a nice change of pace. Of course, she wasn’t just helping them carry their purchases to their car. She was helping them escape from slavery. Somewhat more of a profound helping than Alyssa was used to. Still, she had gotten information on monster-human history, and general history of this world. It wasn’t like she was doing it all for their sakes.</p> <p class="cnMwOTM0ODE5OTFiZjQ0MzRhZDY4OTlmOGZkOWQ5Y2Y2">They kept their pace brisk as they moved away from the city. There were people in the fields, getting some work done before night fell for the day. A few passed them on the road, heading toward the city or maybe one of the little villages that had latched on to the exterior walls. Every single one stared. Not a one stopped or commented on her and the monsters. Most looked too exhausted to raise much of a fuss. Toiling out on the farm all day to feed a full city without machinery and vehicles had to be a tough job. There were some early industrial revolution machines that might help if she could find someone to make them. Things that didn’t need electricity. Steam power was another thing entirely, but how hard could it be to kick off an industrial revolution anyway? First, she just needed to teach people that they could light fires without magic.</p> <p class="cnMwZmY0ODYwMzhiNDQ3MmE4MWNlYTBjNjg2YzRhZmQy">No. No. Too many things on her list as it was. Until she crossed off a few of the items, she should try hard not to add more. Especially not anything that didn’t directly benefit herself. Sure, she might get rich. But that didn’t seem like an immediate get rich quick scheme. If she truly could use Rank Three spells, apparently there was some good money to be made casting spells for people who couldn’t. Unless she misunderstood something, that seemed a far more reliable way to make money if she needed.</p> <p class="cnNmNjVhNTY3MTc1MzQ0MGNiN2JhOGU3ODBkYmU0Nzlk">Besides, it wasn’t like they desperately needed agricultural improvements. They managed to feed this city. Teneville hadn’t looked short on food either even with the festival in full swing. Maybe they used magic to help. Maybe they were merely agriculturally advanced. Either way, she didn’t need to go around looking for problems to solve. Not while she had so many of her own.</p> <p class="cnM3MjExYzc3ZjdmYzRlNWNiZWUwYmFmNDk4ZmQ1ZWQ1">Speaking of her own problems…</p> <p class="cnNhODQ0ZTBkNDRiMjRiYmJiMWQyZGMxMmFlNDZjZTZk">Alyssa glanced back. The city walls were out of sight. No one was around them here on the road either. The last person to pass them had been a few minutes ago and nobody was in front of them. Like the road she had taken into the city, there were little glass jars with glowing lights inside them set up on wooden posts periodically. Beyond them, the fields started almost immediately. The closest field to the road was… corn? It was a bit hard to tell as the plants weren’t fully grown—it must be early in the season. Not being a farmer, she didn’t know most agricultural plants before they were fully grown. But they were tall. Tall enough that some monsters might be able to hide in them as they were making their getaway from the city.</p> <p class="cnNhYzI3YzMwODU1ZjQxYWRiMDRiYjA2MzVhZWZlOTRl">“Do you guys think you’ll be able to escape safely from here?”</p> <p class="cnMyZTM1NDg4NWY1NDQ2MjI4ODFjOTlkN2ZhMDJlMjlm">“Enrique is a druid. Nature is her domain. She’ll be able to lead everyone to safety.”</p> <p class="cnMwM2E1MWZkMmU4NjRhZjZiZWFiNTllNzhmNTUxNmYw">Alyssa raised an eyebrow. Now that she thought about it, she had been referring to Enrique as an elf mentally since the moment she saw her. Bacco had called them elves. But that could be common slang… Was she an elf? Did they call themselves druids? “Good.” Watching Enrique pull out the keys and fumble with them for a moment was a pretty sad sight. In her overeagerness, she missed the keyhole three times before dropping the keys entirely. Alyssa picked it up for her. “Allow me?” Grateful for the help, Enrique thrust her arm out. As Alyssa unlocked the first manacle, she asked, “Sorry if this is rude, but is druid a profession?”</p> <p class="cnNmZjc4YWEzOTIxZDRjOTk4OGUyYWZjZTk3ZmEwZWRk">“I uh… thought humans had druids too.” She glanced over to Kasita, looking for confirmation.</p> <p class="cnMwMzVhZDFlNmY4MzQwZTE4YTc0YWExMGE4OTY3Mzg0">“They do, but she already admitted to being from somewhere far off. Perhaps they’re called something different where she’s from.” Kasita shimmered for an instant. When the shimmer ceased, she was back to her normal form. Or the first form Alyssa had seen her in. Given that she was a monster, human was probably not normal for her. “Druids are specialists in nature magic. It’s a bit different for humans. They have those papers with all the squiggly lines. But the effect is the same. They commune with nature, whether that be listening to the trees to locate and avoid pursuers, growing plants to entangle things in vines, or talking with squirrels to find their way through unfamiliar territory.”</p> <p class="cnNjODg3NmE0NGE3NjQyNWJhOTEwYjdhMDk4ZWRiMjVk">“I see.” Alyssa finished with Enrique’s ankle chains and moved on to Pho. All the while, she just thought how strange that sounded. Talking to squirrels? Or trees? It was like a Disney movie. But Kasita didn’t look like she was joking around. She hadn’t even done one of her <span style="font-style: italic">ufufu</span> giggles. Enrique wasn’t contradicting her either, though she wasn’t paying much attention anymore either. With her manacles off, the elf was spinning around in some kind of dance with a wide, happy smile on her face.</p> <p class="cnM3NjM4NjMyNjFhYTRhYTI5MGMzOGUzYzA0MGFhZGM2">Pho’s face didn’t change expressions. Given how stiff it looked, Alyssa wasn’t sure it could. But she had started buzzing. Her wings, ruined though they were, were twitching back and forth behind her back. Her hands and arms were much like her face. Hard. No squishy flesh to them. What Alyssa had thought were black gloves that ran up to her shoulders were her actual arms. Maybe Alyssa had been wrong earlier about monsters looking like humans. If it was only Pho’s silhouette, maybe. No one would mistake her for a human up close. “Thank,” she said as her manacles hit the ground.</p> <p class="cnMwODYzMTFiYzFlYzQwNGVhYWM1NDE0ZTJlOTBmZTc0">Lastly, Rizk. The lizard girl was turning her slit-pupiled eyes around, looking far more aware of her surroundings than she had been back at the Waterhole. Gently, careful to not startle the poor and likely traumatized woman, Alyssa took her hand. She offered no resistance. When the manacle clicked loose and fell to the ground with a thud, her eyes snapped down to her wrist. She just stared at the vacant spot, unmoving, unblinking as Alyssa brought up her other hand.</p> <p class="cnNlMGNmODAwOTQ3YzQ0NWRiMTBlNzUwNzMwZjIwZWMw">The manacle clicked, falling from her wrist.</p> <p class="cnMyODkwZTk3MDFlMzRkMTI4ODlmZGJjNTU1NjJmMzQw">Before it hit the ground, something scaly wrapped around Alyssa’s throat. With a slight jerk, she found herself having to use the tips of her toes to keep touching the ground.</p> <p class="cnNmMmU1NTMzMmU4MTQ1NTQ5ZGNhMGRhMmFjNzU1ODQw">Alyssa’s blood ran cold as she stared into those slit pupils that were now looking directly at her. Her hands snapped up to Rizk’s wrist, trying to keep herself from being strangled. The lizard wasn’t squeezing, but she could easily start.</p> <p class="cnM0YWUxNTg1OWE4MjRiNTE4NTllZTdlOGM0MTc2OGE2">Kasita, sprouting scales on her arm, broke the eye contact with her hand. She placed a claw on the scaled outstretched arm. “Rizk. She helped us.”</p> <p class="cnM0ZDdiOWI0NTViOTRhNDg4NTEyMWNiZjg4NWVhYzMx">“A human.” The voice was raspy and dry, like she had guzzled a glass of sand.</p> <p class="cnMwZDQyNWZiMzYxZjQ3MWZhNTQyNzYwYTk3MTZhYTIz">“Yes. A human that helped us. She undid your bindings. Look around you. We’re outside the city. You can go home. But you don’t have time. This is a human road. If any spot us, they’ll call for the guards and you’ll be killed. You’ll get Enrique killed. You’ll get Pho killed.” Kasita rested her own scaly hand on the blunted claws around Alyssa’s throat. With a featherlight touch, she started prying Rizk’s fingers away.</p> <p class="cnM1NzAyYmM1YTBiZjRiOTE5OGVjMThkZGI3YmY3OTE4">Alyssa fell to the ground, free from the claw’s grip, and landed on her butt. She scooted backward, taking in deep gasps of breath as she moved. Her throat still hadn’t been squeezed, but there was something about having a noose around her neck that made her appreciate fresh air all the more.</p> <p class="cnM0NTMyZmIwZTdhNDQ1ZjhhNGQxNzk5NmJkYTZiYjMw">Rizk had completely forgotten about her. She reached down, gripping the latch of her ankle manacles with both hands. The iron snapped in her grip with only a slight strain. Completely free from her bindings, she tore the burlap sack off her chest, looked both ways up and down the road, then jumped into the tall maize. The rustling in the plants faded moments after.</p> <p class="cnNiMDg2ZDYxOTVhYzRmNzI5MjU2N2E0YzJjYTYwOWY4">“Rizk!”</p> <p class="cnM3MmJhZDYwYzc4YzRlZWJiMjU2MTg1MzgzOTFhM2Ji">“Si. Lence.” Pho put her hand on Enrique’s shoulder. “No. Atten. Tion.”</p> <p class="cnM3Mzk4ODY0MzU2ODRkNDY5NjhiODdkNjU3YmRiMmMx">Enrique bit her lip, nodding her head. “Right. We shouldn’t let her get far. Does she even know where she came from?” She took a few steps toward where Rizk had disappeared, but paused. “Thank you! If I ever see you again, I’ll… I’ll… I’ll treat you to a feast!” With that, she kicked off, leaving a small cloud of dirt in her wake as she dashed into the field.</p> <p class="cnNmNjdjNGE1Y2JlMTQ1YjNhMzBiMTc3OGQ1ZDAwYTc2">Pho just gave a slight nod of her head toward Alyssa before following after the other two.</p> <p class="cnM4NDE1Mjk3NmFiYzQ5YmE5NmU2MTEwNzdiZmY4MTRk">For her part, Alyssa let out a long sigh. That had been unexpected. Scary too. With how Rizk had torn off her ankle bindings, it would have only taken a slight squeeze to have taken off Alyssa’s head. It was all thanks to the only monster still standing on the road. Alyssa owed the mimic a deep debt of gratitude.</p> <p class="cnM1YzkzNGIwOWVmNTRjNWU4YjQxMzcyYjA3OTdjMTk1">Said monster turned, facing Alyssa, scales vanishing from her body as she flashed back into her human appearance. The scales must have been a calming tactic. Something familiar for Rizk to latch on to. “Sorry for that. I do appreciate what you’ve done for them. I couldn’t just let you get killed, even if you are just a human.” With that snide remark, she smiled and extended a helping hand out to Alyssa.</p> <p class="cnNjNzViN2I4ZDU4ZDRkNzA4MmYxNDhmNjEzMDA1NzZm">Hesitating for just a moment, Alyssa eventually decided that Kasita must not mean any harm given how she had just saved her life and accepted the offered hand. Once back on her feet, Alyssa frowned down at herself. This was her last pair of relatively clean clothes. Now it was all covered in dirt. She just sighed as she looked up at Kasita. “Thanks. Thought you hated humans.”</p> <p class="cnNhMGE0OGEzMjVmZDRkYTY5MGI3MGU1YmM5ZjI3MjM5">“I do. But I like people. And, before the Waterhole, I encountered a decent number of humans I liked. Easy to forget in there.”</p> <p class="cnM0Zjg4NzVjOGE2MTQ2NjRiOWJkY2ExOWUzNzJhNjU4">Alyssa… didn’t quite know what to say to that and filled the short gap in their conversation with a bit of rubbing at her throat. Despite having those claws around her throat, Rizk hadn’t actually hurt her much. Surprised, yes, but not hurt. “Shouldn’t you be chasing after them as well?”</p> <p class="cnM1MmExZTgyYmM1MjQ1NDU5M2U1YWZkOWVhNWY4ZTI1">Kasita shrugged. “I don’t have a home to go back to. I only stayed in that whorehouse to support my fellow monsters. Now that they’re free, I don’t know what I’ll do. No matter what, I can adapt and blend in, so don’t worry about me,” she said with a grin.</p> <p class="cnNlOTU1MDRkODk5ODQ0M2NhZWI5NTE5ZjFhZTAyNjVh">“Right.” Glancing around, Alyssa frowned. A dozen manacles were lying in the dirt. They would almost assuredly draw attention from anyone who passed by. If said anyones mentioned the manacles to the gate guards, it probably wouldn’t take much for them to decide that the monsters had escaped. They might start up a search to find them or even to find Alyssa herself for questioning purposes. They probably shouldn’t just be left lying about. Shallow ditches lined the side of the road, separating it from the fields. Tossing the manacles in there should keep them hidden at least for a while. Especially with darkness approaching. If people found them in a few days, it wouldn’t matter so much. She would be safely on the opposite side of the city. So long as she found a place to store her gear, she should be able to hide among the people. “Would you help…” Alyssa turned back to Kasita only to trail off. The mimic was gone. Nothing but air remained and there was no sign of her up or down the road. She must have jumped into the corn field as well.</p> <p class="cnM2MTUyZTI2YWJlNTRlZjY5YmExYjkxYmE1MDBlZDdk">Oh well. It didn’t matter much. Alyssa didn’t want to go back to the city too soon. She had told the guards that she would be walking for a few hours. If she returned right away, it might draw uncomfortable questions. So might as well clean up the road herself.</p> <p class="cnMzODA5Yzc1OWVjODQyOTE4YWVkMzgzODIyYzA2NGZj">Bending, Alyssa grabbed hold of one of the chains in each hand. Hefting them up made her grunt in exertion. Comparing them to bowling balls might have been putting it lightly. These were Rizk’s chains, the largest and heaviest of the bunch, but still. To have been walking around with these… she was surprised her arms hadn’t fallen off. It wasn’t like Alyssa was weak either. Before coming to this world, she spent a full hour at the gym every day, moving between weight machines and more cardiovascular activities. Sundays were her one day off. She wasn’t bodybuilding or anything, but she was fit and fairly strong. Having to carry around heavy loads for customers while working at her home improvement store helped as well. Since coming to this world, she hadn’t really done any explicit strength training besides carrying her backpack literally everywhere, which she had done for two weeks straight while walking to the city.</p> <p class="cnM5MDYzNGEzYzM4ODQ2OWY4ZWJkNDRmNzcxYWU5MTQ1">It just further compounded how utterly screwed she might have been had Kasita not stepped in to defuse Rizk.</p> <p class="cnNmMzRmMjE1ZTdjZTRhNWJhNTgwZWJiMGEzZTkxOTgy">Dumping the set of manacles into the ditch like she was finishing a dead-lift, Alyssa had half a mind to take a break. But there had been foot traffic on the road recently. Getting rid of the other chains sooner rather than later was a must if she wanted them to remain secret. So she started moving them one by one. Pairs were just a bit much, even if the others were lighter than Rizk’s chains.</p> <p class="cnNkN2YzN2M0YzE5MjQ5Zjk4MGQzY2I0OTRjZDFlOGI4">Finishing up, Alyssa froze as she noticed something red sticking out of the dirt. A small red cylinder. Picking it up, she found it to be exactly what she feared. A spent shotgun shell.</p> <p class="cnMwMDFmZTI4NTgzNTRiMzFiNWMyNzM4OTYwZjkwMjUy">Alyssa tore off her backpack and started inspecting it for any holes. Unless someone else had traveled here from her Earth with a shotgun, the shell was hers. Which meant that it had come from her pack. If it had ripped and torn a hole when she fell, she needed to patch it up as soon as possible to keep from leaking items. But after searching for a few moments, she couldn’t find anything. A bit of fresh dirt dusted over caked-on-mud from her travels where the dangling tent had hit the ground, but no hole. Just because she couldn’t find one didn’t mean that there wasn’t one, so she would have to keep an eye behind her until she got to a place where she could completely unload and inspect the bag. For now, she just dropped the shell into the main pouch and zipped it up.</p> <p class="cnM0NzYxNDg3MWQ4MzQwZjFiYTUzNTk1YmMwMjYxOTAz">It was still a bit early, but Alyssa started heading back to the city anyway. She took her time on the way back, just enjoying the crisp air. That was one thing this world had over Earth. It didn’t matter where she was, even in the city the air just felt fresh. Like a permanent wilderness camping trip.</p> <p class="cnNlNjI0MDgzYzJkYTQ0MTk5NzM4NGE2ZTRjNmFiMDZj">Well, it did somewhat matter where she was. The Waterhole reeked of smoke.</p> <p class="cnNhNmVlNWFlNmJjOTQ1NzdhZTViZWIzZjFlODE4Mzhk">Night fell just as fast as always. She was pretty sure she knew why it came so quick. This planet had rings around it and when the sun passed behind them, it went from fully illuminating the land to obstructed. Saturn’s rings supposedly were fairly sparse and a good deal of light should pass through them, but this wasn’t Saturn at all.</p> <p class="cnM2ZGJjN2YzZTBhNzQ2NzViNTZmOGRiYTVjMWE4NTJk">The lights on the side of the road lit up enough that she didn’t feel in danger of tripping even without her flashlight. There were a few other lights out in the fields. Maybe a few farmers straggling behind to finish a bit of work. Or maybe they intended to stay out after dark given that they prepared by bringing a source of light. With the wall in the way, Alyssa could only see one tower of the city. It was surprisingly dark, save for a few small lights at the very top.</p> <p class="cnM1MzQxYjI3NmY5NDQ2ZjM5NDA2MTA4N2Y0MDcwY2M0">One other light source caught Alyssa’s attention. A light far out in the distance, off in the desert where she had noticed the dust storm. The whole cloud was lit up with an orange glow. Curious, she pulled out her binoculars again. Was it not a dust storm after all? Maybe some sagebrush had caught fire.</p> <p class="cnM0MDVkMDViODIwNjRjMWNiYjBkM2RiMWMwMTAzM2Mz">“What is that?” Alyssa whispered under her breath. It wasn’t a fire. Not a wildfire in any case. The dust cloud was much closer than it had been just an hour or so ago. And she wasn’t so sure it was dust. It was smoke.</p> <p class="cnNmMmU2OTIxYTYyMDQxMzhiNDM0MTAyNjQxMjgwNTQ2">A hundred <span style="font-style: italic">things</span> were marching toward the city. They weren’t humans, that was plain to see. Most of them were large and bulky. The exact size was difficult to tell with the distance and without much for reference, but she guessed at least twice as tall as an average person. They had tan skin, large and round bellies, and a face not even their mothers could love. At least half carried a flaming torch above their head. Some were armored, some less so, but the armored ones didn’t have anything proper. It looked like they had chained together a few sheets of metal and hung it from their necks by said chain. The largest plate covered their bellies, but the smaller plates didn’t connect to each other, leaving a large gap in the chest area.</p> <p class="cnMxZTU1M2ZiYzMyODRkMWZhMjllMTQwMmM3MDJjNWQ1">They weren’t the only things. Tiny monsters that only came up to the taller beings’ knees ran around in between legs and monsters. They somehow avoided being squashed underfoot despite there being twice the number of them as the larger things. Most of them had torches as well, along with short stubby swords.</p> <p class="cnM3MTE1NGUzOTc1NTQ0MjI4OGM2NTQ4MTgyMzMzMzQ4">Monsters. Real monstrous monsters. They had to be. And they were marching on the city.</p> </div>

The stares were the worst. Alyssa couldn’t remember a single point in her life where she had been more nervous. Not even her home being robbed and her killing those two men had rattled her quite so much—she had been pumped so full of adrenaline that she hadn’t really had the wherewithal to be nervous. Here, walking down the streets of Lyria, it was all she could do to put one foot in front of the other over and over again. And that was even with most of the stares directed behind her. Four monsters followed just behind Alyssa in pairs, pulled along by a rope. On Kasita’s suggestion, they had looped a rope through the chains of each of the girls. Just to reinforce the impression that none of them were being towed along willingly. Not that Alyssa was too worried about that. Enrique had actually broken down in tears when they reattached her one manacle and she hadn’t stopped crying since, even with the keys tucked under her… clothes, if they could be called that. All the monsters were wearing what looked like burlap potato sacks. Thankfully, they didn’t have far to go. With the Waterhole being close to the eastern edge of the city, Alyssa had feared that they would have to march through the entire thing just to get back to the southern entrance that she had used. Enrique presented an alternate exit. There was more than one way into and out of the city. Because of course there was. Even if it had a wall around it, they would have multiple gates. When Enrique had been first brought to the Waterhole, her captors had used an entrance not far away. Kasita and Pho had been brought in using a covered wagon, so neither had much of a directional reference. But just because the entrance was close didn’t mean that they weren’t passing by dozens of people. Every single one of whom could not keep their eyes to themselves. None had run off screaming for guards so far, so she might be worried for nothing. The looks they gave her weren’t kindly. After passing by the first few people, she had thought a mob might form. “Just act natural,” Kasita whispered. “Take it from a master of blending in, no one thinks twice if you look like you know what you’re doing.” “I know that,” Alyssa hissed back. She had used that principle plenty of times since arriving in this world. The problem wasn’t that. It was that even if she was a native to this world actually selling slaves, she might still get herself stabbed in the streets along with the monsters. “Where does the hostility come from? What did monsters and humans do to each other?” Alyssa kept walking for a moment, but Kasita didn’t respond. Was someone watching them a little too closely? The street wasn’t even a quarter as populated as the street around the Observatorium had been. Both here and there combined wouldn’t be able to match the amount of people in the market just beyond the city gates that she had passed through on her first day. Nobody was close. The nearest person at the moment was leaning against a wall, chewing on something black and tar-like as he eyed them. With her walking straight down the middle of the street, there was a fair distance between them. Kasita could easily whisper without being overheard. Chancing a glance around just to see if someone was following them, she just about tripped over her own legs as she found all four of the monsters staring at her. Even Rizk. “What? What is it?” Alyssa said after walking forward another dozen steps. “Con. Fused. Not. Know?” “Ufu~ And here I thought you were some sympathizer, but you’re truly naive, aren’t you.” “I’m not from around this area, alright?” “Just how large is ‘this area’ to you?” “Let me put it this way, until two weeks ago, I had never heard of Lyria. Since it’s apparently the largest and most beautiful city around, that should tell you something.” “Ufufu~” Kasita’s giggle was really starting to grind. “There used to be far more grandiose human cities. You’ve at least heard of the Fortress of Pandora, have you not?” “Again, not before two weeks ago.” “Really? Just where did you come from, I wonder.” Alyssa pressed her lips together, but didn’t say anything. A small group of people, staring at them, were seated just outside a rundown shack. Each one had a wooden tankard. Alcohol? Most likely. They were a bit red in the faces. One of them stood. Alyssa tensed, gripping her fully reloaded shotgun tight in her grip. Using it, however, would not be much of an option. Killing a man in the basement of a whorehouse with no one but criminals around was one thing. Doing the same on an open street to a random drunk would almost surely see her arrested. The man walked… or rather, the man staggered right up to Alyssa. But he didn’t stop there. He wobbled right past and stopped in front of Rizk. “I know you,” he said with a definite slur in his voice. Drunk for sure. His lips split into a grin missing a few teeth, but with still better dental care than Cid had. “Hows about we head inside? Have a little fun?” He reached out. The poor lizard girl flinched back as if she were about to be struck, but he just grabbed hold of her chest. Barely believing what she was seeing, in broad daylight no less, Alyssa slung her shotgun over her shoulder. She gripped the man’s wrist, pinned his arm behind his back, and forced him to his knees. “Do not touch my property again.” He didn’t have much to say in response except a muttered, “Ouch, ouch, ouch.” She wasn’t even pinning him back all that hard. Upon releasing him, he fell face first into the hard dirt road. Alyssa shuddered. The way he just laid there, unmoving… but no, he was breathing. His neck wasn’t broken. He was just drunk. It wasn’t even nighttime, though it was getting close, yet people were already drinking too much. Turning around, Alyssa set her face into a deep scowl. The other two men had gotten to their feet. Right. Because of course his buddies would come to his defense. Rather than draw her gun, which wouldn’t do anything to scare them off, she reached back to one of the pockets of her backpack and pulled out a card. A spell card. Which spell, she didn’t know. They were all together in the same pocket. Probably a light spell as they were the most numerous cards she had from Aziz’s collection. Whatever it was didn’t matter. Holding it between her fingers, she flashed just enough of the front toward the two men for them to see that there was a design on the front but not long enough for them to know for sure what that design was. It helped that they were drunk and probably weren’t knowledgeable about magic in the first place. It worked. Both stopped in their tracks. “Pick up your friend,” she said through grit teeth. “Get out of here and do something productive with your lives.” They didn’t move. Neither to their friend nor to assault her, the latter of which Alyssa was not complaining about. Giving them a cocky smirk, she slowly lowered the spell card. Once sure that they weren’t going to make a move at her, Alyssa gave a light tug on the rope. “Let’s go,” she said to the monsters. Not a one said a word, though Enrique did make a few whimpers. Alyssa wanted to apologize to her, but a proper slave owner would probably berate her crying. In the end, she stayed silent. Continuing on, Alyssa walked in a solemn sort of silence. She didn’t like this. This whole world. What did the Pharaoh do all day? Even discounting the monsters, should he not be protecting his citizens? Why was it even possible for someone to be accosted and potentially kidnapped not ten minutes after entering the city? Why were there girls who were abused and wanted to stay in that abuse just to continue living? A ruler was supposed to protect their people from both external and internal threats. Sure, maybe Earth wasn’t perfect. It’s history had probably been a lot like this. Monsters excepted. But reading about ancient history and actually experiencing it were two different things entirely. She was a modern woman from a first world country. Culture shock. That’s what it was. Maybe, if she actually cultivated a friendship with Irulon, she could suggest a few policies to implement. What policies? Who knew. That would be far off in all likelihood and wasn’t really related to her immediate goals. She would think about it if anything actually happened. “The Fortress of Pandora is set on a narrow strip of land separating the human lands from a large desert.” Alyssa blinked, glancing back at Kasita, but the mimic wasn’t even looking at her. She was staring up at the sky. Maybe at the rings. Maybe at the off-color moon barely visible in the light of day. She almost asked what the monster was talking about, only to realize that it must be an answer to her earlier question about monster-human relations. Continuing to walk, she remained quiet and listened. “That desert wasn’t always as it is now. Humans used to live there in cities far larger and far grander than Lyria, surrounded by lush green forests, plains, rivers, mountains, jungles, and so on and so forth. Roughly two thousand years ago, monsters started appearing there. I don’t know how it was when the monsters first appeared, but it soon developed into a full-scale conflict between them and the humans. “The humans call them the Monster Lords. A bit of a silly name, in my opinion, but that’s what has entered into the collective unconscious. We don’t really have a term for them. They’re just monsters. The original monsters were far more powerful and scary than monsters today. There were hundreds of them. Now? There are only four left.” “Monsters live for two thousand years?” Alyssa asked, hating herself for interrupting, but it seemed a pertinent question. “Some do,” Kasita said with a chain rattling shrug. “Enrique here will live about as long as a human. Rizk? She might see two centuries before dying of old age. But the Monster Lords… well… Occasional rumors will pop up about other survivors than just the four, but none have ever been confirmed.” “What happened?” Alyssa asked after Kasita fell silent for a moment. “The human king made a choice. He feared that the monsters would destroy the rest of humanity after ravaging his kingdom. When the Monster Lords marched on The First City—his city—they found the streets devoid of life. There were a handful of guards that tried to slow them down. Beyond that, everyone was dead. Killed by a single thin blade through the heart. A city with at least the population of Lyria, slaughtered. Sacrificed. They found the king seated on his throne, visage ragged and maniacal, holding a jewel encrusted dagger. Without a single word, he plunged it into his own chest. “It destroyed the entire country. Monsters. Humans. Plants. Animals. Mountains. Whatever magic he unleashed rendered the land uninhabitable for a millennium. It has begun to recover, but the fact that the majority of the land is still a desert should tell you just how bad it was. Of course, monsters blame the humans and humans blame the monsters. Really, it was probably everyone’s fault, even if the king actually performed the magic in the end. Then again, I have a bit of a different perspective than most monsters because I can blend in so easily. I’ve lived in human towns just for fun and curiosity.” Alyssa didn’t know what to say. A king killed and then effectively nuked his own people? Maybe even larger than a nuke. The bombs dropped in Japan had destroyed a city each, both of which had been rebuilt in the following years without too much trouble. Relatively speaking anyway. This king’s bomb turned a country into a desert for two thousand years? And the monsters… He couldn’t have done that lightly or without thought. He must have felt backed into a corner. Could they not have made peace? Kasita, at the very least, was highly intelligent. As far as she could tell, the same extended to Enrique and even Pho. Surely some of these Monster Lords were smart enough that they could have brokered for a ceasefire. What had been Tenebrael’s role in it all? Surely the angel had known what was going on. Had she tried to stop it? Doubtful. She enjoyed eating souls too much. A genocide like that would have been a feast for her. But… then again… she had that book. A book that, as far as Alyssa understood it, foretold everyone’s exact time of death. It was a book that she had apparently never been able to change no matter what she did up until Alyssa came along. So had those people been destined to die anyway? Maybe Alyssa would have to ask the next time the angel showed up. But the monsters and humans… that had been two thousand years ago. Even with the genocide on both sides, it seemed like a long time to hold a grudge. Or… maybe it wasn’t such a long time. Alyssa deliberately kept herself from glancing back at Enrique. In Tolkien’s books, elves were effectively immortal. Apparently she wasn’t, but there could be plenty of monsters that had lengthy lifespans. Those Monster Lords, for instance. “We’re almost there,” the elf said, her voice soft and slow. Alyssa blinked. She hadn’t been paying proper attention to her surroundings. Sure enough, Enrique was right. They were now walking along the wall that surrounded the city. Only a few dozen paces ahead was a gate. Much smaller than the main gate she had used to get into the city. That one could have fit a pair of cars side by side. This one could maybe fit one, but it would be a tight squeeze for anything that wasn’t a compact car. Like the front gate, there were guards. Unlike the front, there was only one guy on the ground and one archer up on the wall. If this entrance got attacked, there was no way they could defend long enough for reinforcements to come along. Who would attack? Monsters? Most of them would be south of the Fortress of Pandora, presumably. Other humans? Were there other nations? Alyssa needed to add geography lessons to her list of things to do. There was a desert north or the city. Not the desert. Just a desert. Beyond that? She didn’t even know if these people knew. Aziz’s map hadn’t extended that far north. “Look… depressed. Or something. More depressed. You’re not free of this until we’re outside the city and the guards are out of sight.” Alyssa pressed her lips together and set her face in stone, considering this hurdle. Hopefully the guards wouldn’t question her. They would. Almost assuredly. It was their job. In that case, she needed to look pissed off, irritated that she had to leave the city to sell these mangy monsters. With that in mind, she furrowed her brow just a bit and shifted her walk to be more… angry. Heavier footsteps. Even though he was watching the other side of the wall, it didn’t take long for the archer guard to notice them walking up. He put his fingers to his lips and gave a sharp, high-pitched whistle. The lower guard, who looked like he was taking a nap as he leaned against the wall, shoved off and actually drew his sword. Looking outside the wall, he didn’t even spot Alyssa until the upper guard shouted down at him. The relief on his face was plain to see. Apparently there were enemies that worried the guards. While the guard did let out a sigh upon seeing that the gate wasn’t being invaded, he did distinctly narrow his eyes as Alyssa and the monsters approached. His lips curled into a scowl. As soon as they were close enough for him to be heard without shouting, he said, “Just where do you think you’re going?” “Selling these useless wastes of space.” Sorry everyone. “I’d appreciate if you didn’t hold me up longer than necessary. I’m already running late.” “Wouldn’t it be better if you set off in the morning? It’s nearly dark.” As he spoke, he turned from Alyssa to look over the monsters. His eyes lingered on Enrique long enough to make the elf shift where she stood. A chill tingled at Alyssa’s toes. Remembering the encounter on the way here, she realized that this guard could easily recognize three of the four monsters. After a long day standing out in the hot sun on a boring job, spending the evening in the company of women, drugs, food, and alcohol… He could visit the Waterhole every single night if he didn’t care about any illegalities going on. That was assuming that prostitution was illegal, which Alyssa somehow doubted. Letting out a loud huff to draw attention back to her, Alyssa shook her head. “Don’t have far to go. Only an hour’s trip. Maybe two if these slaves slow me down. I just have to meet with a creepy old man a bit out of the city. Said his name was… Dumbledore.” Sorry J. K. Rowling. She leaned in close and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I don’t have much pity for monsters, but this guy was really disgusting. I shudder to think what ‘experiments’ he has planned for them.” The guard just hummed. It seemed like there wasn’t a problem leaving the city to sell slaves. For which Alyssa was grateful. At least, he hadn’t called for the other guards and, while his sword was still drawn, he held it in a loose grip at his side. But she didn’t like the way he was acting. Like the front gate guards, his helmet’s face plate was less of a plate and more of a wire mask. As such, it was plain to see that his eyes kept wandering over Alyssa’s shoulder to Enrique. “How much?” “I’m sorry?” “How much are you selling them for?” Alyssa mentally grimaced. Money matters. Her greatest weakness. A bit of porridge and bread could be purchased for one to three prav. A meal with meat was a medi with maybe a few prav thrown in depending on exactly what the meal was. The tailor who had lost his sheep to harpies in Teneville wanted one full altus for a wool cloak even though they were normally only around seven to ten medi. With six prav to a medi and eighteen medi to an altus… how much would a slave be worth? She had no other reference to monetary costs. The answer came to her in only a moment of thought. “I’m not selling them to you, if that’s what you’re asking. Dumbledore already paid me twenty altus. I’ll be getting the rest on delivery. If I show up with less than he paid for, or don’t show up at all because you bought all four, then I’ll have to deal with him far more than I want. I already told you that this guy is disgusting and I will be minimizing contact as much as possible.” She glared for a moment before huffing and turning her head. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. I’d like to get there and back before it gets too late.” With a light tug on the rope, she started walking again. The guard let her go this time without another word. Thankfully. If he tried to detain her, she didn’t know what she would have done. Killing a guard or even attacking one seemed like a surefire way to never be allowed back in, assuming she got away and wasn’t put to death. Running away with an overweight backpack on, even from a knight in heavy armor, didn’t seem feasible either. Not having to worry about it was the best option. A bit anti-climactic, but she had already had an exciting enough day as it was. This exit from Lyria looked to be on the northern side. Fields of some kind of food continued out for a long distance, but it slowly faded out with a bend in the river that ran through the city. Desert extended further outward. Not the sand and dunes type of desert. There was plantlife out there. Sagebrush, mostly. Pulling out her binoculars, she scanned it over. There were actually a few buildings out there too. Nothing large. Single shacks. Residential homes? It didn’t seem like it, but they were too small to be guard watchposts. A large dustcloud had kicked up into the air far on the horizon. Without her binoculars, she might have thought it was a mirage or other illusion. A sandstorm? Hopefully it was far enough off that it wouldn’t come her way before she got back into the city. “Well,” Alyssa said, pocketing her binoculars. “We’re out. Sorry for anything I said that was rude. Have to keep up the facade.” “Words. Un. Import. Ant… Out. Doors… Happy.” “Can we take off these things yet?” Enrique said, rattling her chains. “I just really want them off.” Glancing back, Alyssa frowned. They were still in sight of the city walls. She didn’t know if they had binoculars or some magic to replicate them. If she were a guard, she would definitely be keeping an eye on four of humanity’s enemies as they left the city. “Better wait until we’re completely out of sight. Just in case.” Enrique nodded with a hefty sigh, but smiled. The first time Alyssa had seen her smile since taking her manacles off back in Svotty’s office. It was an alright smile, but really didn’t look like she had much practice with doing so. There was a strain in her lips that normal people didn’t possess. And judging by her words, Pho was happy as well. It was a good feeling. Between killing four people, being thrust into another world, not understanding anything, and literal angels following her around, something as simple as helping people was a nice change of pace. Of course, she wasn’t just helping them carry their purchases to their car. She was helping them escape from slavery. Somewhat more of a profound helping than Alyssa was used to. Still, she had gotten information on monster-human history, and general history of this world. It wasn’t like she was doing it all for their sakes. They kept their pace brisk as they moved away from the city. There were people in the fields, getting some work done before night fell for the day. A few passed them on the road, heading toward the city or maybe one of the little villages that had latched on to the exterior walls. Every single one stared. Not a one stopped or commented on her and the monsters. Most looked too exhausted to raise much of a fuss. Toiling out on the farm all day to feed a full city without machinery and vehicles had to be a tough job. There were some early industrial revolution machines that might help if she could find someone to make them. Things that didn’t need electricity. Steam power was another thing entirely, but how hard could it be to kick off an industrial revolution anyway? First, she just needed to teach people that they could light fires without magic. No. No. Too many things on her list as it was. Until she crossed off a few of the items, she should try hard not to add more. Especially not anything that didn’t directly benefit herself. Sure, she might get rich. But that didn’t seem like an immediate get rich quick scheme. If she truly could use Rank Three spells, apparently there was some good money to be made casting spells for people who couldn’t. Unless she misunderstood something, that seemed a far more reliable way to make money if she needed. Besides, it wasn’t like they desperately needed agricultural improvements. They managed to feed this city. Teneville hadn’t looked short on food either even with the festival in full swing. Maybe they used magic to help. Maybe they were merely agriculturally advanced. Either way, she didn’t need to go around looking for problems to solve. Not while she had so many of her own. Speaking of her own problems… Alyssa glanced back. The city walls were out of sight. No one was around them here on the road either. The last person to pass them had been a few minutes ago and nobody was in front of them. Like the road she had taken into the city, there were little glass jars with glowing lights inside them set up on wooden posts periodically. Beyond them, the fields started almost immediately. The closest field to the road was… corn? It was a bit hard to tell as the plants weren’t fully grown—it must be early in the season. Not being a farmer, she didn’t know most agricultural plants before they were fully grown. But they were tall. Tall enough that some monsters might be able to hide in them as they were making their getaway from the city. “Do you guys think you’ll be able to escape safely from here?” “Enrique is a druid. Nature is her domain. She’ll be able to lead everyone to safety.” Alyssa raised an eyebrow. Now that she thought about it, she had been referring to Enrique as an elf mentally since the moment she saw her. Bacco had called them elves. But that could be common slang… Was she an elf? Did they call themselves druids? “Good.” Watching Enrique pull out the keys and fumble with them for a moment was a pretty sad sight. In her overeagerness, she missed the keyhole three times before dropping the keys entirely. Alyssa picked it up for her. “Allow me?” Grateful for the help, Enrique thrust her arm out. As Alyssa unlocked the first manacle, she asked, “Sorry if this is rude, but is druid a profession?” “I uh… thought humans had druids too.” She glanced over to Kasita, looking for confirmation. “They do, but she already admitted to being from somewhere far off. Perhaps they’re called something different where she’s from.” Kasita shimmered for an instant. When the shimmer ceased, she was back to her normal form. Or the first form Alyssa had seen her in. Given that she was a monster, human was probably not normal for her. “Druids are specialists in nature magic. It’s a bit different for humans. They have those papers with all the squiggly lines. But the effect is the same. They commune with nature, whether that be listening to the trees to locate and avoid pursuers, growing plants to entangle things in vines, or talking with squirrels to find their way through unfamiliar territory.” “I see.” Alyssa finished with Enrique’s ankle chains and moved on to Pho. All the while, she just thought how strange that sounded. Talking to squirrels? Or trees? It was like a Disney movie. But Kasita didn’t look like she was joking around. She hadn’t even done one of her ufufu giggles. Enrique wasn’t contradicting her either, though she wasn’t paying much attention anymore either. With her manacles off, the elf was spinning around in some kind of dance with a wide, happy smile on her face. Pho’s face didn’t change expressions. Given how stiff it looked, Alyssa wasn’t sure it could. But she had started buzzing. Her wings, ruined though they were, were twitching back and forth behind her back. Her hands and arms were much like her face. Hard. No squishy flesh to them. What Alyssa had thought were black gloves that ran up to her shoulders were her actual arms. Maybe Alyssa had been wrong earlier about monsters looking like humans. If it was only Pho’s silhouette, maybe. No one would mistake her for a human up close. “Thank,” she said as her manacles hit the ground. Lastly, Rizk. The lizard girl was turning her slit-pupiled eyes around, looking far more aware of her surroundings than she had been back at the Waterhole. Gently, careful to not startle the poor and likely traumatized woman, Alyssa took her hand. She offered no resistance. When the manacle clicked loose and fell to the ground with a thud, her eyes snapped down to her wrist. She just stared at the vacant spot, unmoving, unblinking as Alyssa brought up her other hand. The manacle clicked, falling from her wrist. Before it hit the ground, something scaly wrapped around Alyssa’s throat. With a slight jerk, she found herself having to use the tips of her toes to keep touching the ground. Alyssa’s blood ran cold as she stared into those slit pupils that were now looking directly at her. Her hands snapped up to Rizk’s wrist, trying to keep herself from being strangled. The lizard wasn’t squeezing, but she could easily start. Kasita, sprouting scales on her arm, broke the eye contact with her hand. She placed a claw on the scaled outstretched arm. “Rizk. She helped us.” “A human.” The voice was raspy and dry, like she had guzzled a glass of sand. “Yes. A human that helped us. She undid your bindings. Look around you. We’re outside the city. You can go home. But you don’t have time. This is a human road. If any spot us, they’ll call for the guards and you’ll be killed. You’ll get Enrique killed. You’ll get Pho killed.” Kasita rested her own scaly hand on the blunted claws around Alyssa’s throat. With a featherlight touch, she started prying Rizk’s fingers away. Alyssa fell to the ground, free from the claw’s grip, and landed on her butt. She scooted backward, taking in deep gasps of breath as she moved. Her throat still hadn’t been squeezed, but there was something about having a noose around her neck that made her appreciate fresh air all the more. Rizk had completely forgotten about her. She reached down, gripping the latch of her ankle manacles with both hands. The iron snapped in her grip with only a slight strain. Completely free from her bindings, she tore the burlap sack off her chest, looked both ways up and down the road, then jumped into the tall maize. The rustling in the plants faded moments after. “Rizk!” “Si. Lence.” Pho put her hand on Enrique’s shoulder. “No. Atten. Tion.” Enrique bit her lip, nodding her head. “Right. We shouldn’t let her get far. Does she even know where she came from?” She took a few steps toward where Rizk had disappeared, but paused. “Thank you! If I ever see you again, I’ll… I’ll… I’ll treat you to a feast!” With that, she kicked off, leaving a small cloud of dirt in her wake as she dashed into the field. Pho just gave a slight nod of her head toward Alyssa before following after the other two. For her part, Alyssa let out a long sigh. That had been unexpected. Scary too. With how Rizk had torn off her ankle bindings, it would have only taken a slight squeeze to have taken off Alyssa’s head. It was all thanks to the only monster still standing on the road. Alyssa owed the mimic a deep debt of gratitude. Said monster turned, facing Alyssa, scales vanishing from her body as she flashed back into her human appearance. The scales must have been a calming tactic. Something familiar for Rizk to latch on to. “Sorry for that. I do appreciate what you’ve done for them. I couldn’t just let you get killed, even if you are just a human.” With that snide remark, she smiled and extended a helping hand out to Alyssa. Hesitating for just a moment, Alyssa eventually decided that Kasita must not mean any harm given how she had just saved her life and accepted the offered hand. Once back on her feet, Alyssa frowned down at herself. This was her last pair of relatively clean clothes. Now it was all covered in dirt. She just sighed as she looked up at Kasita. “Thanks. Thought you hated humans.” “I do. But I like people. And, before the Waterhole, I encountered a decent number of humans I liked. Easy to forget in there.” Alyssa… didn’t quite know what to say to that and filled the short gap in their conversation with a bit of rubbing at her throat. Despite having those claws around her throat, Rizk hadn’t actually hurt her much. Surprised, yes, but not hurt. “Shouldn’t you be chasing after them as well?” Kasita shrugged. “I don’t have a home to go back to. I only stayed in that whorehouse to support my fellow monsters. Now that they’re free, I don’t know what I’ll do. No matter what, I can adapt and blend in, so don’t worry about me,” she said with a grin. “Right.” Glancing around, Alyssa frowned. A dozen manacles were lying in the dirt. They would almost assuredly draw attention from anyone who passed by. If said anyones mentioned the manacles to the gate guards, it probably wouldn’t take much for them to decide that the monsters had escaped. They might start up a search to find them or even to find Alyssa herself for questioning purposes. They probably shouldn’t just be left lying about. Shallow ditches lined the side of the road, separating it from the fields. Tossing the manacles in there should keep them hidden at least for a while. Especially with darkness approaching. If people found them in a few days, it wouldn’t matter so much. She would be safely on the opposite side of the city. So long as she found a place to store her gear, she should be able to hide among the people. “Would you help…” Alyssa turned back to Kasita only to trail off. The mimic was gone. Nothing but air remained and there was no sign of her up or down the road. She must have jumped into the corn field as well. Oh well. It didn’t matter much. Alyssa didn’t want to go back to the city too soon. She had told the guards that she would be walking for a few hours. If she returned right away, it might draw uncomfortable questions. So might as well clean up the road herself. Bending, Alyssa grabbed hold of one of the chains in each hand. Hefting them up made her grunt in exertion. Comparing them to bowling balls might have been putting it lightly. These were Rizk’s chains, the largest and heaviest of the bunch, but still. To have been walking around with these… she was surprised her arms hadn’t fallen off. It wasn’t like Alyssa was weak either. Before coming to this world, she spent a full hour at the gym every day, moving between weight machines and more cardiovascular activities. Sundays were her one day off. She wasn’t bodybuilding or anything, but she was fit and fairly strong. Having to carry around heavy loads for customers while working at her home improvement store helped as well. Since coming to this world, she hadn’t really done any explicit strength training besides carrying her backpack literally everywhere, which she had done for two weeks straight while walking to the city. It just further compounded how utterly screwed she might have been had Kasita not stepped in to defuse Rizk. Dumping the set of manacles into the ditch like she was finishing a dead-lift, Alyssa had half a mind to take a break. But there had been foot traffic on the road recently. Getting rid of the other chains sooner rather than later was a must if she wanted them to remain secret. So she started moving them one by one. Pairs were just a bit much, even if the others were lighter than Rizk’s chains. Finishing up, Alyssa froze as she noticed something red sticking out of the dirt. A small red cylinder. Picking it up, she found it to be exactly what she feared. A spent shotgun shell. Alyssa tore off her backpack and started inspecting it for any holes. Unless someone else had traveled here from her Earth with a shotgun, the shell was hers. Which meant that it had come from her pack. If it had ripped and torn a hole when she fell, she needed to patch it up as soon as possible to keep from leaking items. But after searching for a few moments, she couldn’t find anything. A bit of fresh dirt dusted over caked-on-mud from her travels where the dangling tent had hit the ground, but no hole. Just because she couldn’t find one didn’t mean that there wasn’t one, so she would have to keep an eye behind her until she got to a place where she could completely unload and inspect the bag. For now, she just dropped the shell into the main pouch and zipped it up. It was still a bit early, but Alyssa started heading back to the city anyway. She took her time on the way back, just enjoying the crisp air. That was one thing this world had over Earth. It didn’t matter where she was, even in the city the air just felt fresh. Like a permanent wilderness camping trip. Well, it did somewhat matter where she was. The Waterhole reeked of smoke. Night fell just as fast as always. She was pretty sure she knew why it came so quick. This planet had rings around it and when the sun passed behind them, it went from fully illuminating the land to obstructed. Saturn’s rings supposedly were fairly sparse and a good deal of light should pass through them, but this wasn’t Saturn at all. The lights on the side of the road lit up enough that she didn’t feel in danger of tripping even without her flashlight. There were a few other lights out in the fields. Maybe a few farmers straggling behind to finish a bit of work. Or maybe they intended to stay out after dark given that they prepared by bringing a source of light. With the wall in the way, Alyssa could only see one tower of the city. It was surprisingly dark, save for a few small lights at the very top. One other light source caught Alyssa’s attention. A light far out in the distance, off in the desert where she had noticed the dust storm. The whole cloud was lit up with an orange glow. Curious, she pulled out her binoculars again. Was it not a dust storm after all? Maybe some sagebrush had caught fire. “What is that?” Alyssa whispered under her breath. It wasn’t a fire. Not a wildfire in any case. The dust cloud was much closer than it had been just an hour or so ago. And she wasn’t so sure it was dust. It was smoke. A hundred things were marching toward the city. They weren’t humans, that was plain to see. Most of them were large and bulky. The exact size was difficult to tell with the distance and without much for reference, but she guessed at least twice as tall as an average person. They had tan skin, large and round bellies, and a face not even their mothers could love. At least half carried a flaming torch above their head. Some were armored, some less so, but the armored ones didn’t have anything proper. It looked like they had chained together a few sheets of metal and hung it from their necks by said chain. The largest plate covered their bellies, but the smaller plates didn’t connect to each other, leaving a large gap in the chest area. They weren’t the only things. Tiny monsters that only came up to the taller beings’ knees ran around in between legs and monsters. They somehow avoided being squashed underfoot despite there being twice the number of them as the larger things. Most of them had torches as well, along with short stubby swords. Monsters. Real monstrous monsters. They had to be. And they were marching on the city.